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The Children's Discovery Center

The Children's Discovery Center, located adjacent to the Kakaako Waterfront Park, is now open to the public. In September 1995, the HCDA completed remediation and structural stabilization work on the former Kewalo Incinerator located adjacent to the Kakaako Waterfront Park, for use as a children's museum.

Children's Discovery Center

The new facility features hands-on interactive exhibits and innovative programs that offer discovery experiences for children and adults. The private, non-profit center completed renovation of the 17,000 square foot structure and the addition of 20,000 square feet of new construction. Fabrication of exhibits was completed and the Center was opened in late 1998. The Center now attracts close to 100,000 visitors each year who come to enjoy the interactive exhibits and innovative learning programs for children and adults.

New Project Will Add More Exhibit & Programming Space, a School Bus Drop-off Area and a Kid’s Café

Children's Discovery Center expansion illustration Improvements are underway at the Children’s Discovery Center, including a 9,000-square- foot expansion of the popular children’s center located next to the Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park. On June 11, the Center held a ground blessing for its expansion project and a ceremony to unveil a new Jeepney for its Filipino House exhibit.

The $5.4 million addition, now under construction, will expand the 38,000-square-foot children’s center with more exhibit and classroom space for its educational programs and special events. The Center’s “Ready, Set Grow!” capital campaign will also raise funds needed for technical upgrades for the Center’s interactive exhibits. A Kid’s Café that will serve families healthy snacks, a school bus drop-off area, and an area for birthday parties and other special events and programs are included in the project.

“It is tremendously exciting for us to move forward with this expansion, which will enable us to serve an even larger and more diverse audience, says the Center’s President and CEO Loretta Yajima. “ It is a tough time for us to be raising funds for expansion; however, as the demand for our services increases and the educational needs of our young learners intensify we must move ahead to serve the growing needs of our families with young children. We are committed to providing the children of Hawaii with a world-class children’s museum, one that will serve our families for generations to come.”

To date, $3.5 million has been raised, with another $2 million needed to complete construction. For more information, or to make a contribution, visit www.discoverycenterhawaii.org or call 524-KIDS.