Have fun this National Hawaii Day with colorful Hawaii Crafts for Kids! We’ve got leis, palm trees, surf boards & more to celebrate the 50th state!

Can you pronounce ‘Kal’ia’iou’amaa’aaa’eiou‘? How about ‘humuhumunukunukuapua’a’?

Not easy, is it? Ironically, these words are from a place that has some of the most easy-going people in the world – Hawaii!!

In case you’re wondering, the first of those words is a street name in Hawaii, while the second is the reef triggerfish, Hawaii’s state fish. As soon as we hear the name of ‘Hawaii’, we instantly think of bright colors, flowers, sunshine and pure happiness. But there’s a lot more to this island state!

Contents show

Fun Facts about Hawaii

Hawaii is the most isolated island chain on Earth, located 2,390 miles from California on one side and 3,850 miles from Japan on the other
Hawaii consists of eight islands: Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, La naʻi, Maui, Kahoʻolawe and the Big Island of Hawai‘i.
Hawaii has four counties: Honolulu, Maui, Kauaʻi and Hawai‘i
Hawaii’s official state motto is ‘Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀ ina i ka Pono‘, which means ‘The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness’
Captain James Cook is believed to have been shot and killed in Kealakekua Bay in Hawaii

Did you know all these facts about Hawaii? Pretty sure at least a few are new to you! Well, since National Hawaii Day is coming up on 5th July, we think it’s a great time to learn more about the island state, and we’re doing it the way we know best – with some colorful Hawaii crafts for kids!

20 Heavenly Hawaii Crafts for Kids

1. DIY Painted Pineapple Planter

If there had to be a single fruit to represent the entire state of Hawaii, there’s no doubt that pineapple would be the one! It was first introduced in the 18th century, and immediately thrived in Hawaii’s tropical climate. With its fine crown and sweet flesh, the pineapple is a great representation of the sweet Hawaiian people!

2. Toilet Paper Roll Tiki Masks

Tikis are representative of Polynesian gods, and have a distinct humanoid appearance with large eyes and a mouth that is a cross between a grin and a grimace. These features vary widely, representing the different abilities of the multiple gods. Red Ted Art shows us how to create a set of Tiki masks using toilet paper rolls, and they look great!

3. Hawaiian Minion Craft

Hawaii crafts for kids meet minions in this fun collaboration from DIY Inspired! Hawaii has many other celebrity connections – popular movies like Avatar, and Jurassic Park were filmed here. It is also the birthplace of famous people like Barack Obama, Bruno Mars, Nicole Kidman and Jason Momoa.

4. DIY Hawaiian Paper Lei

You can’t have a list of Hawaii crafts for kids without featuring leis! A Lei is a traditional Hawaiian gift made with flowers and leaves, as well as nuts and seeds. It is considered a symbol of honor, gratitude, and friendship, and is often gifted at special occasions. Here’s how you can make your own lei with this tutorial from Single Girls DIY.

5. Hawaiian Hibiscus Paper Flowers

Hawaii’s state flower is the yellow hibiscus, known as the pua alo alo. It’s not surprising, since you’ll find that the flower abounds all over the island state! Hawaii has seven types of endemic hibiscus, and you’ll see them flowering in bright colors like yellow, red, pink and white. Try brightening up your space with some colorful hibiscus blooms of your own, with a printable template from Domestic Heights.

6. Free Printable Luau Bingo Cards

National Hawaii Day isn’t just a great opportunity to make Hawaii crafts for kids; it’s also an excellent excuse to throw a Hawaii-themed party! And when you do, keep your guests entertained with this Aloha bingo game from Playdates to Parties. Aloha is used as a way to welcome people, but it also means love and peace. Other common Hawaiian words are ‘mahalo’, meaning ‘thank you’, ‘ohana’, meaning ‘family’, and ‘ono’, meaning ‘yummy’!

7. DIY Hula Dancer Cupcake Toppers

Speaking of parties, the proper name for a traditional Hawaiian feast is ‘luau’. Luaus are held to celebrate major life milestones like births, weddings, graduations and good harvests. It is a way for people to honor the gods and share their happiness with their loved ones. A luau is quite the event, with native Hawaiian cuisine, beer, music and dances like hula. If you plan to throw a luau of your own, be sure to use these hula-themed cupcake toppers from Oh Happy Day!

8. Hawaiian Plumeria Papercraft

Have you seen Hawaiian women walk around with a flower behind their ears? Well, that is the plumeria! Plumeria leis are also presented to visitors as a way of welcoming them. If you ever receive a plumeria lei, you shouldn’t toss it into the trash; instead, it should be disposed of traditionally – buried, burned or hung from a tree. Check out Hawaii Travel with Kids to make some pretty paper plumerias to put behind your ear!

9. Printable Tiki Mask Set

If you visit Hawaii, you’ll find Tiki masks in many places. A lot of Hawaiians believe that they scare away evil spirits and bring good fortune. They often choose their Tiki mask with care, making sure it has been made using ethical means and materials. You can now color in your own Tiki mask with this printable from Artful Clips.

