Best Things to Do with the Kids in Maui
Almost every place in Maui is family-friendly. But we’ve put together a list of some of the most kid-friendly activities on the island.
Because there are so many great activities to choose from, we’ve simply listed them alphabetically. Click the underlined links for more information or to book an activity or tour. Alpaca Farm: Located Upcountry in Kula. Maui Alpaca has fun family walking tours where you can meet their alpaca and bunny ohanas. Reservations are required. Baby Beach Spreckelsville: This beautiful beach with a protected lagoon is perfect for small children. Go early in the morning before the winds pick up, and then go for lunch and walk around Paia. Butterfly Farm: Visit Hawaii’s only walk-in butterfly flight house where kids can hand-feed butterflies! The butterfly farm is located in Olowalu on the way to Lahaina. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time. Hawaiian Fishpond: The Historic Kalepolepo Fishpond and Beach Park in North Kihei is perfect for families with small children to visit. Watch giant honu (green sea turtles) bask in the sun on the rocks of the fishpond. Since it’s an enclosed fishpond, the water only gets a few feet deep, so it’s much safer than being out in the open water. It’s best to visit early in the morning before the wind picks up. While there, take time to visit the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary Visitor Center. Hulu Dancing: Lessons to learn Hulu dancing include an overview of the accompanying music and instruments, the costume and accessories, the dance movements, and their meaning. Fridays 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Shops of Wailea. Iao Valley State Park: This is a great place for hiking, swimming, and sightseeing and is home to the Iao Needle. Bring swimsuits, shoes, and bug spray. Short, fairly easy hike along a stream with small pools you can swim in. A great little banana bread stand is worth a stop on the way in. Suitable for kids, but be careful on the rocks, which can be slippery. Please note: Iao Valley State Monument is currently closed for improvements but is expected to reopen by Spring 2023. The Kepaniwai Park and the Heritage Gardens, as well as the lower stream, are still open. Kalama Park: This is a huge park right in the middle of Kihei across the street from Kalama Village and next to the Cove surf spot. Things to do include a playground, basketball courts, skatepark, and even a roller rink—a popular hang-out for the local kids on Fridays and Saturdays. Kealia Coastal Boardwalk: On the way to The Maui Ocean Center, the Maui Tropical Plantation, and Iao Valley. A long boardwalk along Sugar Beach and the Wildlife Preserve. It’s best to go in the morning before the winds kick up. The beach next to it is a great place to collect sea shells. Kihei Fourth Friday Town Festival: On every fourth Friday of the month, the town of Kihei gets together to celebrate with live music, kids’ activities, local vendors, and lots of food! Located in the Azeka Shopping Plaza. Parking is across the street. Kula Botanical Gardens: Located Upcountry in Kula. Beautiful plants and scenery. Good for smaller kids to walk around. Kula Country Farms: Located Upcountry in Kula. A great place to take the kids during the spring when you can pick your own strawberries. They also have other events for the holidays, including a pumpkin patch and corn maze for Halloween. There is almost always something going on year-round. Check their website for upcoming events or to see if they are open. Launipoko Beach Park: This lovely shaded grassy beach park is great for kids. Great beginner-intermediate surf spot. It also has a little enclosed lagoon that’s perfect for small children. Great place to relax and have a picnic. Lei-Making Lessons: Learn how to weave a leaf lei using flowers and ferns. On Mondays, 2:30-3:30 and Wednesdays, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. at the Shops of Wailea. Maui Adventure Park: An aerial adventure park with over 50 climbing elements to choose from with different difficulty levels. Kids ages 5 and above. Reservations are required. Maui Brewing Company: In Kihei. Visit the flagship location of Hawaii’s largest craft brewery. It features expansive outdoor garden seating, an open-air interior, and a family-friendly vibe. Eat at their full-service bar and restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating or at the beer garden with games for the whole family. Maui Mini Golf & Sports Park: A super fun