Maui Kids & Family Fun

You brought your children along to Maui. Now what are you going to do to keep them happy and entertained?

See photos and video at the bottom of this page.

Maui Ocean Center (aquarium) in Maalaea (south end of central valley of Maui) 808-270-7000
Excellent aquarium takes about two hours to tour. Includes exhibits about Maui’s sea life, including live fish, sharks, turtles, rays, and others.
Maui Aquarium

Hike in the park in Iao Valley
The Iao Needle is a 2,250-foot tall rock formation surrounded by lush green mountains, in the center of the west half of Maui, 22 miles from Kaanapali Beach. Free admission. The road into the Iao Valley begins in the center of downtown Wailuku. Take an umbrella, since there is often a light steady drizzle there. Walk along the path from the parking lot. There are great views from the top of the walkway, and a lovely stream to stroll by at the bottom of the walkway. Wear bug repellant for the walk by the stream.
Iao Valley

Baby Beach in Lahaina (if they are too young for the waves at other beaches)
Baby Beach has much calmer waters than most other beaches, because an offshore breakwater blocks many of the big waves from reaching the shore. This makes it a good place for children to go in the ocean, though even here they of course need adult supervision. Baby Beach is in the north part of Lahaina. See how to find it at this link:
Baby Beach

See a different beach every day
All beaches in Hawaii are public. Try out several beaches while you are on Maui. Each beach is different and each beach is beautiful. On West Maui (Lahaina side) I suggest Kaanapali, Kapalua, Olowalu (Mile Marker 14). On the south side (Kihei-Wailea) I suggest Kamaole III, Keawakapu, Big Beach.

Snorkel (if they are old enough and well supervised)
Rent your snorkel gear at The Snorkel Store or Maui Dive Shop or Snorkel Bob’s for about half the price they charge at the big hotels. A good place to take children for their first snorkel is Baby Beach, in Lahaina, because the water is usually calm at that beach (see link above). More snorkel information on the following page:
Snorkel Maui

Bumper boats, miniature golf, rock wall climbing, and trampoline
These four activities are all at the Maui Golf & Sports Park, open every day in Maui’s central valley near the aquarium.

Hula show free at Lahaina Cannery Mall 808-661-5304
Weekdays have adult hula dancers, but young kids often enjoy weekends when the hula dancers are children. “Keiki” is Hawaiian for “children” so check for keiki hula shows.
Schedule is at www.lahainacannerymall.com

Luau at the Hyatt 661-1234 or Royal Lahaina 808-661-3611
These two luaus are more showy, so more entertaining for kids, (and less expensive for families) than the more authentic Hawaiian luau at Old Lahaina Luau 667-1998. You can usually get discounts on those hotel luaus with links on the luaus page.

Dan’s Greenhouse 808-661-8412
At 626 Front Street, upstairs, in Lahaina. Live birds and other animals and plants to see or buy.
Dan’s Greenhouse

Treasure Hunt Hiking Tour 808-661-8284
For kids 5 and over, or for the whole family, Segway Maui offers a Treasure Hunt Hiking Tour. This 3-hour tour covers two miles with light hiking, swimming in a lagoon, and a map with treasure hunting for the kids to find prizes.

Under the Banyan Tree in Lahaina
Younger kids just like running around here. Older kids like seeing the people as well as the giant tree.
Banyan Tree

Surfing Goat Dairy in Upcountry 808-878-2870
See the goats and take the tour to learn about their care, feeding, milking, and cheese production.
Surfing Goat Dairy

Hyatt Regency Hotel on Kaanapali Beach 808-661-1234
See the penguins, flamingos, swans, and crowned African cranes. No charge as you walk around the in the hotel lobbies and grounds.
Hyatt Maui

Watch glass blowing in Makawao 808-572-4527
Hot Island Glass at 3620 Baldwin Avenue (call to confirm times)
Hot Island Glass

Swap Meet 808-877-3100
Great bargains and lots of choices of fun stuff to buy at this large flea market in Kahului on Saturday mornings. Good prices on T-shirts, jewelry, hand-painted shirts and dresses, flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, and much more.
Maui Swap Meet

Hilo Hattie store Lahaina 808-667-7911
Some of the best deals on kids clothes and souvenirs.
Hilo Hattie

Ulalena show 808-661-9913
Hawaiian history told in dance and old Hawaiian music, at the Maui Theater in Lahaina. Some kids love it though others are bored.
Ulalena

Lahaina Animal Farm in Launiopoko 808-280-2597
Private tours of petting zoo and farm activities for family groups.
Lahaina Animal Farm and Petting Zoo

Zipline
Most ziplines don’t allow young children, but there is one zipline company on Maui that takes kids as young as 5. Ziplines can be dangerous, so investigate before you go. More info is at the following link:
Ziplines on Maui

Subscribe to the free monthly email Maui Newsletter for more things to do: fill in your email address below and click on Go:

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Ambassadors of the Environment
You don’t have to stay at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Kapalua for your kids and family to participate in the hikes, tide pool exploration, snorkeling, or storytelling at their Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program.  Click on the link in the preceding sentence or call them at 808-669-6200.

Learn About Maui’s Ocean Creatures
The Sheraton hotel on Kaanapali Beach has a “Hawaiian Marine Life Hale” where a naturalist will teach kids about the sea creatures that live in the ocean around Maui and at the Maui Ocean Center in Maalaea.  Click on the link in the preceding sentence or call them at  808-661-0031.

Read the booklet “101 Things To Do On Maui” (free at brochure stands in the airport and at shopping centers). Let the kids spend an hour reading this booklet themselves and finding things they’d like to do.

Dining ideas with the kids (or see lots more restaurant info in the Maui Restaurants section of this website):
Carryout from Honokowai Okazuya 808-665-0512 or Eskimo Candy 808-891-8898
Great family breakfast, lunch or dinner at CJ’s Deli & Diner 808-667-0968
Maui’s best Shave Ice at Ululani’s 808-609-5678
Pizza restaurants all over Maui listed at pizza Maui
Variety for the whole family at Lulu’s Lahaina 808-661-0808
Fun family lunch or dinner at Bubba Gump 808-661-3111
Create your own sundaes at Yogurtland 808-661-9834
Plate lunches outdoors at Aloha Mixed Plate 808-661-3322
Maui Tacos (fast food) Napili 808-665-0222 or Kihei 808-879-5005
Cheeseburger In Paradise Lahaina 808-661-0830 or Wailea 808-874-8990
Hard Rock Café 808-667-7400
Good pizza, pasta, and fun Pizookie N Cream dessert at Lahaina Pizza Company 808-661-0700
Many of the restaurants listed on our Maui Restaurants pages have children’s menus, so be sure to ask

Things to Do on Maui for everyone (not just kids or families) are at this link

Maui Hotels and Maui Condos choices are here

Maui Car Rentals discount tips on this page