Maui is a fun family vacation destination, filled with child-friendly beaches, a diverse choice of activities and a welcoming atmosphere. Once you are done swimming, snorkeling, stand up paddleboarding and sunbathing on one of the beaches near your hotel, try these unique attractions, activities and eateries.
Maui Ocean Center
The Maui Ocean Center is the largest tropical aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, and a tropical oasis for a variety of fish, mammals and sea creatures that can only be found in Hawaii.
Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice
What better way to cool off and keep the kids happy than an Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice treat. The winner of numerous awards for their exotic flavors, and well known for their finely shaved ice, as well as warm and friendly Aloha spirit, Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice is not to be missed.
Maui Chocolate Tour
As the name suggests, the Maui Chocolate Tour is all about chocolate and one not to be missed if you are a chocolate lover.
Leilani Farm Sanctuary
Located on eight rolling green acres of beautiful farmland in Haiku, Leilani Farm Sanctuary is an oasis for rescued animals, donkeys, pigs, deer, goats, chickens, cats and ducks.
Choice Health Bar
Maui’s healthy choice of eating out or on the go, Choice Health Bar is an award-winning restaurant that focuses on serving delicious, organic and vegetarian food, made from the freshest, locally sourced ingredients and which promote a healthy lifestyle.
Choice Health Bar is a raw vegan café, specializing in superfoods, with a menu boasting an array of uber-healthy delights, such as homemade soups, smoothies, juices and acai bowls (sublime mixes of fresh fruit, almond milk, cacao or maca powders, granola, hemp seeds - the list goes on).
Shaka Pops
Locally made and a firm favorite among locals and visitors alike, Shaka Pops are artisan ice pops made from the freshest island ingredients, including a range of delicious tropical flavors and combinations. Lava Flow, Passion Orange, and Strawberry Banana are just some of the mouthwatering flavors available, made from freshly squeezed juices and pure cane sugar.
Shaka Pops can be found in a number of stores in various locations across Maui, as well in mobile sites – just look out for the bright green tricycles.
Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment Program
Founded by Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of world-renowned marine biologist Jacques Cousteau, the ‘Ambassadors of the Environment’ program is offered at an environmental and cultural education center at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, and offers a great way of introducing children to the environment.
Ka-anapali Beach
Located along a perfect crescent on the west shore of Maui, Ka-anapali Beach is the ideal destination for sun seekers. The beach stretches for 3 perfect miles between the ocean and some of the island’s most attractive resorts. The sand is powder white, the water is crystal clear and the accommodation offers choices for all tastes, including 5 resort hotels and 6 villages of condominiums. There is also an excellent retail complex which includes shops and restaurants as well as the popular Whaling Museum. Golfers will love teeing off on 2 championship golf courses. Every evening you can witness the famous cliff diving ceremony at the northern-most cliffs.
Maui Pineapple Tours
Learn all about Maui’s famous and delicious pineapples on this unique, one-of-a-kind tour that takes you on a working pineapple farm.
Island Art Party
Learn how to paint the Hawaiian way with a fun-filled Island Art Party which holds classes and lessons in painting, including learning how to create a feature painting, whilst having a drink, a few snacks and lots of fun.
All materials are supplied, as well as the setup and clean-up of the studio. A variety of snacks and drinks are available throughout the session. Special family classes for children 8 years and up are offered during the day, while evening classes are reserved for adults and children over 16 years.
The studio and lessons can be booked for special events, such as children’s birthday parties.
Family-Friendly Beaches
If you are traveling with smaller kids, look for beaches with gentle waves where your toddler will be able to pour, skip and splash with ease. Some of the calmest beaches include Kapalua Beach and Napili Beach on the west side of the island, and Polo Beach on the south side.
Teenagers may be interested in surfing and there are plenty of surfing beaches, but be mindful of the coral which is often difficult to see. It’s a good idea to start with a surfing lesson or a paddle boarding lesson, readily available at most hotels.
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens
The Maui Nui Botanical Gardens have a treat in store for all nature lovers and botany enthusiasts. The gardens, which cover 7.7 acres, were established in a dune system in 1976. After more than 40 years of protecting and showcasing some very specific endemic plant species, the gardens are home to no fewer than 40 varieties of sugarcane, several sweet potato and taro varieties as well as many plants which were brought to Maui by canoe from other Polynesian islands. Although they may not be considered a traditional botanic garden, these gardens have significant educational value for anyone interested in the history and culture of Maui.
150 Kanaloa Ave, Kahului, HI 96732, 808 249 2798
Makai Glass
Inspired by the ever-changing ocean and the volcanic activities which formed the Hawaiian Islands, Makai Glass creates individually hand-blown glass sculptures worthy of a place in your home. Every piece of glass art is unique and any piece would be a wonderful souvenir of your visit to Maui. Visitors are welcome to come and watch a glass-blowing demonstration by the expert artisans, before choosing a very special reminder of their visit to take back home with them. The art works also make perfect gifts for friends. Should you fall in love with a sculpture which is too large to carry home with you, Makai Glass will package and ship it to your address.
903 Haliimaile Rd, Makawao, HI 96768, 808 419 6685
Makena Landing Park
Makena Landing Park offers visitors a small but beautiful beach from which you have easy access to a stunning underwater reef. The calm waters offer ideal conditions for kayaking and stand up paddling. The park is your gateway to several excellent snorkeling and scuba diving sites including the legendary Turtle Town site where you are almost guaranteed to have the opportunity to swim with the turtles. Because the park offers access to such excellent water sports it can get a little crowded, especially between 9.30 and 11.30 am when the tour busses arrive. The best time to snorkel here is early morning before the wind picks up.
Surfing Goat Dairy
Located on the slopes of Haleakala Crater, the Surfing Goat Dairy makes a selection of award – winning gourmet cheeses from their herd of 100 adorable goats. Visitors are invited to come and find out what life is like on a dairy farm. To this end they offer a choice of 2 tours which can be booked on line. You can opt to pay the farm a quick half-hour visit (Daily Casual Tour) to meet the goats and taste the cheeses or you can get a proper taste of goat farming by joining the evening Chore and Milking Tour, when you will assist with milking and getting the goats settled for the night. Both tours are great for the whole family.
365 Omaopio Rd, Kula, HI 96790, 808 878 2870
The Maui Cookie Lady
What started off as a charity fundraising effort in 2012 has turned into an award-winning cooking business for long-time cookie baker Mitzi Toro. Today the artisanal boutique bakery is making waves in culinary circles near and far and the Maui Cooking Lady has been featured in several publications. All the delectable cookies are hand made from scratch using fine locally sourced ingredients wherever possible, including Peaberry Coffee Beans, local Macadamias and Hibiscus Flowers. The flavors are delicious and unforgettable. You can find your favorite combinations at the bakery in Makawao or order online to have them shipped directly to your home.
3643 Baldwin Ave, Makawao, HI 96768, 808 793 3172
Hana Farms Roadside Stand
Hana Farms are dedicated to producing the finest organic and small-batch produce using regenerative agricultural practices. Their roadside farm stand is surrounded by tropical plants and is laden down with the freshest produce from the farm. You can buy freshly-harvested bananas and other fruits, healthy fresh vegetables, spices, bottled sauces and other foods and mouth-watering baked goods. You can choose from 4 kinds of delicious banana bread and take home a stock of wonderful Hawaiian sauces, spreads and desserts. The stand is the ideal place to stop for a quick lunch snack from their grab-and-go fridges or a sit-down meal at the Bamboo Hale.
2910 Hana Hwy, Hana, HI 96713, 808 248 7371
