Today is Children and Youth Day!

It’s time to unplug and tune into real life at the 16th annual Children & Youth Day!  Today, the grounds of the State Capitol, Department of Health, Frank F. Fasi Civic Center, Hawaii State Library, Iolani Palace, Kalanimoku Building, Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center, Washington Place and Punchbowl Street will be shut down and turned into the biggest playground you’ve ever seen.

Believe it or not, a law was established in 1994 to celebrate and honor keiki through the festivities surrounding Children & Youth Day on every first Sunday of October.  The initial plan was to have a week set aside each year focused on all the contributions children and youths make to our state, but they quickly learned that seven days just wasn’t enough time to pay proper homage to all the good deeds and stories coming out of our schools and community centers. So in 1997 another law was passed dedicating the entire month of October to young people.

Rediscover the better things in life at Hawaii’s 2009 Children & Youth Day, sponsored in part by McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Trust Fund and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The event plans to have more than 250 exhibitors and community organizations offering interactive, educational and fun activities for the whole family. Free parking will be available at all surrounding state and city parking lots.

For more information, call 586-6130.

Photo courtesy of sethladd