outdoor sports park with miniature golf, bumper boats, rock climbing, and a bungee trampoline. It’s located in Maalaea just down the street from the Maui Ocean Center. Maui Ocean Center: About 20 minutes from Kihei in Maalaea. A must-see stop if you have kids. The ocean center is small, but has lots of exhibits which make it interesting for adults, too. If you are looking for whale and dolphin shows—this isn’t the place. An educational experience with fun interactive exhibits for kids. Be sure to do the treasure hunt and visit the gift shop. For lunch, make reservations at Seascape at least an hour in advance. There’s a nice view of the harbor and it’s accessible from within the park. There is also a small grab and go food stand. Outside of the Ocean Center in the Maalaea Shops, you definitely have to stop by Hula Cookies and Ice Cream for one of their delicious ice cream sandwiches. Make sure to book reservations to the Maui Ocean Center ahead of time. Maui Tropical Plantation: A great place to go with the kids! There are lots of little shops and a fresh fruit stand. You can take a guided tram tour or just walk the grounds. Be sure to walk to the pond and feed the Koi fish and ducks (you can buy duck food at the Country Market). Relax and take in the scenery—the view of the West Maui Mountains is beautiful. You can bring some snacks or food and have a picnic. Or eat lunch or dinner at the Cafe’ Olei at the Mill House—one of our favorite restaurants on the island. They also have a zipline for kids! Ocean Vodka Organic Farm & Distillery: In Lower Kula. We know what you’re thinking, Vodka and kids? Although they have guided tasting tours, it’s actually a great place to grab lunch or dinner when visiting Upcountry. The huge grassy picnic area is great for kids to run around and play and offers the most amazing sunset views. It’s the perfect place to end your day before heading back to Kihei. Picnic: Grab some food from the ABC store, Hawaiian Moons, Southshore Grindz, 808 Deli, or Island Gourmet in Wailea and picnic at one of South Maui’s beautiful beach parks. Kamaole Beach Park III has lots of shade, picnic benches, room to run, and swings. The south entrance of Maluaka Beach in Makena has the most amazing views with picnic tables, lots of shade, and large grassy areas. Shave Ice: So many choices for this Hawaiian treat! But the local favorite places are Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice and Peace, Love, and Shave Ice. For something a little different, try Bling Bing Chinese shave ice. Submarine: Kids can explore the ocean floor and see sharks, fish, and even a shipwreck in a real submarine. Be aware that weather and surf affect visibility. And since this is in a submarine, it isn’t for those who don’t do well in tight quarters or are claustrophobic. Another option is the Reefdancer Semi-sub Boat Tour which never entirely goes underwater, so you can take a “breather” on deck if you need to. Surfing Goat Dairy: A fun change of scenery and great for the kids! It’s a working goat farm where you can pet goats and even milk them! Take the quick tour or give a hand with evening chores. It does get hot here. Plan on 1-2 hours. Surf Lessons: Maui Waveriders offers small group surf lessons and is located right across the street from the Cove, the best beginner surf spot in all of Maui. If you want a more personalized experience while helping to give back to the local community, check out Surf Clinics of Maui (808) 250-2828. Surf Instructor Josh Batis is an awesome guy who helps the children of Kihei. Your support goes towards helping him to continue to provide healing through surfing. Whale Sanctuary Visitor’s Center: The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary Visitor Center is the perfect spot to spot and learn about Humpback whales. Located next to the historic Kalepelo Fishpond and Beach Park. Visit the whale sanctuary and stop by the beach park for a picnic for a perfect outing! Ukulele Lessons: Learn how to play the ukulele, an integral part of the Hawaiian culture. All ages are welcome to strum, sing and play. Every Friday at the Shops of Wailea from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Zipline through the jungles of Maui! The 8-Line Jungle Zipline Tour is a fun excursion for older kids when heading to the North Shore or Upcountry. For families with smaller children, the Zipline Tour at the Maui Tropical Plantation is fun but not too scary. It’s only about 20 minutes from Kihei, with beautiful grounds and a great restaurant. |