A mishmash of family fun and news

Flying High

Who says home-schooling needs to be in the home, especially when it comes to physical fitness?

For a high-flying take on PE, iTrampoline Hawaii in Kapolei offers "Homeschool InFlight," a weekly class for children ages 7 and older.

"It’s essentially physical education for home-school," said iTrampoline general manager Jason Swazer. "I encourage people to come check it out because it’s something different for the kids."

Trampoline jumping is not only fun — what kid wouldn’t love bouncing up and down and off the walls? — it’s also a good low-impact exercise. A half-hour on the trampoline, for example, burns about 65 calories in a 100-pound person.

The 90-minute "Homeschool InFlight" classes are lead by Brett Freeland, who also teaches the facility’s preschool and aerobics classes. The sessions include warm-ups and stretches, then various exercises in different areas like the open trampoline, the basketball court and even the foam pit. The session ends with open jump time.

And registration is not needed in advance — the 1,400-square-foot facility can handle 126 jumpers at a time, so there should be no problem accommodating last-minute participants, Swazer said.

For more information, call iTrampoline at 380-4080 or visit itrampolinehawaii.com.

Stefanie Nakasone, Star-Advertiser

Get a jump on Easter fun at Shirokiya’s ‘Ohana Sunday

Give the kids a chance to celebrate an early Easter at Shirokiya’s ‘Ohana Sunday.

Starting at 1 p.m. Sunday, kids can have their pictures taken with the Easter Bunny at a specially decorated Easter stage ($3 each or $5 for two).

The store will have a bag-decorating station and let kids seek out treats at cashier stations throughout the Ala Moana Center store. Other activities include face-painting, balloon twisting and temporary tattoos, concluding at 4 p.m.

Shirokiya, which has roots tracing back 350 years to Japan, started ‘Ohana Sunday events in October to provide family-friendly fun. The festivities are held once a month in conjunction with Japanese or Western holidays and feature activities such as fashion shows and live entertainment. 

The next few ‘Ohana Sunday events include May 4 for Boys Day/Children’s Day/Mother’s Day, June 15 for Father’s Day, July 6 for a summer matsuri/bon dance and Aug. 24 for Shirokiya’s birthday celebration.

Steven Mark, Star-Advertiser

Fans get a hand in rules for Globetrotters

Have you ever wished you could change a rule at a sporting event? The Harlem Globetrotters are giving fans that chance in the 2014 Fans Rule Tour, which comes to Hawaii for five games this month.

The Globetrotters, now in their 88th year, are letting fans implement one of five rules for the games: 

» Make or Miss: Teams start with two players, adding or losing players as they make or miss shots.

» Hot Hand Jersey: A player wearing a special jersey is awarded double points for each basket.

» Trick Shot Challenge: Teams score 5 points for a trick shot.

» 6-on-5 game

» Two Ball Basketball

Visit www.harlemglobetrotters.com/rule to vote. The top three rules as decided by the online votes will be used in the first three quarters of games here. The fourth quarter’s rule will be picked based on the fans’ cheers.

Leading the team will be two players who have made their mark off court as well as on. "Flight Time"Lang has appeared on "The Amazing Race," "Hell’s Kitchen," "The Bachelorette" and other shows; and "Bull" Bullard has appeared on "Man v. Food Nation," "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" and "Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s." 

As always, there will be the on-court antics, impossible shot making and amazing ball-handling that have had the Globetrotters go on years-long winning streaks.

The games are at 7 p.m. April 25 at War Memorial Gymnasium in Wailuku, 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 26 at Blaisdell Arena, 3 p.m. April 27 at Kealakehe High School in Kailua-Kona and 7 p.m. April 28 at BYU-Hawaii in Laie.

Tickets are $23-$153 and are available at ticketmaster.com or by calling 866-448-7849.

Steven Mark, Star-Advertiser