KILAUEA — Keiki Day is Saturday at Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens Sculpture Park and Hardwood Plantation, and keiki have an opportunity to enjoy the facets of the park’s Children’s Garden from 9 a.m. to noon. Na ‘Aina Kai started
KILAUEA — Keiki Day is Saturday at Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens Sculpture Park and Hardwood Plantation, and keiki have an opportunity to enjoy the facets of the park’s Children’s Garden from 9 a.m. to noon.
Na ‘Aina Kai started its Keiki Day program, usually celebrated on the last Saturday of each month, about a year ago to allow children to enjoy a gecko maze, a rubber tree house, a tropical jungle featuring tunnels, bridges and slides, a child-sized train, log cabins, a covered wagon and the garden’s centerpiece, Jack’s pond, featuring a sculpture inspired by the “Jack and the Beanstalk” tale.
Jack’s pond also inspired Helen Stuefloten, a Na ‘Aina Kai volunteer, to produce “There’s a Giant in the Garden,” a children’s book illustrated by artist Patricia Tanguay and sold in the garden’s gift shop with proceeds going to the development of new projects within the gardens.
“I did the book in 2004, but it took time to find someone to illustrate it, and it was finally released in 2006,” Stuefloten said. “On April 27, coinciding with the April Keiki Day, we will be having a book signing.”
Marti Berrett, a staff member at Na ‘Aina Kai, said she’s always wanted to know more about the Children’s Garden.
“When my kids were small, I was always curious about the Children’s Garden, but was hindered by the cost,” Berrett said in an email. “Had there been Keiki Day when my children were small, we certainly would have attended.”
Jennifer Downs, of the Na ‘Aina Kai marketing staff, said one of the new areas is the Navajo Compound where the children are always intrigued with the sculptures of animals they normally don’t get to see.
“Keiki Days are normally on the last Saturday of each month,” Downs said. “But in October, we’ll have a special Halloween event on Oct. 19.”
Na ‘Aina Kai tours, ranging in length of 1.5 hours to five hours, are conducted Tuesday through Friday only, and guests must be on a guided tour in order to see the gardens.
Visit www.naainakai.org or call 828-0525 for more information or to reserve a tour.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
