During the last few years, the pandemic shut down the fun of Halloween trick-or-treating and other community events. However, this year, they’re making a comeback, and keiki will once again enjoy going door-to-door or store-to-store, in addition to partaking in community events toned down with keiki in mind.
Before heading out, heed these safety tips provided by the Hawaii Police Department to keep your little ones safe:
- Monitor keiki while out (even in shopping malls), especially in areas with heavy vehicular traffic.
- Ensure the right fit for your child’s costume to prevent tripping and heat exhaustion, and that allows for clear and unobstructed vision. Also, be highly visible to others.
- Have flashlights at the ready to illuminate dark areas and walking surfaces. Attach glow sticks to your child’s costume to increase their visibility.
- Stay in neighborhoods that you’re familiar with and areas that are well lit.
- Once home, spread out the candy on a table surface and examine each piece to make sure they haven’t been tampered with and are safe to eat. Also stress to your keiki to not eat any candy that hasn’t been first checked by mom or dad.
Be safe and Happy Trick-or-Treating!
Candy Crawl
Pearlridge Center, Mauka and Wai Makai
98-1005 Moanalua Rd., Aiea | 808-488-0981
This Pearlridge Center signature indoor trick-or-treat event invites little ghosts and ghouls to enjoy store-to-store trick-or-treating, candy and activities at booths in the common areas, giveaways from merchants and eateries, live entertainment and a Halloween costume contest at Mauka Center Court.
Halloweekend: A Saturday of Play
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St., Honolulu | 808-847-3511
Bishop Museum invites all to enjoy safe, fun and educational programs, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 29. Keiki can take part in a costume contest and passport activity, plus the museum’s galleries and exhibitions will be available. Free with museum admission. Tickets.
Aloun Farms 20th Pumpkin Festival
Aloun Farms
91-1440 Farrington Hwy., Kapolei | 808-683-2929
Bring the entire family for this fun annual event over three weekends, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 29-30. Lots of fun on the lineup: food and craft vendors, free hayrides, keiki activities and rides, entertainment and a farmers market. Plus harvest your own pumpkins, corn, string beans and sunflowers! $5/person, under 2 years is free.
Halloween Celebration & Pumpkin Patch
Victoria Ward Park
1020 Auahi St., Honolulu
Keiki will enjoy a pop-up pumpkin patch courtesy of Aloun Farms, plus there will be a Halloween mask decoration station, shave ice and photo ops, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 29.
‘Terror Planet’
KOA Theater
780 S. Beretania St., Honolulu | 808-388-0319
A milder version of this walk-through haunted house with candy stations throughout is designed for keiki ages 10 and younger, 2-4:30 p.m. Oct. 29-30. $15/person. Tickets.
Another “un-scary” option is a 15-minute guided tour of the haunted house before opening time where kids can see the set and costumes, Oct. 29-30. $5/person. Arrive 30 minutes prior to opening time.
Monster Dance Party
Windward Mall
46-056 Kamehameha Hwy., Kaneohe | 808-428-9698
Calling all keiki to join the Monster Dance Party going on courtesy of Storybook Station, 4-7 p.m. Oct. 29. Enjoy music, games, a costume contest and keiki attending the event will get a Halloween goodie bag filled with candy and take-home craft! Keiki costume categories for 0-12 years old: Most creative, most adorable, scariest and best lookalike. Families with two or more members can also enter with the same categories. Costume contest registration starts at 3 p.m. Come back on Oct. 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m., when merchants will hand out goodies!
Halloween Spooktacular
Hawaii Kai Towne Center, Marina Docks
333 Keahole St., Honolulu | 808-396-0766
Bring the family in costume to this annual event with trick-or-treating, a keiki costume contest and more, 4-7 p.m. Oct. 29. Prizes will be awarded for first-, second- and third place in three age groups: 0-3 years, 4-8 years and 9-12 years.
HoMAween
Honolulu Museum of Art
900 S. Beretania St., Honolulu | 808-532-8700
Enjoy an evening of frights and delights for all ages featuring keiki-friendly games, art making, music, community performances, a HoMAweenland Lego display, tarot card readings, photo booth, bites and brews and more, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Decorate your own goody bag and trick or treat around the museum, then join the keiki costume parade at 6:30 p.m. HoMA Café is open 5-7:30 p.m. and the movie “Beetlejuice” (PG) screens in the Doris Duke Theatre at 7 p.m. $20/adult, keiki 18 and under are free. Registration.
