It's almost summer! Where will your kids be?

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Jolena Tanuvasa supervises a group of youngsters from the Mililani program of Kama'aina Kids during a trip last month to Ala Moana Beach Park. Below: Seven-year-old Derien Kraus got buried in sand as part of that play outing. Photos by Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

By the first week in February she was at the Leeward YMCA trying to register Megan for summer day camp, only to find out she was too early.

After sending Megan to the Y for three years, Kahalehili doesn't want to send her anywhere else. "They keep her very, very busy," she said. "It's not just going to the location and the kids run around."

Finding a good day camp is critical, since she and her husband both work during the day and her retired in-laws live out in Wai'anae in an area that lacks other kids to play with.

"I just have this fear of her not getting in," said Kahalehili, who has now secured a spot.

Similar scenarios are playing out for parents across the state as they try to figure out how to occupy their kids over summer vacation. Now that spring break is out of the way, registration for most summer programs is imminent, if not already under way. Registrars suggest making commitments as soon as possible to ensure your child has a spot, as the most popular programs are already filling up.

Kahalehili knew exactly what she wanted, but for other parents there are options aplenty to be weighed, ranging from the old standard — the city's Summer Fun program — to field-trip-intensive day camps and specialized programs to overnight camps.

Day camps remain a popular option, following the national trend. According to the American Camping Association, the number of day camps has grown by nearly 90 percent over the past 20 years.

Rather than settling for one option, last year Kailua mom Paula Antoque went for Kama'aina Kids' Super Size Summer program. Her daughter, Chelsey Keoho, spent seven weeks in a program that spread her time among Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, Sea Life Park, Bishop Museum, He'eia State Park and Camp Timberline.

Antoque liked the convenience — transportation was provided, as was lunch — and Chelsey enjoyed the different activities. "It wasn't monotonous, it was a big change — every week you're doing something different," Antoque said.

Chelsey, 10, might do the same program again this year, but is also eyeing the X4Teens programs, which offer traditional residential camp at Camp Timberline, surf camp on the North Shore, overnight camping trips, or the National Park Road Trip, which includes two weeks of camping on the Mainland.

These days, many providers offer week-by-week programs to accommodate the varying school schedules, since traditional schools break for about three months, while year-round and modified-year-round schools tend to break for only six or seven weeks.

In addition to standard day camp, the YMCA now offers optional upgrades for older children, such as specialized programs in skateboarding, ocean sports, video production, culinary creations, hip-hop dance, box-car racing or camping at Camp Erdman.

The zoo and the aquarium also offer weeklong programs.

For many parents, price will play a factor in where their children end up this summer. The city's Summer Fun program costs a little over $100 for seven weeks, less than the cost of a single week of standard day camp at the YMCA or Kama'aina Kids. Specialized day camps or overnight camps can easily push the cost of summer care over the $1,000 mark.

Pebble Beach, Calif., resident Jill Corrigan has already figured out what her children will do while the family stays at their home in Kona this summer. "I usually start planning right after Christmas, right after that whole rush," she said. "I know the sooner you get these signups in, you get a better deal and there's more available."

Austin, 15, will be working on a fishing boat, which he has been doing every summer since he was 12.

Kelly, 13, will spend two weeks at photo camp on Maui, through Aloha Adventure Camps. In this program, participants have residential camp activities, bike down Haleakala, go to a luau at a Maui resort, sail to Lana'i, parasail, and swim with dolphins and sea turtles. In addition, each camper chooses an emphasis in surfing or photography.

Kelly is a residential camp veteran, with three years of Girl Scout camp and the Waimea YMCA camp under her belt. "She's kind of hooked," Corrigan said. "She just comes back a little more mature, a little more self-confident. It really does a lot for her to meet these kids and get out of the school setting."

Since she couldn't find any extensive residential camps on the Big Island, Corrigan hit the Web to look into other options and considered an East Coast camp before settling on the photo camp. "We looked at what was available, and it sounded really interesting," Corrigan said. "She's so excited to go."

For a more academic-oriented summer, state Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen suggests calling individual schools to find out if summer programs will be offered. Since the schools have various schedules, the DOE no longer keeps a master list of summer-school programs, he said.

Summer school also offers the opportunity to try out other schools. Punahou and Iolani, for instance, throw open their doors to all students for the summer.

Punahou students have been enrolling for summer school since February, and the program was opened to everyone else last month.

Arlene Ting, Punahou's summer-school registrar, said the registration deadline is May 28, but advises parents to get the applications in before May.

"Those that wait, sometimes we can't give them their choices," she said. "By (the) time they send it in, all the classes (they selected) are filled. We try to find something for their child, but sometimes they choose to withdraw."

Iolani students have also been given the opportunity to register already. Registration for everyone else began April 5.

