A mishmash of family fun and news

Aquarium’s birthday brings art, activities

The Waikiki Aquarium will commemorate its 110th anniversary with not just one, but two celebrations in March.

On Wednesday and March 22, the aquarium will offer marine-themed art, a retrospective of its past and peek into its future plans, plus monk "seal-abration" presentations.

Admission on both days will be $1.10.

The true birthday celebration takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, with a birthday cake and a performance by the Royal Hawaiian Band.

There will be an aquarium built of Legos by the LEGO Enthusiasts Association of Hawaii and demonstrations and discussions by the University of Hawaii Botany Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other organizations.

On Saturday Family Fun Day local artists Patrick Ching, Michael Furuya, Scott Goto and Allen Tsukamoto are collaborating on the "Great Marine Chalk Art Draw." Keiki are invited to participate in the Kids Doodle Zone.

Enjoy a performance of "The Honu by the Sea" by Johnson Enos and a marine-themed Lego build area, along with other educational and fun activities.

Festivities take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Waikiki Aquarium at 2777 Kalakaua Ave.

Call 923-9741 or visit www.waikikiaquarium.org.

Nina Wu, Star-Advertiser

Opera event geared for younger crowd

Teens and their families can enjoy a night at the opera together at Hawaii Opera Theatre’s "Opera for Everyone" performance at 7 p.m. March 26 at Blaisdell Concert Hall.

In year’s past, HOT has offered discounted tickets to the final dress rehearsal of its productions to people age 24 and under. College students and school groups have often taken advantage of this performance, but this year HOT is widening the program to include groups of up to six children (high school age and younger) and one adult chaperone.

The program will feature a mash-up of two vocal classics, "I Pagliacci & Carmina Burana." "Pagliacci" is the tragic story about jealousy that plays out in the middle of a play, with the main protagonist portraying a clown. "Carmina Burana" is the name of a collection of 11th-, 12th- and 13th-century poems and texts written by students and monks who mocked the Catholic Church with songs about fate, lust and drinking, among other subjects. Composer Carl Orff set 24 of the works to music, which has become standard choral repertoire.

The Portland Opera has paired the two works together, suggesting a link between the two. The opera company also developed choreography to "Carmina Burana,"which will be danced by Portland, Ore., dance troupe BodyVox. The texts will be sung in the original languages with projected translations.

For tickets, contact Blythe Kelsey, HOT education coordinator, at b_kelsey@hawaiiopera.org. 

Steven Mark, Star-Advertiser

Head to the library for spring break learning and fun

With kids home for spring break, parents will be looking for activities to keep kids busy. The public libraries are responding with an array of fun classes, movies and storytelling sessions.

All events are free. Visit the Hawaii State Public Library System at hawaii.sdp.sirsi.net to see what’s happening at your local library. Please contact the host library in advance if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed.

» The Kalihi-Palama Public Library is launching its first Spring Arts-a-Palooza with activities from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

On Monday, become an animal artist. On Wednesday, express yourself through mobiles and splatter paintings inspired by artists Alexander Alder and Jackson Pollock. On Thursday, make your own collages and prints to illustrate a favorite story. On Friday, learn how to engineer your own pop-up books.

The one-hour sessions will be held in the Kalihi-Palama Public Library’s children’s room and auditorium and are suitable for children ages 5 and older.

Kalihi-Palama Public Library is at 1325 Kalihi St. Call 832-3466.

» Kapolei Public Library is hosting a spring reading program for children in sixth grade and below.

The fun kicks off on Monday when Susie Roth, the Fairy Grandmother, kicks off the program with a presentation of magic and storytelling.

At the end of the program March 29, children who logged at least 20 minutes of reading each day will receive weekly prizes and a chance to win bonus awards.

Kapolei Public Library is at 1020 Manawai St. Call 693-7050.

» A free screening of "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2" takes place at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hawaii Kai Public Library’s Meeting Room. In this PG-rated sequel to the animated hit film by Sony Pictures Animation, Flint creates animal-food beasts with his water-to-food machine. He and his friends then join forces to help save the world.

Hawaii Kai Public Library is at 249 Lunalilo Home Road. Call 397-5833.

» If you haven’t seen the Disney hit "Frozen" yet, here’s your chance.

A free screening of this year’s Oscar winner for best animated feature takes place at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Kaneohe Public Library’s Bookmobile Garage.

The fearless princess Anna sets off on an epic journey alongside rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven, to find her estranged sister, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter. The film, rated PG, is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale "The Snow Queen."

Children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver to the movies.

Kaneohe Public Library is at 45-829 Kamehameha Highway. Call 233-5676.

» Some great educational programs are also planned in collaboration with the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Institute for Astronomy.

Wonder how the sun works? Kaimuki Public Library offers a 45-minute program at 1 p.m. Thursday, offering a chance to view the sun through specially filtered binoculars and telescopes. Look for sunspots, filaments and flares.

Kaimuki Public Library is at 1041 Koko Head Ave. Call 733-8422.

If your keiki are curious about ocean life, head to Manoa Public Library from 2 to 4 p.m. March 22 for a program called "Life in Our Oceans," which will include the viewing of plankton through a microscope.

Manoa Public Library is at 2716 Woodlawn Drive. Call 988-0459.

Nina Wu, Star-Advertiser