How to Create Your Very Own "Pa Kamali'i" or Children's Courtyard

We live in a simple house. We do not have any fancy artwork or decorations. Aside from practical purposes (our children are very active boys who can turn any place into a football field), we decided to turn our home into a children's courtyard--a safe place where their energy and creativity can shine through. It's our mini-version of the Hawaii Convention Center's Pa Kamali'i, or Children's Courtyard.

At the entrance of the courtyard was a sign that read,

Pa Kamali'i: Children's Couryard

A Hawaiian proverb states, "He lei poina 'ole ke kamali'i," [which means] "A lei never forgotten is the beloved child." Though few children may be heard or seen here, they are not forgotten. This courtyard with its art work is dedicated not only to the children of Hawai'i but to the child within each of us--that part of us which is ultimately alive, energetic, creative and fulfilled--who we truly are.

Art Work at the Children's Courtyard at the Hawaii Convention Center

While our home has organically turned into a boy's gym with a life size, human-like punching bag named Bob (if you wish, Google: "Century Body Opponent Bag") in the center of the "courtyard", we have purposefully transformed our walls into our children's Wall of Art. Our walls are decorated with a colorful paper torch at the entrance of one of our rooms, a paper samurai sword (which they call, "The Last Samurai"), just to name a few. We also have a Children's Gallery where they have their homemade Iron Man mask, Hulk Smash mask, paper airplanes, etc., on display. They each generate these artistic ideas on their own.

Most of the art pieces in our home were made by my 6-year-old son. He loves creating things from scratch, from his very own imagination. Since we started limiting their access to toys and electronics, I have seen how my 6-year-old has inspired his older brother in unique ways! It's amazing to watch a younger, more introverted (relatively speaking) child influence an older, strong-willed, risk-taking child to be more creative. He is silently leading by inspiring vs. leading by impressing or demanding (as most of us adults do). He is leading by example!

Since then, both boys have learned to begin collaborating on new art projects--often with the older child coming up with the design and the younger child taking care of the production details. They would often knock our socks off with their creativity, resourcefulness, and originality. Each new project becomes more complex and very original.

We hope to continue to build upon our Children's Courtyard, and hope that you'd do the same. It's another step towards encouraging our children to create more and consume less. It's one example of how we can raise a generation of innovators and thought leaders vs. continuing to raise a bunch of consumers.