The World Is A Book - Family Travel | Tips

Maui is the second largest Hawaiian island and is filled with many natural and cultural attractions and plenty of adventures. We love this island for many reasons. Whether you’re on the “Valley Isle” for a day, a long weekend or a week, there are a variety of fun things to do in Maui with kids (or without too).

Explore Haleakala National Park

Known as the “House of the Sun”, Haleakala National Park is truly a gem to visit and worth the drive up the winding roads. We loved traveling high above the clouds to 10,000 feet. The summit area looked like an otherworldly landscape of varied red hues. It was stunning.

Visitors can hike or bike ride into the summit area for a closer view. There were several overlooks at the park to admire the dramatic landscape. The Haleakala observatory is open for visitors who want to see satellites up close.

Kids can do the Junior Rangers activity, learn many things about the park and earn a badge. Wear layers since it gets quite cold and windy at the summit area.

Many visitors come to the park to watch the spectacular sunrise and sunset. Reservations must be made online at recreation.gov if you’re visiting to watch the sunrise. These are available for a specific date and can be made up to 60 days in advance of your planned visit.

While the sunrise is very popular, we’ve never made it since we’re not morning people. But, we have visited during sunset and it was still quite spectacular. Go up to the summit about 2-3 hours before the sunset. Parking is very limited. and it gets crowded There is a lookout area and people reserve their spots with chairs and blankets.

Read more about our trip to Haleakala National Park.

Take the Road to Hana

This trip is often touted as a must do activity in Maui. The excursion is more about the 64+ mile journey than the destination which is to the sleepy town of Hana. And it really is more about the journey more than the destination.

It sounds quite daunting with about 617 hairpin curves and about 59 one-lane bridges. But, the 2.5-hour drive is very scenic with many stops and attractions along the way from waterfalls, tropical rainforest, cliffs, beaches, roadside stands and pineapple fields.

The drive and trip can take up to 12 hours and can be exhausting especially when you factor in all the stops and traffic. But, so worth it! It was an incredible drive! Read about our Road to Hana Road trip.

Hang out at Beaches

Maui has over 30 miles of beaches along its 120 miles of coastline. There is no shortage of world-class beaches to hang out and sunbathe. While you can’t really go wrong with any of its beaches, we do have our preferences. We tend to favor and stay at the Ka’anapali area on west Maui.

Ka’anapali has three miles of beach amidst palm trees and golden sand. There’s a reason many resorts have set up along this area. The sunsets are incredible and it is family-friendly.

Our favorite spot is on the other side of Black Rock by Royal Lahaina Resort and Westin Villas. Some use Black rock for cliff jumping with a nightly ceremony. There’s a wide stretch of sand and it’s usually not as crowded. There are boardwalks to walk along the beach connecting the hotels and shops.

We also enjoy Napili Bay which is less crowded and gentler waves. Baby Beach is excellent for families due to calmer waves and shallow water.

The south side of Maui also has some great beaches like Kihei, Wailea or the Black Sand Beach (Oneuli Beach). But, the most popular one is Makena State Park or Big Beach. We didn’t find a lot of shaded areas in Makena but it was a nice stretch of beach.

There are lifeguards but be careful of the surf and undertows. We repeatedly heard the lifeguards warning inexperienced swimmers.

Learn at Maui Ocean Center Aquarium

The island’s rich underwater and marine life is on full display at the Maui Ocean Center which is also known as ‘the Aquarium of Hawaii”. It is a fantastic way for visitors, especially kids, to learn more about the various local marine life.

There is a one-hour guided “Behind the Scenes” tour to learn more about caring for sharks, marine life, Hawaiian green sea turtles, and help with feeding them. The center has outdoor tide pools, many interactive displays, presentations and talks from naturalists daily.

Guests can watch scuba divers swim with sharks, rays and other fish on the 750,000-gallon open Ocean exhibit and the walk through tunnel. There is also a cultural program for some ukulele lessons and coconut weaving.

The center’s new Humpbacks of Hawaii exhibit and movie also called Sphere is an unprecedented look at the humpback whales under the sea. The 3D movie runs every 30 minutes. Check the Maui Ocean Center Aquarium website before your visit for more special events and exhibits.

Explore Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm

Maui’s Upcountry area, on the way to Haleakala Park, is filled with farms, fruit stands and verdant hills. One of our favorite stops is the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm.

