The Doodlebops are coated from head to toe with candy colors, and for a reason.

"Because kids respond well to color," said Chad McNamara, one-third of The Doodlebops, who make their Hawai'i debut in a series of "Doodlebops Live" shows starting tonight at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.

"Before we formed the band, we got together with some kids to find out what they like," he said. "We learned that if we associate ourselves with color, it works. So we developed colors of our own."

McNamara, 26, is Rooney Doodle, and he's predominantly blue — from wig to face to clothes. He strums guitar and has had an 'ukulele inclination, too.

Lisa J. Lennox, 26, who is DeeDee Doodle, is obviously girlish in purples and pinks. She plays keytar, a keyboard instrument shaped like a guitar.

Jonathan Wexler, 23, who is Moe Doodle, is clad in red, orange and yellow. He plays drums and gets lost often.

Unless you have preschoolers at home, you may be totally clueless about The Doodlebops. But McNamara and his colleagues are the rage of the young set, thanks to The Doodlebops' TV presence on Playhouse Disney, recordings and DVDs.

And the group reaches out to youngsters for inspiration and ideas.

"We went to a preschool at the beginning of the show to observe and get to know kids — what they like, what they dislike," said McNamara.

"I'm never really around kids otherwise, and it was very helpful. I think we all found out our own personalities (as The Doodlebops) during this stage. I found myself more like a quiet teacher's helper, who would help clean the blackboard. I met this young boy; we talked stories; he must be 7 now, since our show has been on air for four years, and he really created my character. I'm very much into school, more reserved; I remember I was 3 when I started reading, and I want to represent in Rooney this boy that I met."

In contrast, he said, his Moe chum Wexler gravitated to a kid who was running around playing tag; and Lennox, as DeeDee, enjoyed playing dress-up.

McNamara grew up with "Sesame Street," and sees value in kiddie-oriented educational TV.

"That's where my generation learned to count," he said. "In Canada, where I grew up, we also had 'Polka Dot Door' (an educational show that went off the air in 1993)."

McNamara has a theater background, playing such roles as Mark in "A Chorus Line" and an ensemble member in the Canadian company (touring Toronto and Vancouver) of "Mamma Mia!" before winding up in The Doodlebops.

"I think my theater background helped me prepare for my audition," he said. "I was well-versed in facing competition."

But, he said, working for a youthful audience takes special considerations. "The children's market is really difficult because the attention span for kids is short. It took me four or five months to adjust to this; now, we're all pros on tours.

"But kids can be exciting, too. Their energy is high. They can give you way over 100 percent and you have to match it or give more. An hour and a half of this, and it can get real crazy."

There's potential frenzy whenever The Doodlebops are bopping around in full regalia.

"The second we're in costume, we can't walk three feet without a bodyguard," said McNamara. "It can be frightening."

When he's not working, McNamara said "I'm pretty much your jeans and T-shirt kind of a guy." And not necessarily dressed in blue, 'cept the jeans.

"Give me sand and ocean — and I'm good to go," he said in anticipation of his first Island visit. "I have a friend coming over to meet me, and we'll hang out. I want to take a volcano helicopter ride. But mostly be a beach bum, and hang out on the beach."