Want to make your Maui Island trip this year without leaving your kids behind. Then don’t worry we came up with an incredible idea regarding how to successfully accomplish your Maui trip with your children.
Maui ranked as one of the best islands to visit in Hawaii even for first time travelers. Going with your kids is not a very complicated task, all you need to know is what are the best things or activities you can do with your family/kids. There are plenty of activities and attractions available to families and kids which help to spend more time with them. No matter whether you’re looking to spend for relaxing, having adventures or fun, Maui is the perfect island for your kids.
As we know that there are a number of differences you’ll see in things to do in Maui, Hawaii and things to do in Maui with kids. To make your trip more convenient we came with 10 best ideas about what are the things to do in Maui with kids.
10 Best Things to Do in Maui with Kids
1. Visit Lahaina Old Town
Visiting the Old Town of Lahaina is the greatest starting point to your Maui trip with your kids. Lahaina Old Town is home to the island’s great history and cultural landmarks that showcase the most valuable insights and glimpse of the island’s past.
Take a short walk within Lahaina city and try to spot ancient buildings, museums and cultural landmarks. Visit Lahaina Historic District where you’ll see the city’s old fort and iconic Pioneer Inn. However, the city was once used as a royal capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom during the 19th century, and those period kingdoms tried to build a number of ports including the popular Whaling Port. Go to The Giant Banyan Tree with your kids to see its long and stretching branches or trunk of the tree.
Best Time to Do: To explore its historical and cultural landmarks, it is better to visit in the morning. Visit Afternoon for buying and eating.
2. Enjoy Your Time at ‘lao Valley State Monument
Lao Valley State Monument island’s most nature centric 4,000 acres of Tropical Park located in the heart of the Maui (close to Kihei). Going with your kids to ‘Lao Valley State Monument’ is really a welcoming idea to your child to enjoy hiking amidst its lush rainforest and watch its epic hills.
Walking with its paved pathway is a great way to enjoy a little adventure feeling to your kids. Its trail is short, requiring just 0.6 miles round trip. Even kids can manage to walk its paved trails or use friendly stairs to reach. At its summit visitors could see epic viewpoint and botanical gardens. ‘Lao Needle viewpoint allows family travelers to see an emerald green rock spire straight from your final summit. However, kids even spend their more precious time at its Botanical garden to spot Hawaiian canoe plants or take educational walks. Don’t forget to make your reservation earlier which you can buy here.
Best Time to Do: Early morning between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM.
3. Explore Maui Tropical Plantation
Maui Tropical Plantation is a great stopping point for your family visitors to explore Maui island’s rich agricultural legacies and enjoy tram tours. Located in the fertile Waikapu Valley of Maui, where you and your kids could see 60 acres of agricultural and botanical cultivations ranging from Sugarcane, bananas, mangoes, coconut and Avocados to local tropical flower plantations.
Kids have an opportunity to take a zip lining activity which passes over its large area of 40 varieties of tropical crops. However families can take local tropical express tram trips around the lagoons where they can expect a process of coconut husking demonstrations. The place contains a large pond at its central part of the plantations where kids can feed the koi fish species and ducks. Don’t forget to dine at the family owned Cafe O’Lei, the most recommended hotel to children that offers lively atmospheres, beautiful grounds, and family friendly amenities.
Best Time to Do: Late morning or early afternoon.
4. Take Maui Jungle Expeditions
Going to expeditions of Maui Jungle with kids will be the most thrilling thing to do in Maui with kids. As we know that Maui is one kind of island blessed by the lush rainforest coverages, cascading waterfalls, abundance of flora and fauna and ideal location to kid’s friendly hiking trails.
Covering Maui’s rainforest and zipline activities is the most recommended activity which you can do with your family members. Take your children to the local rainforest and walk along with them on short or accessible hiking trails. While walking amidst its lush nature centric rainforest don’t forget to appreciate waterfalls and bamboo forests which you and your kids are going to see so often at every point of your journey.
We encourage you to try to do ziplining over jungle canopy or swim at family friendly pools and take any guided tours to help your kids to know about local Hawaiian plants, fruits or cultures. For deeper understanding about Jungle Expeditions or local natural beauties or landmarks, take a road trip to Hana or visit Twin Falls and Lao Valley State Monument.
Best Time to Do: Early morning and early afternoon both are ok.
5. Make Your Beach Day at Kaanapali Beach
If you wish to spend your time at the beach or simply soak in the beauty of sand or sunset/sunrise views, then you have to head to Kaanapali Beach. Beach day at Kaanapali Beach is a more ideal choice to walk in golden sands, swim in warm waters and enjoy adventurous ocean activities.
Kaanapali Beach is an ideal location for young swimmers and even kids who are aged above 8 years can swim. Thanks to its gentle shorelines and comfortable morning environment. However, snorkelling at the beach’s ‘Black Rock’ point is an ideal location to spot Hawaiian green sea turtles and other fish species. Take a simple leisure stroll with your family members at Kaanapali Beachwalk during sunset and help your kids to build sandcastles on the shorelines of Kaanapali Beach. The beach is a great destination for family visitors due to abundant family amenities such as gear rentals for snorkelings, chairs, umbrellas and easy access to beach resorts.
Best Time to Go: Visit in the afternoon and this ideal period helps to make swimming or snorkelling and beachwalks.
