A mishmash of family fun and news

Explore superhero world at Pearlridge

As a slew of superhero movies hits the big screen, folks can find out more about the history of comic book characters at "Hall of Heroes," a free summer exhibit at Pearlridge.

The exhibit provides answers to trivia questions like "What superhero has an invisible plane?," "When did the Avengers first appear in comic book form?" or " What city does Superman live in?," and also houses memorabilia from comic book heroes, including the Hulk, Thor and Batman.

The "Super Train" on the Uptown side of the mall takes children shorter than 4 feet on an adventure through an urban cityscape. Thirty-foot buildings, eerie sound effects, dramatic lighting and images of comic-book favorites are all part of the ride.

On the Downtown side, Center Court is transformed into a Batcave Experience and provides an opportunity for kids to learn about Adam West, the Batman of the 1960s. A half-replica of the 1960s Barris Batmobile, with all of its special features, is displayed.

The Batphone, which allowed Batman to communicate secretly with Commissioner Gordon, and other costume accessories and props are also available to look at.

"We were looking at what movies were coming out, to see if we could plan some promotions around them," explained Kelly Kauinana, marketing director of Pearlridge. " ‘The Avengers,’ ‘G.I. Joe,’ ‘Spiderman’ and ‘The Dark Knight’ were all coming out during our summer promotion, so ‘Heroes’ was a perfect fit."

Keiki art classes available at Kroc

The Kroc Center Hawaii, in partnership with the Honolulu Museum of Art, is offering art classes for keiki this summer.

Children in the "exploring arts" classes will experiment with different types of media and learn basic techniques in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture in clay and other materials. Classes are divided by grade level.

Students from kindergarten to second grade will meet from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, June 16 to Aug. 25. Students in third to sixth grade are scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. on Sundays from June 17 to Aug. 26.

Students in grades seven through 11 will meet from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays from June 11 to Aug. 20.

A separate class on drawing and painting, which includes the use of pencil, charcoal, conte crayon, oil pastels and acrylic paints, will be offered for students in fourth to seventh grade from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, June 13 to Aug. 22.

Classes cost $175 for the 11-week series (art supplies included). Kroc Center members get a 10 percent discount.

Children must be enrolled in kindergarten and be at least 5 years old. Classes have a limit of between 10 and 22 students.

The Kroc Center, run by The Salvation Army, is at 91-3257 Kualakai Parkway in Kapolei. Call 682-5505 or visit www.kroccenterhawaii.org for more information.

Enjoy healthy eats with Elmo

Make reservations for breakfast with Elmo at Bishop Museum, where the costumed character is helping to celebrate healthy meals.

Guests will get to meet Elmo at the museum and pose for a keepsake photo, enjoy a healthy breakfast and watch the museum’s education team present "Ka Huli," a song and dance program melding science and culture.

Breakfast with Elmo will be available from 9 to 11 a.m. on June 12 and 19 and July 3 and 17.

The cost is $45 for adults ($40 members) and $40 for keiki ages 3 to 12 ($35 members). Keiki under 2 are free, but a reservation is required.

Admission includes a breakfast of taro pancake griddle sandwiches with fruit, yogurt and assorted beverages. Visitors also get private time inside the exhibit "Sesame Street Presents: The Body," as the museum is closed to the general public on Tuesdays.

Breakfast with Elmo takes place at Bishop Museum’s Muriel Flanders lawn. Call 847-3511 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org for more information.

Kapena kicks off zoo concert series

Perennial local favorite Kapena will be the first band featured during this year’s "Wildest Show in Town" at the Honolulu Zoo.

The nine-week concert series kicks off Wednesday and runs through Aug. 8. Along with the entertainment, an ukulele will also be given away each week.

Gates at the Honolulu Zoo open at 4:35 p.m. for the "Wildest Show in Town," with music starting about 6 p.m. Admission is $3, and guests are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner. Some zoo exhibits will be open for exploring.

In addition to the "Wildest Show" series, the Honolulu Zoo will host an evening of music by Ho‘okena’s Horace Dudoit, Chris Kamaka and Glen Smith on Aug. 11.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door; the concert will start at 6 p.m. Call 971-7171.

‘Wildest Show in Town’ lineup (hosted by Roy Sakuma):
>> Wednesday: Kapena
>> June 20: Leha Kalima and Shawn Pimental
>> June 27: Roy Sakuma’s Super Keiki
>> July 4: Frank DeLima
>> July 11: Manoa DNA
>> July 18: Ohta-san and Nando Suan with special guest strummers
>> July 25: Daniel and Nelly Baduria
>> Aug. 1: Jimmy Borges & His Jazz All Stars
>> Aug. 8: Sean Na‘auao