Top kids activities in Maui

Take a break from the beach and pool: Check out these family friendly activities in Maui

Once you arrive in Maui, you’ll be dazzled by the beautiful ocean views and soft sand between your toes. It may be difficult to leave your vacation villa or resort. If you haven’t booked your stay yet, consider forgoing the hotel for Maui beach house rentals. You are able to pick your ideal amount of rooms and location on the island. In addition, renting a beach house come with amenities such as a kitchen that are difficult to come by at a resort hotel. When booking a place to stay, these things are perfect for traveling with kids.

Traveling to Maui with kids is definitely an adventure in more ways than one. After a few days of swimming and playing in the sand, it will be a good time to explore more of the island. Check out the Top Things to do with Kids in Maui.

Atlantis Submarine

Under the Sea is where you’ll be; 125 feet below to be exact. From start to finish, the Atlantis Submarine experience is enjoyable for kids. You start off by riding a shuttle boat to the location of the submarine in the ocean. Next, your guide directs you where to look as the submarine slowly emerges to the surface. The process feels like magic. Minutes later you are off the boat descending down the stairs into the sub.

Atlantis SubmarineShortly after you find your seat, the 48-passenger submarine door is sealed and you are off to explore the world below. The guide points out ocean animals along the way. The viewing windows are wide and therefore my four-year-old son had no issues finding the creatures being discussed.  

The Grandparents, my four-year-old son, and I felt fortunate to experience ocean life without getting wet. During our submarine ride, we saw sharks, eels, rays, a variety of tropical fish, and a shipwreck. My son was intrigued the most by the shipwreck and all the fish that seemed to have found homes there. At the bottom of the shipwreck were 3 white tip reef sharks taking a break. He squealed with delight at this sight.  The ride was the perfect amount of time. Note: Children must be a minimum of 36" in height to ride the submarine.

After the submarine ride, it’s fun to walk around the town of Lahaina. Grab shave ice at our favorite place, Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice.

FreshCruiser tip: When you check-in, there is a map of the submarine route at the office. Show this to your children so they get an idea of where the submarine will be traveling and that there is an end.

Zipline

There’s nothing better than that feeling of flying through the air! Maui is an ideal place for ziplining. It is accessible, fun for all ages, the scenery is gorgeous, and safety is a top priority as companies must follow American safety standards.

Every ziplining company has different age and weight requirements. It’s important to check with the company before you book. Some companies allow children as young as 5 can take part in the adventure.

Ziplining in Maui

A little fear may begin to set in as we got harnessed, grabbed a helmet, and listened to the safely rules. We slowly climbed up the bridge to the first ziplining station and waited for our turn to zoom down. I wondered if I made a mistake! However, seconds later the screams of joy and laughter filled the air as we flew. At the bottom, I was met with, “Let’s do that again!” Luckily we were just getting started and the first one was considered “the warm up”.  The views were spectacular. I had to remind Grandpa to keep his eyes open! The first zipline was definitely a memorable part of the experience. My family enjoyed the Piiholo Zipline as it offered Hawaiian history, nature expertise, and adventurous tree top ziplines.

FreshCruiser Tip: Encourage the young-at-heart to participate as well.

Maui Ocean Center

The centrally located Maui Ocean Center educates visitors on the local ecosystem through various exhibitions. It is a fabulous experience to see and learn what is in the local water and beyond. The exhibitions include shallow reefs to the vast open ocean. The Hawaiian viewpoint of the aquarium gives kids an understanding of where they are vacationing.

During our visit to Maui, we spent a relaxing morning visiting the Maui Ocean Center. We were happy to take a break from the beach and took our time wandering through. For toddlers, there was the perfect amount of things to see and was not overwhelming or too crowded. As we walked through the exhibits we stopped to watch the Open Ocean presentation. My children were in awe that there was a scuba driver in the tank! The diver spoke to the kids and answered all questions the audience had.

For an extra special experience, make reservations for The Behind the Scenes Tour. The 1-hour tour takes guests to the Aquarium lab to learn about coral restoration and how marine animals are cared for at the Maui Ocean Center. At the end of the tour, you are given the exclusive opportunity to feed turtles, sharks, and rays. This tour is appropriate for ages 5 and up.