6. Enjoy Epic Haleakala National Park Sunrise
Sunrise at Haleakala National Park is the most popular thing to do in Maui with kids. Raising the sun above the clouds (above 10,000 feet) is the most epic thing to see here in Haleakala National Park. According to local Hawaiian languages Halekala means “House of the Sun”, which means sun from summit force to slow down and expand daylight periods. However family visitors are very blessed to see both sunrise and even sunset from above the cloud line, which looks like a painting of the sky in deep purples, gold and orange colors.
Despite Epic sunrise or sunset views, Haleakala National Park is an even more demanding attraction in Maui for kids. It is home to some of the historical sites and cultural monuments such as Pu’u Ula’ula Red hill and some ancient Hawaiian sacred places to see. Take a walk along its Sliding Sands Trail with your children or hike to its summit to see the surrounding volcano.
Note: Coming to Haleakala National Park with kids always requires some prior planning’s and reservations. Always bring sunglasses (to see an epic sunrise or sunset), snacks and a bottle of water to keep yourself hydrated and wear lightweight shoes or clothes for easy hiking or walking.
Best Time to Do: Early morning when sunrise or evening when sunset.
7. Spot Vibrant Fish Species at Maui Ocean Centre
If your kids are not very big fans of swimming or snorkelling to find fish or marine species, then it is a good idea to take them to most eye-catching attractions like Maui Ocean Centre. Maui Ocean Centre is recognised as one of the top 10 aquariums in the world, showcasing Hawaiian marine life from its thick, heavy duty acrylic.
Children can get a very close and personal feel with marine fishes or corals in its large aquarium. The centre allows visitors to see living coral reefs, sharks, stingrays, coral reef fishes, Hawaiian green turtles and some sea stars or cucumbers in 3D effects. Go to Open Ocean Exhibit, a 7, 50,000 gallon water capacity acrylic tunnel, which offers a 360 degree view of marine fish species sharks, stingrays and some pelagic species.
Best Time to Do: Visit morning time to avoid more crowds.
8. Learn How to Surf?
Maui is the ultimate destination for many outdoor activities like snorkelling, scuba diving and hiking. But did you know that place is an ideal location to surf, especially for beginners? Yes, if you made a plan to visit Maui, don’t forget to teach your kids how to surf.
Learning to surf in Maui is an unforgettable thing to do in Maui with kids. Thanks to gentle waves, warm water and availability of surfing schools. Gentle waves are much more friendly to waves in more moderate, long and low phases, and it could be done even with a 10 or 15 year old child. Choose Kalama Beach Park or Lahaina Breakwall or Cove Park for your first surfing lesson, where the sea is calm and waves are friendlier to your kids to learn surfing.
However, if you wish to take any professional surf instructors, then there are a good number of trainers to help your kids learn surfing. Places filled with a number of surf schools or groups often involved teaching and instructing family or kids about how to surf. Make sure that, don’t forget to check whether they are qualified or not.
Best Time to Do: Morning session is better for kids to learn by smaller and calmer waves.
9. Take Helicopter Ride with your Kids
Enjoying aerial views of Maui with Helicopters or Small Planes are other fantastic things to do in Maui with Kids. Helicopter tours showcase bird eye views of the island, moreover this help to cover 80% of the island land areas including waterfalls, scenic mountain ranges, beaches and towering sea cliffs.
However riding above the land offers more thrill to kids that can be a more exhilarating experience to a child. Additionally, riding in a helicopter is surely a different travel experience and it helps kids to understand the geography, wildlife and overall environment of the island. During Helicopter rides parents easily teach about specific places or attractions within islands and this kind of communication helps to build memorable family bonding’s.
Helicopter rides in Maui usually last from 30 minutes to an hour or more, but family backpackers follow some safety measures before planning a trip. Don’t forget to offer a unique travel experience to your kids about Maui Island.
Recommended Helicopter Rides in Maui are; Air Maui and Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.
Best Time to Do: Early morning between 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
10. Try Delicious Regional Cuisines at Maui with your Kids
Make a plan to eat the most delicious Maui and Hawaii regional seafoods with your family. Most of Maui’s food is heavily influenced by Polynesian, Asian, American, Portuguese and ancient Hawaiian techniques, including some flavour’s. Since Maui is an island surely you can expect diverse seafoods and your kids surely enjoy diverse and unique seafood varieties.
Taste Ahi Tuna, a sliced and lean textured fish usually served with sushi, poke and sashimi. Coconut Shrimp and Garlic Butter Shrimp, both are popular seafoods that are filled with sticky rice, savory and buttery pan sauce. Try additional seafood such as Ono, and Mahi Mahi or Opakapaka. Spending time eating with your kids is a really good way to explain the cultural heritage of Maui, cooking styles and understand the variety of Pacific seafood options.
Attending Luau is another unique thing to do in Maui with kids. Where your children not just see traditional Luau dances and storytelling, along with that, understand male and female dinings styles. Cooking heavily based on the traditional Hawaiian techniques and heritages. Dining usually includes traditional roasted pig food.
Best Time to Do: You can eat at your regular times.
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For Additional References;
Things to do in Maui with Toddlers.
Where to Stay in Maui with Kids?
Best Places to Eat in Maui with Kids
What are the Best Things to do in Maui for Free?
