Leeward Community College turned its Pearl City campus into a hands-on fun lab for its 36th annual Discovery Fair on November 7. Designed to spark curiosity in local keiki of all ages, the free, family-friendly event brought science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) to life through interactive play.
Throughout the day, families explored more than 30 interactive stations. Popular activities included “Bubblicious Geometry,” where kids stepped inside giant soap bubbles, and “Quicksand Goo,” where participants explored the unique physical properties of a cornstarch-and-water mixture.
For many returning keiki, heading straight for their favorite station was top priority.
“I want to make slime! Every year I make slime,” beamed 7-year-old Caden Maruoka, eagerly waiting his turn at the “Slime Time” table, where he got to make his own custom slime while learning about chemical bonding.
Gummy bear explosions
Another popular attraction was the “Exploding Gummy Bears” demonstration. The science experiment featured a gummy bear dropped into heated potassium chlorate, causing the candy’s sugar to combust in a dramatic flash of heat and light.
“Interactive demonstrations like this give kids an exciting front-row seat to real chemistry and show them how fun science can be,” said Daniel Brayton, a Leeward CC chemistry instructor.
Beyond the experiments, attendees enjoyed live music and prize giveaways hosted by 102.7 Da Bomb, wild balloon creations from Balloon Monsoon and delicious bites from local food trucks.
“Our goal with Discovery Fair is to inspire lifelong learning and introduce young minds to STEAM pathways early on,” said Natalie Kahn, the Discovery Fair planning committee’s educational activities co-chair. “Welcoming so many families to campus to explore these fields in such a joyful way helps plant the seeds for our future innovators, thinkers and leaders.”
—By Devon Bedoya
