Hawaii Children's Discovery Center facts for kids

The Hawaii Children's Discovery Center is a special place for kids and families. It's a children's museum located in Honolulu, Hawaii, near the beautiful Kakaako Waterfront Park.

This museum first opened its doors in 1989. It's a big place, about 38,000 square feet, and more than 200,000 children and their families visit it every year! The center is a non-profit organization, which means it uses all its money to help the museum grow and offer great programs. It's also part of the Association of Children's Museums, connecting it with other similar museums around the world.

History of the Center

How the Museum Started

The Hawaii Children's Discovery Center began in December 1989. It was first called the Hawaii Children’s Museum of Art, Culture, Science and Technology. It started in a smaller space, about 5,000 square feet, inside an old Dole Food Company building in Honolulu.

This first museum welcomed about 250,000 visitors. However, the building it was in closed down in 1991, so the museum had to close in 1994.

Moving to a New Home

After a few years, the museum found a new, bigger home. In 1998, it re-opened as the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center. The new location was an old incinerator building that had been empty since 1977.

To make the old building safe and ready, a lot of work was done. The building was cleaned, and new parts were added. This made the museum much larger, adding 20,000 square feet to the existing 17,000 square feet.

What You Can Explore Today

The main goal of the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center is to help kids "dream big dreams." It wants children to know that their dreams can really come true! The museum has six main areas, called exhibits, where kids can learn by using their senses. This helps them understand the world around them better.

Exciting Exhibit Areas

• Tot Spot is a fun area made just for children aged 5 and younger. It's full of exciting things to touch, see, and hear.
• Fantastic You helps kids learn all about the human body. You can discover how different parts of your body work together.
• Your Town teaches children how a community works. Kids can pretend to be a firefighter, a banker, a mechanic, or even an art performer.
• Hawaiian Rainbows explores the history of Hawaii. It shows how life changed from the old plantation days to modern Hawaii.
• Your Rainbow World lets kids learn about different cultures and countries. You can experience how life is similar and different in other parts of the world.
• Rainforest Adventures is the newest exhibit. It teaches children why rainforests are so important in Hawaii and all over the world.

Special Programs and Camps

The Hawaii Children's Discovery Center also offers many themed programs throughout the year:

• Toddler Time helps children aged 18 to 36 months develop their language skills and learn through their senses.
• Preschool Playtime is for 3- and 4-year-olds. It's a program where kids can have their first experience in a preschool classroom.
• STEM-centered labs offer fun activities focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
• There are also special programs for US-based Scouting organizations.
• Discovery Camps happen four times a year during school breaks. These camps are a great way to keep learning and having fun when school is out.

How the Center is Supported

The Hawaii Children's Discovery Center gets help from many different sources. People who are members of the museum contribute money, and businesses offer sponsorships. The museum also receives grants from foundations and the government. Many generous individuals also donate to support the center.

While the museum has a team of full-time staff members, it also relies a lot on volunteers. These volunteers help with everything from guiding visitors to helping with special events.