This 13.5-acre farm, at 4,000 ft, has about 20 different varieties of lavenders with about 55,000 lavender plants . It smells like a spa here at some places. There are also a variety of tropical plants and succulents around the farm.

It is a great place to stroll around the farm with beautiful ocean views of Maui. The farm offers daily guided walking tours and guided cart tours. It is filled with many beautiful and colorful plants and flowers.

Guided tours, gourmet picnic lunches, and treasure hunts are not available anymore. Guests can still enjoy and explore the gardens on a self-guided tour. No reservations are necessary. General Admission tickets cost $3 per person (with a $1 off for Seniors, Military or Kama’aina).

Pet Goats at Surfing Goat Dairy Farm

This unique working goat farm located in upcountry Maui is one of my kids’ favorite places on the island. The farm has many goats for guests to pet and feed. The farm offers several tours that includes caring for the goats, milking the goats and seeing their cheese making process.

They also offer goat cheese to sample. Don’t pass these samples up because they are delicious and aren’t sold outside of Maui. These are award-winning cheese served in some of Maui’s top restaurants. Be sure to try their smooth and tasty cheesecake.

Tour Iao Valley State Monument

If you want to visit something a bit different and away from the coast with a chance to swim in a stream, Iao Valley State Monument is a worthy stop. It’s a wonderful place to learn some Hawaiian history, culture and native plants.

The main attraction here is the towering Iao Needle. There were some overlooks to have this iconic rock formation as a great backdrop. Don’t miss going on the lookout trail and ethnobotanical loop to see samples of some Hawaiian plants like taro.

The Iao stream flows through here and visitors can take a dip. You may even get lucky and see some locals jumping into them from a bridge. The park is easily accessible and easy to get around. There is a parking fee of $5 per car.

Advance reservations required for out-of-state residents. Hawai‘i residents with a valid driver’s license or State ID, can get into the state park for free. Entry is $5.00 and Parking is $10. Reservations can be made at https://gostateparks.hawaii.gov.

Go Off-roading

Maui has plenty of wide-open spaces ideal for off-road adventures. All-terrain vehicles or ATVs are a great way to satisfy the adrenaline rush (especially the active teens) and enjoy some scenic views. Some ATV tours on the island take visitors into tropical rainforest and preserves that house native Hawaiian plants and animals.

This tour can get dirty and visitors will get wet as trails go through riverbeds and muddy trails. Many of these off-road vehicles seat four. Drivers must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license. Check out Maui Off-Road Adventures for prices and more information on their two-hour guided tours.

We’ve done an ATV ride in a central California sand dune and it was so much fun. My teens have put this tour on their Maui bucket list.

Visit Maui Tropical Plantation

Want to learn how pineapples, papayas, coffee and sugarcane grow? Head over to Maui tropical plantation. Located in Waikapu Valley, this working farm spanning over 900 acres is one of the best stops.

The plantation cultivates over 40 crops that range from coffee, macadamia nuts, sugarcane and pineapples. It is free and open to the public. We love walking around the gardens here. There is also a small stream with several ducks that always entertain the kids.

For those who want to learn more about the plantation and the variety of crops, take the 40-minute tropical express tour. This tour includes a 15-minute coconut husking demonstration as a bonus. It’s very educational for the whole family. Book in advance online since it usually sells out fast.

For a great farm to table experience, do not miss eating at The Mill House. The mountain views were beautiful. Food was delicious and the menu varies depending on what’s available seasonally at the plantation.

Zip Line

For a rush of adrenaline, a zip line adventure should be high on the list. Several companies offer zip line tours around the island. Tours vary by the number of lines and location. Check the age and weight restrictions for each company.

–Maui Tropical Plantation offers a couple of zip line options. The Maui Zipline is a great introductory, family-friendly course allowing kids as young as five years old. The Flyin Hawaiian Zipline is Maui’s longest, highest and fastest zipline course. It features eight ziplines over the plants and trees inside the plantation.

–Skyline Eco-Adventures offers 8 or 11 zip line courses over the Ka’anapali area with beautiful views of the ocean. The 11-line course includes the chance to race down side-by-side on their double line. Minimum age is 10 years old and weight restrictions are between 60-260 lbs.