10. Papercut Hawaiian Shirt Card

Our list of Hawaii crafts for kids would be incomplete if we didn’t feature a colorful Hawaiian shirt! This craft is from Lia Griffith and represents the floral shirt that’s become synonymous with Hawaii. It’s also called the ‘aloha shirt’, and is usually short-sleeved and worn untucked. They’re available in multiple prints, especially flowers or Polynesian symbols.

11. Recycled Bottle 3D Palm Tree

In July 2015, Hawaii became the first American state to completely ban single-use plastic bags. Hawaiian people share a close bond with nature, and they take great care to maintain their surroundings, including getting rid of plastic. Let’s celebrate this spirit by creating a recycled craft using a plastic bottle – get the instructions over at Single Girls DIY.

12. Kakamora Coconut Pirate Craft

If you’ve seen the movie Moana, you’ve seen the Kakamora – little coconut pirates who are out to steal Te Fiti’s heart from Moana and Maui. However, in Polynesian mythology, the Kakamora are much more stealthy and dangerous, living hidden in forests or caves. The Pinterested Parent uses a paper plate to recreate a Kakamora inspired by Moana, and it looks good!

By the way, did you know that instead of postcards, you can mail coconuts from Hawaii? Yes, simply write a message or paint a picture on a dried, unhusked coconut, and mail it!

13. Hula Girl Pumpkin Craft

You’ve probably been waiting for this ever since you started reading this list of Hawaii crafts for kids – a Hula dancer! Hula is a traditional Hawaiian dance form performed to chants (oli) or songs (mele). The dance involves lots of hand, hip and leg movements. Female dancers wear a wrapped skirt called pāʻū, covered by another skirt of green leaves, along with bracelets, necklaces and of course, leis! Hello Wonderful brings all these elements to life in this cute little Hula dancer pumpkin craft!

14. Printable Surfboard Craft For Kids

It’s no surprise that a surfboard craft from This Tiny Blue House appears in this list of Hawaii crafts for kids – after all, surfing was invented in Hawaii! It is understood that beach boys at Waikiki started stand-up paddle boarding, which was taken over by surfers at Maui, and then by the rest of the world.

15. Disney’s Moana Paper Doll Craft

Is Disney’s Moana from Hawaii? Well, it’s not explicitly stated in the movie, but the film does have several references to Polynesian culture from Hawaii. What’s more, Maui is a Hawaiian Demigod, so we can assume that Moana traveled to Hawaii to find Maui following her grandma’s instructions. Well, Hawaii Travel with Kids certainly goes with this theory, and gives us a fun Moana craft to make!

16. ‘The Rainbow Mermaids of Hawaii’ Craft

Ocean Child Crafts brings us a beautiful mermaid craft based on the book The Rainbow Mermaids of Hawaii, written by one of Hawaii’s top children’s authors, Gill McBarnet. Hawaii is also known as the ‘Rainbow State’, since you can frequently catch colorful rainbows across the islands. This book celebrates Hawaii’s colorful nature as the mermaids explore the wonders of the great blue ocean.

17. DIY Pretty & Easy Faux Flower Lei

You know that Hawaii has a state flower, but did you know that each island also has its own official flower? The main island has the bright red ʻōhiʻa lehua, Maui has the Lokelani rose, while Lānaʻi has the golden kaunaʻoa. Flowers are an integral part of Hawaii’s culture, and How Does She celebrates this with a pretty paper flower lei!

18. Facts About Hawaii Coloring Pages

These Hawaii crafts for kids are a great way to learn fun facts about Hawaii, and Kids Activities Blog helps out with a free printable! For instance, did you know that Hawaii has many major volcanoes? It has the world’s most active volcano, Kilauea, the world’s largest above-ground volcano, Mauna Loa, and the world’s largest dormant volcano, Haleakala. That’s a lot of volcanoes!

19. Hawaiian Shirt Father’s Day Card Printable

As you can imagine, people in Hawaii live their lives with a laid-back, relaxed vibe, which is why it’s such a popular destination for people who want to relax! In fact, many events specify their dress code as ‘aloha attire’, which means you can come wearing your colorful aloha shirts. If you have a Dad who has a chilled-out attitude and loves colorful shirts, this aloha shirt card from Hello Wonderful will be perfect for him!

20. Hula Handprint Craft

If you’re looking for Hawaii crafts for kids of preschool age, this handprint craft from The Chirping Moms is perfect! The handprint creates the leaf skirt for the hula dancer, which is a genius idea! The leaves are more than decorative; they are symbolic as they are considered to be dear to the goddess of the forest. Now you know why everyone wears them!

We hope these Hawaii crafts for kids have introduced you to at least some of the gorgeous beauty of this island state. It’s a place that has enthralled poets and artists over the ages. So much so that even Georgia O’Keeffe, known for painting desert landscapes, was spellbound by the lush flora of Hawaii that inspired her famous artwork, ‘White Bird of Paradise.’ We hope these projects have inspired the artist in you, too, so go ahead and create something fabulous!