Pau Hana

Hot times in the summertime

Heat wave overstaying its welcome? News ideas to while away the hot days (and nights)?

Summertime heat can affect energy levels and take their toll as heat waves overstay their welcome. Days upon days of rising mercury require enterprising individuals to find ways to stay cool.

Summer heat and humidity can be both daunting and dangerous. People who are unable to cool down and stay hydrated run the risk of heat stroke. Symptoms of heat stroke include a body temperature of 104 F or higher and feelings of confusion. The Mayo Clinic notes that heat stroke also may cause slurred speech, irritability and even seizures. Heat stroke is often identifiable by an absence of sweat, a rapid pulse and headache.

Staying cool should be a top priority when temperatures become extremely hot. Fortunately, there are fun ways to stay cool and beat the summer heat.

• Visit the beach. Head to the seaside for a day of enjoyment on the coast. Temperatures tend to be cooler at the water's edge, and there may be a nice breeze blowing in. In addition, you have water from the ocean, to refresh you. Always use ample amounts of reef-safe sunscreen and reapply often. Invest in a beach umbrella or pop-up tent that can shield you from the harsh rays of the sun. Bring a folding kiddie pool for young children and fill it up with ocean water close to your beach blanket so you can keep a close eye on youngsters as they do their best to stay cool.

• Get wet in creative ways. Water balloon fights can be fun, and there are many additional and clever ways to get wet and cool off. If you have a trampoline, set a sprinkler or hose to mist and let the kids jump while getting wet. Jumping, in turn, will cause extra splashing. Give little kids a regular spray bottle they can use to spray plants, outdoor furniture, toys and even themselves. They'll have a good time and stay cool in the process.

• Transform your backyard into a waterpark. An old tarp coated with a little dish soap and water can make an impromptu water slide. Set up an obstacle course outdoors where kids must run through sprinklers, jump through hoops and dive into the pool. The more variety you can create, the more likely kids will forget the heat and have fun.

• Set up an ice-cream making adventure. Invest in an ice-cream maker and spend a particularly hot day making your own flavors. When the ice cream is set, create a fixings bar with sprinkles and toppings.

• Take a trip to the movies. Movie theaters often set their air-conditioning systems to arctic levels, which can be just what the doctor ordered on a steamy day. Plan an excursion to the movies, taking advantage of matinee prices where available.

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Set up a theater under the stars

During the golden age of outdoor movie viewing, drive-in-movie theaters were a phenomenon. By the late 1950s, one-third of theaters in America were drive-ins. Over the last 40 years or so, the number of drive-in theaters has declined considerably. It's estimated there are fewer than 400 drive-in movie theaters in the United States today. Those that are still in operation face pressure from traditional theaters as well as people viewing movies and digital screenings at home.

New York, California, Ohio and Pennsylvania boast some of the highest numbers of drive-in movie theaters across the United States. The United Drive-In Theater Owners Association also lists four active drive-ins in the Ontario area of Canada.

Here on Maui, we get to enjoy the Maui Film Festival's Celestial Cinema, but that's only for five days in early June. With so many clear, beautiful nights, think about constructing your own outdoor theater in the comfort of your backyard.

• Concession sales provided much of the revenue of drive-in theaters in their glory days. When creating an outdoor viewing experience at home, don't forget to make food part of the experience. A classic popcorn maker can keep freshly popped corn ready on demand. In addition, fire up the grill to ensure there are plenty of tasty items available.

• Projectors enable viewers to display a movie on just about any large, unobscured surface. While a large, hanging sheet can be handy, any smooth surface on your home, such as a large expanse of wall, can do the trick. Projectors now come in various sizes, and there are some pocket-sized varieties that can work with phones and other mobile devices.

• Create multi-leveled viewing by setting up seating on an incline in the yard, if available. Otherwise, place lawn chairs toward the back and have viewers in the front sit on blankets or towels so they do not obscure the screen for viewers in the back.

• Choose a family-friendly or kitschy movie to display. Delve into the classics of your movie library. Imagine seeing "Jaws" on a big screen once more or a cult-classic like "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

• Build in some intermission time when everyone can get up from their chairs or picnic blankets and mingle. Also, plan some pre- and post-viewing activities. Drive-in theaters were known to include some additional entertainment to boost attendance. Having a dance party or including some carnival-type games can make for a well-rounded and enjoyable night.

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Bridge generations with family game nights

Family game nights can be a great way for families to disconnect from their devices and spend quality time together. Much in the way that family dinners can facilitate conversation and closeness, game nights can spark companionship and hours of fun.

Game nights are easy to organize and are particularly handy on those nights when there's not much to do or when the weather makes too much physical activity not a good choice.

To get started, use these game ideas as a catalyst for fun.

• Stick to the classics. Certain games remain tried and true family favorites. These include "Monopoly," "Trouble," "Risk," "Clue," "Scrabble," "Cranium" or "Apples to Apples." Adults who had a favorite game growing up can play it with their own children and see who outsmarts who.

• Learn card games. From "War" to "Spades" to "Gin" to "Uno" or even poker, many card games have withstood the test of time. This is a great way to bridge gaps between grandparents and grandchildren. The older generation can teach these familiar games to children, and everyone can join in the fun.

• Strengthen drama skills. Charades or Pictionary are games in which teams must act out (or draw out) a word or phrase based on certain categories and have others on their side guess what is being mimed or drawn. These games often leads to lots of laughs and stumped participants.

• Shop for new fun. Take a family trip to a toy store or another retailer and browse the games aisle. Let each family member pick out a game that appeals to them and then include them in your family game night rotation.

Families can engage and converse over entertaining games that bridge generations.