Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Honolulu, HI

It may seem like we have to miss out on all the winter activities that the children do on the mainland.  After all, we don't get snow here.  But with a little bit of creative thinking, your children will get to experience some of the snowy fun too, island style.

• Making Sand Balls:  I used to make these at the beach all the time.  I have to admit, I make a sand ball way better than I can ever make a snow ball.  It's warmer and easier to mold if you add just the right amount of water.  You can fight with them too.  My brother and I used to make a bunch of them and throw them at each other.  And just like snow balls, we played nice and made sure there were no rocks in them.  I think it's time Noah learns this game too.

• Braid a Ti Leaf Wreath:  As a hula dancer, I learned how versatile Ti Leaves were.  We made several different kinds of skirts out of them.  They served as a base for other accessories and decorations.  I even learned how to weave, knot and braid them into shoes.  So whenever I see some, I want to naturally start working with them.  For Christmas, you could easily work this greenery into your decorations.  Grab a few to go under your lovely candles.  Use them to spruce up your buffet table.  Or braid them together to make a wreath to greet your guest.  Your preschooler can help you with all of these things.  Ti Leaves are safe to handle and virtually unbreakable.

• Sledding at Kaka'ako Park:  Just because we don't get snow here, doesn't mean that our kids have to miss out on the fun of sledding.  Grab garbage bags or large pieces of cardboard from boxes and head on over to Kaka'ako Park.  The grassy hills are perfect for sliding down.  You know, come to think of it, if you do have a snow sled, it would work great there too.

• Seeing snow on the Big Island:  If you really want to show your kids snow, there is a way in Hawaii.  We do have snow, it just takes a little work to get to it.  On the big island, the tops of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are usually snow capped for most of the year.  My family took a trip once and I was amazed that we had such a white covered place right here at home.

It's been really warm this year, so we probably won't get so lucky.  But it DID snow here on Oahu once in my memory.  I was in third grade, so it must have been 1984 or so.  It got cold enough that winter that I had on three layers of clothes when my parents dropped me off at school in the morning.  One really cold day, Kailua was showered with Hail for a bit.  So you never know.