They also offer the five-line Haleakala adventure. This course goes over the canyons filled with eucalyptus trees with 90-foot drops. It also includes the chance to swing on a pendulum line and go through a swinging bridge. Minimum age is 8 years old and weight restrictions are between 60-260 lbs.

–Kapalua Adventures offers Maui’s largest all dual zip line course. It is so much more fun when you’re racing with family members and friends. There are options for a five or seven line course or even a full moon zip tour.

All courses include going across Hawaii’s longest and tallest suspension bridge. Minimum age is 10 years old, be at least 4 feet tall and weight restrictions are between 60-250 lbs.

Walk through an Enchanted Forest

We recently found this hidden gem and it was worth the side trip. The Honolua Forest Trail on the west side of Maui shows there’s more to the island beside its beaches. We loved this tropical forest of native Hawaiian plants, banyan trees and ferns that led to Honolua Bay.

There were plenty of chickens that call this area home too. We loved the serenity of this place especially with the sun rays beaming between the branches.

It was so enchanting and almost felt like we were in the land of the fairies and elves. This area was so picturesque that we saw a few photo sessions during our visit.

Snorkel the Waters

Maui’s diverse underwater marine life makes it one of the best places for snorkeling. It is easy to see schools of colorful fish and usually sea turtles bathing in the sand in some places.

These are some favorite snorkeling spots in Maui:

Honolua Bay is Marine Life Conservation District.
Kapalau Bay has a calm cove with lava rock formations.
Maluaka Beach in the southern area by Maken Beach and Golf Resort offers great snorkeling with many colorful fish.
Kaanapali Beach – Black Rock – This popular snorkeling spot is family-friendly. Black Rock has coral reef with plenty of fish around it.
Baby Beach is great for families with shallow and calm water.
Molokini – There’s a reason most snorkeling tours drop visitors at this volcanic caldera. It has some of the world’s clearest water teeming with diverse marine life. It is located about two miles from the south Maui area. Snorkeling here is still on our bucket list.

Several companies offer snorkel tours that usually include Molokini. Some can even be paired with dolphin or whale watching cruises.

Go Hiking

Maui offers plenty of hiking trails with varying sceneries and difficulties. Some of these trails are actually family-friendly. It’s a wonderful way to learn about native Hawaiian plants and culture while to enjoying Maui’s scenery.

These are a couple of short trails we’ve done with the kids. In addition, we also count coastal walks along boardwalks in Ka’anapali and Wailea as “easy hiking”.

Twin Falls along the Road to Hana was a fairly easy trail and walking through some bamboo forest and tropical plants that ended at the waterfalls and a small pool.
Iao Valley has a paved trail leading to the stream and the Iao Needle overlook. We also enjoyed the area with the taro patch and local garden.

You can also check out the two-mile Kapalua Coastal trail. It’s a combination of a boardwalk and rock trail that begins and ends on beaches. It meanders through resorts and dunes and with stunning coastal and ocean views in between.

Some companies also offer guided tours for families with hikes along some of Maui’s more out of the way trails that include waterfalls and swimming holes. Check out Hike Maui to book tours.

Twin Falls trail - Hana Highway Mile Marker 2

Attend a Luau

You can’t leave Maui without attending a luau or Hawaiian feast. Luckily, there are various luau shows around the island to choose.

Visitors can feast on local Hawaiian dishes buffet style, participate in an Imu ceremony to see how a pig is cooked in underground oven and be entertained by dancers, drummers and fire throwers. It’s a wonderful way to learn about the Hawaiian and Polynesian culture through dance and food.

Many of the luaus are beachside with some great ocean views as the sun sets. Some also offer the opportunity to learn and participate in Hawaiian games, arts and crafts. Many hotels and resorts, especially in the western and southern area, have luaus.

Check out the ones in the area where you are staying for convenience. We really enjoyed the Myths of Maui Luau at Royal Lahaina Resort. Other popular ones are the Old Lahaina Luau and the Sheraton’s Luau show.

Watch windsurfers and kite boarders

Maui is considered to be the world’s windsurfing capital. Its favorable winds and wave conditions attract many water sports enthusiasts especially kite boarders and wind surfers. It is a thrill to watch them practice their skills and board through the waves effortlessly.

