Yoga Loft Hawaii

Prenatal Yoga helps calm expecting moms

The transformation of a woman’s body during pregnancy is dramatic and life changing to say the least.  Unfortunately, this transformation comes at a high price, giving up control of one’s body and dealing with the discomforts of pregnancy. In order to help alleviate many of the bodily discomforts of pregnancy, such as back pain, tight shoulders, etc. as well as the mental obstacles such as high stress and waves of emotions, an increasing number of women are turning to Prenatal yoga.

“Yoga helps expectant mothers cultivate inner calm, specifically through the breathing and meditation exercises.” explained Zeny Ogrisseg, Prenatal yoga instructor of Yoga Loft Hawaii.

Prenatal yoga is also being praised for its physical benefits and the way in which it can help prepare the body for giving birth.

“In my Prenatal class I focus specifically on exercises that help delivery such as gentle core strengthening exercises as well as poses to stretch the lower back and open the hips.  The breathing exercises of Yoga help to keep both mother and baby oxygenated during delivery, as well as give moms the stamina to endure delivery.” said Zeny.

Yoga Loft Hawaii
94-547 Uke’e St. Suite 205
Waipahu, HI 96797

Courtesy of Yoga Loft Hawaii

“Save the Date” – Disney Store’s Grand Opening at Ala Moana Center (June 2nd)

Celebrate Disney Store’s Grand Opening at Ala Moana Center
Guests are invited to meet Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at Disney Store’s newly-designed location in Honolulu

WHAT: Disney Store will celebrate the grand opening of the newly designed store at Ala Moana Center, in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday, June 2, 2012. The newly-designed Disney Store at Ala Moana Center relocated and was remodeled to offer an interactive and magical experience for Disney fans of all ages. Disney Store’s new design concept aims to deliver “the best 30 minutes of a child’s day” through immersive storytelling neighborhoods featuring a Disney Princess castle with magic mirror, translucent trees, and the Disney Store Theatre featuring the latest Disney entertainment.

WHEN: Saturday, June 2, 2012

• 9:30 a.m. – Disney Store opening ceremony where a local child from Make-A-Wish® “will “unlock imagination” and officially open the store. The first 500 guests will receive a free gift.
• 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Meet and Greet with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at center stage. Don’t forget to bring your camera!*

*Characters alternate every 30 minutes. Character appearances are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

WHERE:
Disney Store at Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814

Courtesy of The Disney Store

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii

May 1st is Lei Day in Hawaii. It’s a time for residents and visitors to celebrate an island tradition of making and wearing leis. It all started in 1928 when poet Don Blanding wrote an article in a local newspaper suggesting that this custom become a local holiday.

Since then, every year on May 1st the people of Hawaii participate in festivities involving lei making demonstrations, exhibits, hula performances, lei making contests and local musicians. Even our local schools hold annual May Day Programs where children dress up in colorful outfits and perform for family and friends.

However, most of the events take place in Waikiki which allows visitors to enjoy this island tradition as well. It’s a great way to experience the Hawaiian culture.

For more information on May Day festivities as well as other upcoming events, stop by About.com.

The Bishop Museum

I’m not sure why but I never really think to take my kids to the Bishop Museum. As a kid, I’ve visited the museum on numerous occasions while on field trips and enjoyed the various exhibits. So I thought it was time to finally take the girls so they could learn a little more about Hawaiian culture.

Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in honor of his late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha family. The Museum was established to house the extensive collection of Hawaiian artifacts and royal family heirlooms of the Princess, and has expanded to include millions of artifacts, documents and photographs about Hawai‘i and other Pacific island cultures.

Today, Bishop Museum is the largest museum in the state and the premier natural and cultural history institution in the Pacific, recognized throughout the world for its cultural collections, research projects, consulting services and public educational programs. It also has one of the largest natural history specimen collections in the world. Serving and representing the interests of Native Hawaiians is a primary purpose of the Museum.

courtesy of Bishop Museum

Our first stop was the Hawaiian Hall where we went on a journey through Hawaiian history.

This building is 3 stories tall with life-sized ocean creatures suspended from the ceiling. The first floor shares the life of Hawaiians before they had any contact with the outside world. They have a life-sized hale (shack) which the girls found very interesting. They couldn’t imagine the entire family living in just one room!

The second floor showed artifacts and educated us on the lifestyle of the native people. There was also a very cool hands-on area where the girls could pound tapa cloth (used to make clothing), play musical instruments (pu ili, uli uli, ipu), learn to wrap a lau lau, pound (make believe) poi, and even see some colorful feathers up close through magnifying glass.

The third floor is dedicated to Hawaiian royalty and important events in Hawaiian history. You can also see the insides of a full sized whale up close and personal.

My favorite room was the Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike K?hili Room. It’s a small display room but it has such an amazing presence that you can’t help but feel in awe. Here you’ll find the precious K?hili (feather standards) of the Hawaiian Monarchy.

Of course, the girls favorite exhibit was the Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center.

This huge exhibit is the perfect place for kids to get a little hands-on experience with sound & motion, lava flows, and wind power.

The kids were also able to walk through a lava tube filled with neon images, walk under a water tube, and slide down the side of a volcano.

Science on a Sphere provided us with a look at science, math, and geography in a way that’s easy to understand. In the middle of the room is a sphere that is 6 feet in diameter and shows an amazing look at planet Earth.

We didn’t get a chance to visit The Watumull Planetarium but it’s definitely on our list for our next visit. In fact, I think we’ll probably try to make it back when the museum is hosting the evening “The Sky Tonight” event where we’ll be able to learn more about the stars and constellations in the current sky.

Finally, The Bishop Museum is currently showcasing Sesame Street Presents: The Body where kids can learn about the human body and the way it works. There are tons of hands-on exhibits and familiar faces all housed in the world of Sesame Street. This exhibit runs from April 7 – July 30, 2012.

What a wonderful way to get the kids out of the house and expose them to some rich Hawaiian history.

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