Maui is a beautiful place for a vacation or a getaway adventure at any time of the year. It is also a great vacation destination for a family or a group of families. The outdoor activities are endless and there are a considerable number of indoor activities available as well. Here are five fun things to do with kids for a fabulous Maui vacation.
1. Hawaii Luau Experience
This is an outdoor activity that is the epicenter of Hawaiian culture through storytelling, dance, songs, chants, food preparation and served. The Old Lāhainā Lūʻau opened its doors almost forty years ago and is located on 1251 Front Street, Lāhainā HI. The evening begins with a lei greeting and a tropical drink. There is an Imu presentation, unearth the kalua pig from the underground oven. Followed by an activity that incorporates working together or a joint action, called laulima. Dinner will follow along with the entertainment of songs and dance with storytelling that explains the cultural aspects of Hawaiian history. It is a fun learning experience that incorporates authentic cultural history. Through the years, the Old Lāhainā Lūʻau has dedicated their mission to keep the experience authentic, to collaborate with the community and other local businesses. Be sure to book a reservation.
2. Maui Ocean Center Visit
The ocean center has both outdoor and indoor exhibitions that teaches about marine life in the Pacific. Once you enter the park you will notice various outdoor pools. You can choose to tour the park at your leisure or join a tour group of four participants. There are various pools outdoors to see and experience the ocean exhibits in replica environments up-close. The indoor exhibit takes you into an underground cave with windows and viewing areas to see the ocean life below the surface. They even have an acrylic tunnel with 240-degree view angle…it is like swimming under water without getting wet. The park also offers immersive experiences such as a shark dive, snorkeling tour, a cultural and botanical plant tour that teaches about preservation of Hawaiian plant life. They also offer a sleepover experience where a child or a small group of children along with a chaperone can sleep over in an open ocean exhibit room where they can watch the sharks, sting rays, and other tropical fish swim along. Your youngsters will appreciate life in the Hawaiian waters with a whole new perspective.
3. Maui Golf and Sports Park
A unique entertainment park for the whole family. This outdoor park has a variety of activities for the kids. From bumper boats in a 4,000 square foot lava lagoon to a miniature golf course that offers two – eighteen-hole courses. If your child loves to climb walls, they have a rock wall to climb. Once the child is securely fastened into a safety harness, they may climb the 25-foot wall. If jumping around and soaring through the air via a bungee trampoline is their idea of an exciting activity, the park has a 30-foot bungee trampoline set that would give them an adrenaline rush
4. Maui Kuʻia Estate Guided Caco Farm Tour and Tasting
Chocolate is one of those treats that most kids love, as well as their parents. This would be a great experience for everyone to learn more about the process of this sweet treat. It may even give everyone an appreciation of what it takes to bring that sweet treat from farm to the store and to our homes. The tour meets in a designated location then a short drive to the nearby estate, where the cacao trees are planted. Get a close up experience of the cacao pods and learn more about the process involved in harvesting and transforming the cacao into the chocolates they love. The tour also gives the group an opportunity to taste a number of different flavored chocolates featured in the tasting room.
5. Dragon Fruit Farm and Activities
This farm cultivates a variety of dragon fruit on the property along with other topical fruits. The guided tour will give insight into Maui’s agricultural history, the farm’s history and founding story, as well as the health benefits of the fruit. You will also have an opportunity to taste some of these fruits: star fruit, apple bananas, guava, pineapple, mango, surgarcane, and more. In addition to the tour, there are fun activities such as multiple zip line rides, an alpaca tour, and an aquaball adventure tour. The aquaball is wet, slippery, and unique adventure. You roll around their man-made course that is around 450-feet long. It is similar to rolling around in a human-sized hamster ball. As the day comes to an end, extend your expereince as there is also two types of sunset dinner tours available as well as a star gazing tour.
As with all activities, especially when you have your children with you, be sure to prepare for the day. Pack the necessities for a day in the sun. Bring hats, visors, towels, bottles of water and some light snacks and a pack or two of moist towelettes. Be sure to research reef-safe sunscreen as Hawaii has regulations on the types of sunscreens that are safe for the reefs. Also, be sure to pack bug spray as there are mosquitoes on the island. Cameras and cell phones are great to pack to capture the moment for prosperity. Enjoy your time with the kids on Maui!