Spook Life Park: Attack of the Gorilla Ogo
Sea Life Park Hawaii
41-202 Kalanianaole Hwy., Waimanalo | 808-259-2500
It’s the attack of the invasive “gorilla ogo”! Come in costume for this family-fun event where you’ll learn about the villainous “gorilla ogo” and the ghastly role it plays in the marine environment, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 29-30. There will also be trick-or-treating throughout the grounds, character photo ops and meet-and-greets, face painting, prizes and special treats. Festivities included in park admission.
Hallow-Zoo SCARE-venger Hunt
Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu | 808-926-3191
Track down the zoo’s animal ohana and collect creature stamps as you follow creepy clues filled with freaky facts along the Haunted Habitat Treat Trail, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 29. Also find special Halloween goodies along the way! Included with zoo admission.
Trick-or-Treat
Royal Hawaiian Center
2201 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu | 808-922-2299
From 11 a.m. to closing on Oct. 31, celebrate Halloween family-friendly trick-or-treating at over 30 participating merchants (look for the storefront balloons).
Haunted Halloween
International Market Place
2330 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu | 808-931-6105
Trick or treat around the mall and keep an eye out for Moana, the Little Mermaid, Captain Jack Sparrow and Stitch for fun photo ops, 4-6 p.m. Oct. 31.
Halloween Trick-or-Treat
Koko Marina Center
7192 Kalanianaole Hwy., Honolulu | 808-395-4737
Look for the “Trick-or-Treat” posters in windows of participating merchants, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Halloween Drive-Thru Adventure
Keopuolani Regional Park, Kahului
Maui County hosts a fun and free drive-through for families that started as an alternative to neighborhood trick-or-treating during the pandemic. No reservations required, just drive up and enjoy the treats handed out by county volunteers and community partners, 4:30-7 p.m. Oct. 30. The fun also includes LahainaTown Action Committee’s Mystery Maze, a pumpkin patch and Maui Classic Cruisers’ vintage car showcase.
Holoholo Halloween
Queen Kaahumanu Center
275 West Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului | 808-877-3369
Bring the kids in costume for a costume contest, trick-or-treating, activities and prizes, 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31. For ages 0 to 13. Preregister to enter the costume contest.
Walk the Spooky Trail
Volcano Art Center, Niaulani Campus
19-4074 Old Volcano Rd., Volcano Village, Volcano | 808-967-8222
Wear your favorite Halloween costume and grab a flashlight for this fun outdoor event for keiki 9 and under, 4-6 p.m. Oct. 29. $5/person, free for keiki 4 and under. Spooky Trail is open to ages 9 and older, 5-7 p.m. Oct. 28. The adventure begins with a tour of the Halloween Village, then you’ll be led into the Haunted Forest. Each keiki will receive a goodie bag.
Every Kid Outdoors Halloween Weekend
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Park rangers are out to get every child outdoors! Stop by the Kilauea Visitor Center on Oct. 29 or the Kahuku Unit on Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., to pick up a Halloween scavenger hunt bingo card. Explore the trails and if you get bingo, return to the visitor center for a bag of treats courtesy of the Hawaii Pacific Parks Association. Complete the online activity on the Every Kid Outdoors website and print the paper voucher to bring to the park in exchange for a 4th grade pass. The pass is valid until Aug. 2023 and everyone in the car gets in for free!
1st Annual Boo Fest
Kahilu Theatre
67-1186 Lindsey Rd., Kamuela | 808-885-6868
Bring the family for a fun afternoon of costumes, goody bags, a screening of the movie, “A Nightmare Before Christmas,” and more, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 30. $10/adult, $5/keiki. Tickets.
HalloQueen Boo Bash
Queens’ Marketplace
69-201 Waikoloa Beach Dr., Waikoloa | 808-886-8822
Enjoy an evening just for the kiddos with trick-or-treating, face painting, a scavenger hunt, graveyard games, photo booths, giveaways and more, 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31.
Halloween Festival and Costume Contest
Kukui Grove Center
3-2600 Kaumaulii Hwy., Lihue | 808-245-7784
Kukui Grove Center brings back its Halloween festivities with a keiki costume contest and trick-or-treating, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 29. Register online (by Oct. 27) for the costume contest and reserve your goodie bag for the centerwide trick-or-treating afterwards. There will also be special entertainment, selfie stations, Showtime characters and Soulfire stiltwalkers.
Halloween Photo Shoot
Healing Horses Kauai
Kapaa Bypass, Kapaa | 808-634-3896
Bring your costumed keiki and a camera for a unique photo taken atop a painted horse, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Suggested donation of $10.
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii.