The butterflies are back!

Starting Saturday, Pearlridge Center’s Downtown Center Court will be home to the Butterfly Conservatory, an exhibit similar to the one held at the shopping center last summer.

Keiki and parents alike will get the chance to learn about the life cycle of the beautiful winged creatures. Different varieties of butterflies will fill the structure, changing weekly depending on the supply of local growers.

The butterflies will fly freely in the house, maybe even land on your shoulder, but organizers ask that visitors don’t try to catch them.

"It’s very up-close and personal," said Tom Cleavinger, chief operating officer of Michigan-based Creative RT, which takes this exhibit around the country and also staged last year’s butterfly exhibit at Pearlridge. "We don’t really encourage people to grab the butterflies, because you can hurt them, but our staff is taught how to pick them up.

"So the staff is picking up butterflies and bringing them down and showing you what a proboscis is, showing you the claws on the end of the monarch’s feet and really giving you a chance to learn what it’s all about."

This year the conservatory partnered with the University of Hawaii to monitor the Kame­ha­meha butterfly. Last month researchers at the university sent out a public call for help tracking the rare butterfly, which is the official state insect.

At the exhibit, children can learn about the Kame­ha­meha butterfly and participate in a coloring activity.

The Butterfly Conservatory is open to the public through April 19, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $3, with keiki under 8 years old admitted free with a paying adult.

Visit adoptabutterfly.com or www.pearlridgeonline.com. — Stefanie Nakasone

Keiki lei workshops teach, inspire through traditional methods

It’s almost May Day, so it’s time for the keiki lei workshop March 29 at the University of Hawaii’s Lyon Arboretum.

The workshops, taught by lei masters Happy and Kats Tama­naha, are ideal for children in third through 12th grades.

They are intended to share traditional Hawaiian lei-making techniques with children as well as to inspire a new generation of lei-makers.

"I’m trying to pass on the traditional way to make lei," Happy Tama­naha said. "I learned from several people when I was young, and that’s why we want to pass it on."

Participants may choose to learn two of five different lei techniques: kui (sewing), haku (three-ply braid), humu­papa (sewn to backing), kipuu (knotting) or wili (winding).

Some materials will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring flowers and foliage from home.

There will be two sessions at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. March 29. Cost is $5 per hourlong class. Lyon Arboretum is at 3860 Manoa Road. Call 988-0456 to register. Visit www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum. — Nina Wu