The Montessori Community School in Makiki will offer some two- or three-week sessions or a longer session that runs from June 7 to Aug. 19. Students in this program will focus on Hawaiian people and culture, have weekly excursions and participate in a daily running program.

Whatever the choice, program directors everywhere advise enrolling as soon as possible.

Ray Sanborn, president of Kama'aina Kids, warns that while the registration deadline is May 28, some programs have limited enrollment and fill early. "Take Sea Life Park," Sanborn said.

"Because it's limited in its enrollment, it's filled early. It was full maybe four weeks before our deadline."

Jill Takeisu Harper, marketing director for the YMCA. said, "If they're really serious about getting into a program, they should think about registering in April."

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.

Places to go, things to do

Aloha Adventure Camps

• Ages: 10 to 18.
• When: Residential camp with weekly sessions beginning June 29, July 6, July 13, July 20 and July 27.
• Cost: $1,150 per week (kama'aina rate $862.50 per week).
• Registration: ongoing.
• For more information: www.hawaiicamps.com or (877) 755-2267.

Boys and Girls Club of Hawai'i

• Ages: 7 to 17.
• When: Call for dates. Care offered 9 a.m to 6 p.m. Some clubhouses offer early-bird care.
• Cost: Membership in the Boys and Girls Club, with varying costs for special programs.
• Registration: www.bgch.com or 949-4203.

Camp Homelani

• Ages: 7 to 16.
• When: Sessions begin June 28 and run through July 9.
• Cost: $110 to $125 per week.
• Registration: Ongoing.
• Information: www.camphomelani.org or call 440-1832.

City & County of Honolulu Summer Fun

• Ages: Age 5 before Jan. 1, 2004, or have completed kindergarten; through sixth grade.
• When: Most programs run June 14 to July 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some sites offer additional before- or after-care for an additional fee.
• Cost: A $25 registration fee, which might be waived for eligible families receiving state aid; up to $50 for activity fees and $40 for an optional camp program.
• Registration: May 8 from 9 a.m. to noon, and May 10-11 from 2 to 5:30 p.m. at all staffed city parks.
• Information on sites: available at www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/programs/summerfunfaqs.htm or call:
  
  
  • East Honolulu (McCully i Hawai'i Kai): 973-7250.
  • West Honolulu (Makiki i Halawa): 522-7072.
  • Leeward/Central O'ahu: 675-6034.
  • Windward O'ahu: 233-7300.

Honolulu Zoo Vacation Adventures

• Ages: Grades 1 to 6, with two weeks for ages 4 and 5 and two weeks for Japanese-language speakers.
• When: June 7 to Aug. 27 for grades 1 to 6. Pre-vacation adventures will be offered for 4- and 5-year-olds June 21-25 and June 28-July 2. Japanese language programs offered Aug. 9-13 and Aug. 23-27.
• Cost: $175 per week ($165 for Zoo Society members). Aftercare for grades 1 to 6 is $45 ($35 for members).
• Registration: Must register at least one week before your child will attend. Registration is being accepted.
• Information: www.honzoosoc.org or 971-7195.

Kama'aina Kids

• Ages: Kindergarten through high school.
• When: A seven-week program runs from June 14 to July 30, with an optional three-week extension from Aug. 2 to 20. Centers are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cost: The basic program is $675 for seven weeks for children attending from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and $860 for 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Super Size Summer 2004 is $1,175 for seven weeks. The X4Teens programs range from $100 per week to $1,650 for two weeks. The regular program and optional upgrades can also be purchased by the week.
• Registration: Deadline is May 28.
• Information: www.kamaainakids.com or 262-4538.

Summer school

• Punahou School: June 21 to July 30. For information, visit www.punahou.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=ig.page&CategoryID=88 or call 944-5737.
• Iolani School:June 14 to July 23. For information, visit www.iolani.org or call 943-2262.
• Montessori Community School: June 7 to Aug. 19 (with optional two- or three-week sessions). For information, visit www.montessorihawaii.org or call 522-0244.
• Public schools: Call individual schools to find out whether summer school will be offered.

Waikiki Aquarium Aquanauts program

• Ages: 8 to 12.
• When: June 14-18 and tentatively Aug. 2-6 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with possible extensions to 5 p.m.
• Cost: $300 ($250 for aquarium members; membership is $45).
• Registration: A mailing will be sent out at the beginning of May. To get on the e-mail list, call 440-9007.

YMCA

• Ages: Kindergarten through 6th grade, with upgrades available for grades 3 to 7, and residential camp options for grades 1 to 9.
• When: June 14 through Aug. 12, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Leeward and Mililani open earlier).
• Cost: Varies by location and number of weeks. The seven-week program ranges from $525 to $760, with additional charges for overnight camping. Specialty program, $185 to $865 per week. Weeklong overnight programs at Camp Erdman run $375 to $499 for residents.
• Registration: ongoing.
• Information: www.ymcahonolulu.org or call individual YMCA locations.