Fun to be fit

Do you have plans for the evening and need a baby sitter?

Fitness school Hawaii Academy in Kalihi opens its gymnasium doors to the public for weekday "fun nights" three times a week.

Associate director Dr. Donna Mah said Fridays are usually its busiest days, with two trained staff members watching upward of 80 children and teens taking advantage of the gym space and equipment.

"We have a range of people, from parents joining their little ones at play and watching them jumping on the trampoline, teenagers with their friends practicing urban street dance moves, and even high school and college cheerleaders practicing their routines," she said.

"We want everyone to enjoy whatever exercise they do," said Mah, who is a pediatrician by day.

Although it’s basically unsupervised play, Mah said there are house rules to follow, with payment at the front office beforehand.

First-timers sign a release, and all participants are given color-coded wristbands to denote how many hours they will stay.

Academy Fun Nights are open to those 6 and older. — Gary Chun, Star-Advertiser

Your donated teddy bear could be a record-breaker

Donate a teddy bear to Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii’s Teddy Bear Round-Up and help the group attempt to break a Guinness World Record, in addition to helping victims of domestic abuse who have been the beneficiaries of the event for 16 years.

This year the event moves to Windward Mall, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27, as Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii seeks to claim the title for “largest gathering of plush toys.”

Program director Aileen Deese said donations of new and gently used stuffed animals have averaged between 7,000 and 10,000 in recent years.

With the current record at 5,884 stuffed animals set by the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida in 2008, the Hawaii event should easily eclipse that mark, if the trend continues.

Deese said last year’s donations were distributed to four domestic violence shelters, as well as agencies such as Child and Family Service, Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, Shriners Hospital,

PARENTS Inc., Wai­anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and select public elementary schools.
The plush toy roundup is also part of a family resource fair, where social agencies will provide information to parents and sponsor activities for keiki.

Costumed characters such as Kung Fu Panda, Elmo, Goofy, Pika­chu and Winnie the Pooh will make appearances at the event. — Star-Advertiser staff

HOT invites families behind the scenes

Singing is optional, but it sounds like kid fun is mandatory at Hawaii Opera Theatre’s first Family Day, a sneak peek at the goings-on of opera production.

“It’s going to be an open house so people can come behind the curtain and see what we do and what we’re about at Hawaii Opera Theatre,” said Kristin Stone, education coordinator for HOT. “The kids will be able to try on costumes from HOT, and the makeup artists will be there putting makeup on kids.”

The event runs 12:30-3:30 p.m. April 27 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. The stage will be set up for “Tosca,” which has a three-show run that weekend, and features political intrigue set inside a church.

Visitors will also be able to go backstage and meet with the props master and learn about set design, Stone said. There will also be interactive activities, all designed to give kids a better idea of the drama of putting on an opera.

The day will also feature a performance of “The Curse of Lou Ling,” a touring children’s production by HOT, scheduled for 2:45 p.m.

Reservations are encouraged; call 596-7372, ext. 200. — Star-Advertiser staff