Pre-Trip Fun for Oahu, Hawaii

"Lilo and Stitch" -- A crazy-cute creature takes a lonely girl on wild adventures in this cartoon comedy, set in Hawaii to a hang-ten soundtrack. (School Age and Up)

"Gidget Goes Hawaiian" -- Hailing from the more innocent '50s, the plucky surfer girl is squeaky-clean fun in the sun. Features the famous pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel. (School Age and Up)

"Mighty Joe Young" -- Scenes from this "King Kong"-alike were filmed at Kualoa Ranch deep in a tropical valley. (School Age and Up)

"Jurassic Park" -- The movie's lush Hawaiian forests, waterfalls, and awe-inspiring views may have kids wondering if dinosaurs once walked where their hotel now stands. (Teens)

"Blue Hawaii" -- Elvis-in-Paradise as the son of wealthy pineapple plantation owners, with the flavor of Hawaiian music. (School Age to Teens)

Tropical Fruit Salad -- Test-drive a few of the island treats your kids may encounter on the trip.

Ahi Poke -- Similar to sushi, poke is a traditional Hawaiian dish made of raw tuna. Not quite tuna from a can, but seafood-lovers and adventurous eaters will be in for a treat.

"Hawaiian Mother Goose Rhymes" by Debra Ryll -- Classic stories adapted for local vernacular turn Little Miss Muffet who sat on a tuffet into Little Miss Aku who sat on a pohaku. (Ages 2 to 8)

"A Is for Aloha: A Hawaii Alphabet" by Uilani Goldsberry -- Pretty pictures provide a guided tour of Hawaiian sites for each letter of the alphabet. (Ages 4 to 8)

"Hide and Seek in Hawaii: A Picture Game for Keiki" by Jane Hopkins and Ian Gillespie -- Take the book on vacation and put the games into action together. (Ages 4 to 8)

"High Tide in Hawaii" by Mary Pope Osborne -- A magic treehouse takes kids on an adventure that will get your little travelers intrigued by Hawaii's incredible waters, from tidal waves to surfing. (Ages 9 to 12)

"Story of Hawaii Coloring Book" by Y. S. Green -- Set the tone with pre-trip fun that creative types can get their hands on. (Ages 9 to 12)

"In the Shadow of the Pali: A Story of the Hawaiian Leper Colony" by Lisa Cindrich -- The subject may sound rough, but anyone who's been bullied can relate to the heroine's story. (Ages 9 to 12)

"Early Sunday Morning: The Pearl Harbor Diary of Amber Billows, Hawaii 1941" by Barry Denenberg -- The 12-year-old's own words help make the tragic events more relatable for kids visiting the site. (Ages 9 to 12)

"Under the Blood Red Sun" by Graham Salisbury -- Oahu comes alive in this tale of a boy's struggle to understand his place in America during WWII. (Ages 12 and Up)

Pasta Lei -- Use cupboard ingredients -- no flowers required -- to get into the aloha spirit.

Beach Bag --- Homemade bags let kids get excited (and pack their own stuff) for snorkeling and fun in the sun.

"Facing Future" by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoole -- Features his famous Hawaiian-style version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World"

"Step 2: Ukuleles in Paradise 2" -- Create an instant luau with this instrumental soundtrack from Herb Ohta, Jr. and Daniel Ho.