Honolulu’s big kid outings are the zoo and aquarium in Waikīkī, the Children’s Discovery Center in Kakaʻako and the Bishop Museum.
The places we go back to all year. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour. For every indoor playground we’ve checked, with prices and sock rules, see indoor play in Honolulu.
Free weekly storytimes at branches across the island, including baby storytime at the downtown State Library.
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
The zoo sits between Diamond Head and Waikīkī. Free parking is across Monsarrat Avenue at the Waikīkī Shell lot.
A small aquarium right on the water, so it’s easy to fit in around beach time. It’s open while it goes through renovations.
A big hands-on children’s museum where most families spend two to three hours. Weekday hours end at 1pm.
Hawaiʻi’s state museum of natural and cultural history, with the largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific artifacts anywhere.
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
Where a family can go in Honolulu without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in Honolulu.
Free or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Recurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in Honolulu.
Storytimes most weekday and weekend morningsFree storytimes at branches across Oʻahu, including Saturday storytime at the downtown State Library.
Schedule ↗Baby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For rainy days, see indoor play places; for zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.
Mondays at 9:30am · Hawaiʻi State Library, downtownLap-sit stories, rhymes and songs for babies up to 23 months in the Edna Allyn Room for Children. Bring a blanket.
Storytime calendar ↗
3 and under
Admission page ↗Under 1
Admission page ↗Santa visits and Christmas lights only run part of the year, so they have their own pages with this season’s dates and prices.
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Honolulu right now.
Yes. The zoo and aquarium are small enough for short legs, and the Children’s Discovery Center is built for little kids.
Library storytimes, beaches and parks, and free events like the mall trick-or-treats.
Go indoors: Hawaiʻi State Public Library System. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.
Honolulu Zoo: Easy stroller paths and short visits work fine. Waikīkī Aquarium: Small enough to finish before a nap. Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center is also easy with a baby or toddler. Free for the littlest: Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center (Under 1). See best for under 3s.
Hawaiʻi State Public Library System: Storytimes most weekday and weekend mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the Honolulu weekly list.
Every one of the 5 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 2 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Honolulu.