There are some specific beaches to watch the kiteboarders in action. We’ve seen them at Ho’okipa Beach Park which is a famous windsurfing spot. The surf here is always impressive.

We recently ate a picnic lunch at Kanaha Beach near the airport and were entertained by watching all the kite surfers. We even learned the basics from a couple of the locals.

If you want some adrenaline rush, some kitesurfing instructors provide private lessons for first-timers and beginners with rates from $50-$100 per hour.

Explore Kula Botanical Garden

Located on Haleakala’s slopes, the 8-acre garden is a great stop. There are hundreds of exotic plants from all over the world including native Hawaiian plants and some only found on the islands. Visitors can explore the covered bridge, ponds, rock formations, waterfalls and tiki wood carvings exhibit.

Its location also makes it an ideal spot for some fantastic views. Kids will enjoy the koi pond, bird sanctuary for the endangered Nene (Hawaiian goose) bird and chameleon exhibit. Visitors can do a self-guided tour with maps from the gift shop.

Sample local delicacies

One of the great things about visiting the Hawaiian Islands is eating the delicious local specialties. Eat the staples like kalua pig, lau lau (pork and/or fish wrapped in taro leaf), huli huli chicken (grilled teriyaki chicken), spam musubi, saimin(fresh noodles with seafood base or Hawaiian ramen), loco moco (hamburger patty with gravy with rice and topped with fried egg), and malasadas (no-hole doughnuts).

No matter what Hawaiian island we land in, my husband’s first stop for lunch is usually a Costco warehouse store for a poke (raw-fish salad) bowl. He likes the ahi poke and has eaten them from supermarkets like Foodland too. So far, he has never been disappointed.

While my husband enjoys his poke bowls, my first stop in Maui is usually Geste shrimp truck near the airport. This unassuming food truck serves some delicious garlic shrimp.

Maui also has a lot of farm to table restaurants offering the freshest ingredients. These are a few of our favorites: Paia Fish market, Aloha Mixed Plate in Lahaina, The Mill House at Maui tropical Plantation and Tin Roof in Kahului.

We recently at at Ulupalakua Ranch Store & Grill in the Upcountry area and loved it. They only serve meat from the local ranches and Maui grown produce.

Don’t leave Maui without sampling some shave ice. The most popular place and usually with a line (but worth it) is Ululani’s Shave Ice in Lahaina. Try their multi-flavor No Ka Oi which translates to “The Best”. Actually, you can’t go wrong with any of the flavors.

See the Sunset on a Dinner Cruise

Some of the best sunsets we’ve seen have been at Maui. While it’s a magical experience to see the tropical sunset from the shores and beaches, it’s even more enchanting and relaxing to be at the ocean on a boat deck. The sun seems a bit closer and seeing the ocean and sky lit up in a 360-degree view is unbeatable.

Many sunset cruise excursions include some live entertainment, dinner and drinks. The cruise usually last about 2 – 2.5 hours aboard catamarans. You may even get lucky and spot some dolphins or whales (depending on the season) while enjoying the coastal views. Check out companies like Pride of Maui which has hula dancers or Maui Princess Dinner Cruise.

Surf the Waves

It’s not uncommon to see surfers along some of Maui’s beaches. While it’s fun to watch them catch a wave, you can join in on the fun too. Visitors (including kids) can sign up for two-hour lessons with several companies to learn the basics and proper techniques.

Packages vary from groups to semi-private or private lessons. Check the maximum number of students for group or semi-private group lessons and how much time is spent on the water.

See the Whales

Humpback whales from Alaska visit Hawaii’s warm waters during the winter for food and to breed. It’s not uncommon to see whales from the shoreline or along scenic overlooks (e.g. Pali Highway) during the peak season between December and April. Lahaina, Ma’alea and Honolua bay are some of Maui’s best areas to see whales from land.

Though, there’s really no comparison to seeing them during a whale watching cruise. There are various boat size options from rafting vessels to multi-deck boats and from private to big groups for whale watching cruises.

Decide what type of water vessel you’re comfortable with. You can also combine some of these whale-watching trips with snorkeling tours to save some time and money.

All the cruises guarantee whale sightings during the peak season. Reserve cruises in advance and mornings tend to be popular since it is less windy. If you’re visiting around February, check out the Maui Whale Festival for some great events.

20+ Things to do in Maui With Kids