Ward Village Offers Fun Events for All Ages

Spanning the waterfront from Ala Moana to Kaka‘ako, Howard Hughes Corporation’s Ward Village in the heart of Honolulu is developing at a rapid pace. But they haven’t forgotten to put heart at the center of their community. Recognizing that lifestyle and amenities are both huge draws for homebuyers, they’ve developed a year-round calendar of unique activities for all ages. As a result, the neighborhood is drawing families from across O‘ahu to take part in the fun! There’s a little something for everyone and here are four of our favorite creative events for your enjoyment.

Outdoor Movies

If you’re missing the drive-ins from days of old, or have considered setting up your own backyard theater, skip the nostalgia and save yourself the hassle. Instead, head over to Ward Village’s Courtyard Cinema on the second Thursday of each month for an al fresco showing curated from the Hawai‘i International Film Festival. Recent films included 2016’s LION, which received no less than six Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. Dirty Dancing, that 1987 classic, also graced the big screen in recent months, reminding us all that nobody puts baby in a corner!

Courtyard Cinema at Ward Village

Relax in comfort in the chairs that Ward Village arranges in front of a cinema-sized outdoor screen, next to the marvelously restored, landmark IBM Building. Now the headquarters of the Howard Hughes Corporation, the developers of Ward Village, the building’s iconic honeycomb façade – known as a brise soleil – was ingeniously designed to keep the interior of the building cool, while still filtering in lots of Hawai‘i’s abundant natural sunlight.

This fall, they’ll introduce a special, kid-friendly edition of the popular monthly movie event. Keiki Courtyard Cinema makes its debut on October 7, 2017, with the Japanese classic children’s anime film “My Neighbor Totoro.” The kids’ movie events are free to the public and feature free educational activities offered by the Hawai‘i Children’s Discovery Center. You can pack the kids’ favorite snacks or pick up some kid-friendly options sold on-site by local food vendors.

Find Your Om

Courtyard Yoga at Ward Village

As an alternative to adult beverages at pau hana on Thursdays, lots of grown-ups are opting to unwind instead at Ward Village’s outdoor yoga sessions, offered every Thursday at no charge. There’s no need to lock yourself in a super-heated room with a bunch of sweaty strangers when you can limber up naturally in the open-air courtyard of the IBM Building.  With the warm tradewinds and a view of the night stars, it’s yoga at its best. Whisk the week’s stresses away by rolling out your mat and donning the headphones provided, so you can better hear your instructor’s cues. Classes are taught by the pros from Ward Village’s own outpost of Core Power Yoga. When the courtyard is booked for other events, the free sessions are held across the street in Kolowalu Park. We guarantee you’ll head into Friday and the weekend feeling a little lighter for attending one of these outdoor yoga sessions!

Strap On Your Skates

Holiday Season Ice Rink at Ward Village

This year, cool off or take a break from your holiday shopping at Ward Village’s 4,200 square foot ice rink. For the past few years, Ward Village has made the holiday season extra special for both locals and transplants from colder climes with their outdoor ice rink, open from late November until about the second week in January. Where else can you ice skate and surf on the same day but in Hawaii? Coffee and cocoa are on hand and there’s a roster of holiday events each year for kids and adults alike. (Hint: Santa usually makes an appearance). It’s such a delight, you’ll wish it was open all year long.

Paw Crawl

Even your furry family members have a reason to love Ward Village these days. Chill and sip on a cold and frosty craft beer at any of the three local bars included in their next Paw Crawl – beginning on the lanai at REAL, A Gastropub, at BREWd or at Palate. There’s even a free shuttle that’ll run you from one pub to another, beginning at 4 p.m. and departing from REAL.

Pick up a “beer passport” and get stamped in all three locations and you can win some cool gifts or swag. Best of all, partial proceeds from the purchase of Lagunitas beer will benefit the Hawaiian Humane Society.  on Mondays, where your pampered pooch is welcome from 6 p.m. to closing time. Dog owners are offered a 10% discount and a treat for their pet, as well as an opportunity to mingle with other dog lovers in the community.

REAL offers one of the widest selections of craft brews on island, in addition to a tasty array of hearty pub fare. If you’re not a dog owner, show up for the Paw Crawl anyway. It’s proven that petting a dog can slow your heart rate and increase your feel-good oxytocin levels. Also, dogs are a social catalyst, so you might get to know a few of your neighbors. The next Paw Crawl (formerly Yappy Hour) is in February 2018.

For the very latest information, showtimes, and updated activities at Ward Village, you can browse their website here. To talk story with one of our O‘ahu real estate pros who live and work in the community, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We love our Hawai‘i life in Honolulu and would be happy to share our recommendations with you!