FreshCruiser Tip: Combine a trip to the Maui Ocean Center with a drive to the town of Paia. It’s a cute town to walk around and grab lunch or shave ice.

Capture the Spirit of Aloha at the Te Au Moana Luau in Maui

When on vacation with family, we find ourselves in a constant state of attempting to find that perfect blend of family fun while somehow finding ways to expose the little ones to the local vibe and culture of the destination.

While in Hawaii, the children naturally gravitate to the exciting pools, the beautiful beaches, and the mouth-watering shave ice.  But, how can you find an activity that will be enjoyed by everyone big and small alike that allows your family to surround yourself in the true “Spirit of Aloha?”

The luau has been a Hawaiian custom going back many generations.  It is, in my opinion, the quintessential Hawaiian celebration that is a MUST do activity while in Hawaii.  Sure, the luau is touristy.  Sure, it may even be a bit cheesy at times.  But, in the end, there is no better way to celebrate your family togetherness in a setting that will leave you and your children knowing that you are on the beautiful islands of Hawaii.

I have enjoyed being part of many Hawaiian luaus spread across multiple islands.  No two luau’s are the same – they all have their own character and flavor.  Most recently, my family and I took part in the Te Au Moana Luau on the island of Maui.

The setting of the Te Au Moana Luau truly was spectacular.  Set on the grounds of the newly renovated Wailea Beach Resort - Marriott, just a short walk from the Grand Wailea, Four Seasons, and Andaz properties, the Luau green is set perfectly within the gorgeous palm trees and tiki torches overlooking the sparkling water of the Pacific Ocean.

Upon check-in, all guests are greeted with a Hawaiian flower Lei and then shown to their seat.  Before dinner is served, there are different stations allowing the guests to participate in local Hawaiian customs.  My kids absolutely loved this part as they were able to participate in arts and crafts, get a temporary Hawaiian style tattoo, and flowers pinned to their hair.

It was then time to remove the pig (or piggy as my kids like to call it) from the pit. I thought that my kids would have been a little uneasy watching this part, but, to my surprise, they were intrigued by it! 

After our table was called, we made our way to the buffet.  We found the food to be delicious.  The salad with papaya seed dressing, seafood, poultry, and of course the traditional pork and poi along with many other selections were a big hit.  My 4 year-old went back up to refill his plate with even more pork and poi!  He must have some Hawaiian DNA in there…

Performances

As the sun set below the Pacific casting the most gorgeous Hawaiian sunset across the sky, the performers in their spectacular traditional attire danced, sang, and of course, Hula’d across the stage, leaving the audience, especially my kids with a permanent smile from ear to ear.  The host did a perfect job in extending the local warmth to everyone by telling stories of the past and by explaining the how the local traditions are seen through the various performances.  

One of the highlights of the luau for me was watching both my kids stand up and hula along with the show – they were captivated by the performers.  Accompanying the dancers and singers was a live band playing traditional Hawaiian music and melodies. 

As darkness fell over the luau grounds, the fire dancers left my children in awe as they spun and threw their torches in the air.  When the show wrapped up, my family all new exactly where we were – we were on vacation in beautiful Hawaii.

The Te Au Moana Luau truly is a wonderful way to experience the warmth and beauty of the Hawaiian culture in a way that will keep your entire family happily engaged making it a can’t miss event while on your vacation in Maui.

FreshCruiser Tips for the Te Au Moana Luau

• Plan to see the luau towards the beginning of your vacation.  There is no better way to kick off your trip. 
• Book early, before you leave on your vacation – the luau will often sell out.  Keep in mind, the luau is only 4 times each week, so plan accordingly.
• Arrive a little early to get in line. The seats are first come first serve.  After checking in, you are escorted to the best available open seat.
• This luau has a 4:30pm start time, which works well for families with younger kids.

Top spot for whale watching in Maui, Hawaii

n your family vacation during whale season with the “Whale of a Deal” room package at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa I recently vacationed in Maui, Hawaii with my family. We stayed at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa for 10 days. I could have stayed another 10 days. We enjoyed spending time at the resort as well as exploring the island. My favorite days were when we rented a cabana and took advantage of all the activities at the hotel throughout the day. If you’re considering a family trip to Hawaii in the near future, I’d recommend going to Maui during whale season. You’re able to experience the wonders of watching humpback whales directly from the beach, quite a sight.

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