Menagerie of fun entertains at the fair
This year’s 50th State Fair features ostrich and camel races, a European-style circus and a pirate-themed pet show featuring cats and dogs rescued from animal shelters.
The fair starts its run on Friday and is open from 6 p.m. Fridays and 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from May 27 to June 26 at Aloha Stadium. The fair is also open from noon May 30 and from 6 p.m. June 9. Closing times are between 11 p.m. and midnight.
General admission is $5. Opening day admission is $1. Discounted ride coupons and wristbands can be purchased online or through Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.com.
Birthday party packages are available for a minimum of 10 people ($275, more for additional guests) and include ride wristbands, pizza and soda, and reserved seating in a dining tent. Call 682-5767 for reservations.
Visit www.ekfernandez.com/events/50th.asp.
KEIKI BOOKSHELF
Girl discovers meaning of word ‘aloha’ at school
“Aloha for Carol Ann,” by Margo Sorenson (Marimba Books, $8.95), shares the tale of a girl who learns the true meaning of aloha. Carol Ann, an 8-year-old Caucasian girl, is not interested in attending a new school or making new friends. She wants to return to familiar surroundings. But when her teacher introduces her to the term “aloha,” she is suddenly more comfortable with all of the warm response received from her fellow classmates.
The multicultural children’s book is based on Sorenson’s experience of living in Hawaii for 10 years and teaching at Punahou School. She now resides in California. Colorful illustrations that paint Hawaii as a melting pot were done by Priscilla Garcia Burris.
The book is available at www.amazon.com.
7-day camp explores girls’ roles and identity
Girls can explore identity and the roles women play in everyday life during a seven-day sleepover camp sponsored by the Girl Scouts.
The “aMuse journey” at the Girl Scouts’ Camp Paumalu on the North Shore will include Hawaiian studies, eco-friendly crafts, hiking, swimming and a workshop facilitated by storyteller and slam poet Kealoha.
All participants must be registered with Girl Scouts, and they will earn three awards dealing with courage, confidence and character.
The camp runs June 5 to 11; deadline to register is Friday. Call Jennifer Gire at 675-5511 or email jegire@girlscouts-hawaii.org.
Camping athletes can learn from UH coaches
Young athletes can get instruction from University of Hawaii coaches at summer camps hosted by the UH Athletic Department.
From early June to mid-August, instruction will be offered in men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, football, baseball, softball, soccer and swimming. The camps will feature UH coaches including football coach Greg McMackin and his assistants, basketball coach Gib Arnold, baseball coach Mike Trapasso and women’s volleyball coach Dave Shoji. Current and former UH players will assist.
“Some of the camps, like baseball and football, are more skills-oriented,” said athletic department spokesman Derek Inouchi. “Football has a big-man’s camp, so they’re teaching only linemen’s skills.” Other camps are more informal, with coaches and players providing input as the kids play.
“What we offer at UH is that (campers) get to have interaction with the athletes and coaches they’ve seen on TV and going to games,” Inouchi said. “There are star players actually giving them pointers one on one.”
Inouchi said the soccer camp has tended to be the most popular, with about 150 participants. Football and baseball also have been popular.
Camps are one to five days. Costs range from $30 for a 90-minute class in softball pitching to $325 for a five-day swimming camp, which will feature instruction in stroke analysis, nutrition and starts and turns. For registration forms visit hawaiiathletics.com; click on “camps.”
