Thousands of curious keiki and families filled Leeward Community College’s Puʻuloa campus for the college’s 35th annual Discovery Fair—a free, family-friendly celebration of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).
Designed for children ages 5 to 10, the fair transformed the campus into a playground of exploration and imagination on November 1. More than 35 interactive booths—created and hosted by Leeward faculty and staff—invited young learners to experiment, create and discover the fun side of STEAM.
Slime, magic, more
Among the biggest hits: Slime Time, where keiki whipped up their own gooey concoctions; Bubble Geometry, which revealed the surprising science of bubbles; and captivating magic shows by Mr. O the Magician, an alumnus from Leeward CC’s first graduating class in 1970.
“My kids had the best time at the Discovery Fair,” said Erin Maruoka, a parent of two and a Leeward CC employee. “They were totally hooked on slime-making and couldn’t get enough of the magic show. Now they think this is what happens at Leeward CC every day and keep begging to come to work with me!”
Other returning favorites included origami, printmaking, balloon creations by Balloon Monsoon, and upbeat tunes from 102.7 Da Bomb.
“Our goal is to spark curiosity and make learning fun,” said Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza. “Events like the Discovery Fair let keiki experience the excitement of STEAM firsthand, inspiring them to imagine, create and explore new possibilities.”
After rounds of hands-on fun, families recharged with ʻono food from a wide range of local food vendors.
