10 Amazing Things To Do In Maui With Kids

Maui was a magical trip for our family. It was definitely the best vacation we have ever taken. Ask any of my sons and they will tell you hands down Maui is their favorite family trip! Here are 10 amazing things to do with your kids in Maui.

1. Haleakala National Park Sunrise

Visiting Haleakala National Park was an amazing experience. You are higher than the clouds, in a landscape that looks like it could be on the moon. The sunrise was so awe inspiring. It was like nothing I’d ever seen before.

The Haleakala volcano is the world’s largest dormant volcano. The most recent eruption was 1786. The park protects the largest number of endangered species within a U.S. National Park! Visit this park early in your trip, before your body has adjusted to Hawaii time. We rose at 2:30 am to make the 2 and 1/2 hour trek to get there by sunrise. You must make a reservation. The reservation can be made up to 60 days in advance, and at least 2 days before you go. Tickets usually sell out fast! Be sure to dress warm, as it is above 10,000 feet and can be as cold as 30 degrees!

On your way back down the mountain, stop for breakfast at the Kula lodge! It was such a cute little place, and you will be famished after your adventure to the volcano!

2. Take a Surf Lesson

A visit to Maui would not be complete without surfing! Since we don’t have a lot of opportunities to surf in Indiana, I thought it best that we take a lesson. We booked a semi-private lesson with the Hang Loose Surf Club in Lahaina. At the time, Spence was 7, Drew was 11, and Austin was 13. I was nervous about Spencer surfing in the ocean, and I wasn’t sure what type of lesson a bunch of novices like us would need. I emailed the Hang Loose Surf Club and they were able to advise me to choose the semi-private lesson. Our teacher definitely looked the part of a surfer- Dude! However, I soon realized I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, as he proved to be a great and patient teacher.

I’m so glad I tried surfing. Of course I wiped out a lot! But I also caught a few waves, even if they were small. It was an amazing experience I probably would have not done if my kids wouldn’t have been with me. We all had an awesome time, dude!

3. Lahaina Town

A major whaling port and fishing town in the 1800’s, Lahaina was the capital of the kingdom of Hawaii from 1820-1845. I love history, so of course I fell in love with Lahaina. Today, it still has that old Hawaii feel, with cute little shops and delicious local cuisine. The boys found some really cool souvenirs while shopping. I remember Austin chose a really cool Maui hook necklace. We knew the legend of Maui’s hook from watching Moana before our trip. We all had fun exploring the town of Lahaina together.

4. Napili Beach

Ahhhhh…..Napili Beach. One of the most gorgeous beaches I’ve ever seen. A perfect crescent of golden sand, it also is known to be a good place to snorkel and see sea turtles. It was fairly rough the day we were there, so not great for snorkeling that day, but the boys didn’t mind as they were always happy to hit the waves with their boogie boards. The boys took their boogie boards to every beach and had a blast. Mom tip: be sure to get some rash guards before you go- the boys all had rashes from all the sun, salt, and sand!

There is a cool little trail to walk on near the beach, which I appreciated because I can’t just lay on the beach all day, I have to have some action! There are also black rocks to climb on where you could see little tide pools, another popular activity with the boys. Any beach that has things to climb on is a hit with kids!

5. Shave Ice

So, before I went to Maui, I would have said ” I want to eat shaved ice.” I would have been wrong. It’s “shave ice” and the best place to get it is Ululani’s Shave Ice in Lahaina town. What makes Ululani’s Shave Ice so special? According to their website, Ululani’s uses purified water, 100% cane sugar, and all natural purees. But the ingredient that makes them most special is that they serve their ice in the spirit of Aloha! When in Maui, Ululani’s Shave Ice is a must have treat.

6. Jump off a cliff at Ka’anapali Beach

Ok- so this one looks a little bit terrifying. My mom will probably have a heart attack when she sees these photos. But anyone with boys knows that once they saw everyone climbing up and then jumping off the rocks there was just no stopping them. I figured the best way to keep them safe while jumping off a cliff was to follow them up there. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right? It was actually quite an exhilarating experience. I feel lucky I was with my kids, as I would have never experienced that feeling of free falling into the warm south Pacific.

7. Whale Watching

Another amazing activity we did was go whale watching. Whale watching season is officially from mid December to Mid May, although when we were there in April our guides told us that we were there at the end of the season. Luckily that did not prevent us from seeing a number of whales! We used the tour guide Trilogy Excursions, and we had a blast! Step on board a luxurious catamaran, where naturalists on the boat teach you all about these amazing creatures!

Whale watching was the thing Travis wanted to do most. He is obsessed with large sea creatures like whales and sharks. All he wanted to see in Hawaii was some whales- and I prayed that he wouldn’t be disappointed. He wasn’t! It was amazing- we saw bunches of whales- and very close to our boat. The guide said we were lucky to see so many whales at the end of the season. We were all in awe of the sheer size and beauty of these amazing creatures!

8. Watch a Luau

When in Maui, you should definitely go to a Luau. One of my favorite things about traveling is learning about the culture and history of the place we are visiting. It’s also the reason I think it’s so important for children to travel. They not only get to learn through experiences, but seeing different types of people makes them more compassionate about our differences. A Hawaiian Luau is a great way to learn about Hawaii’s history. We chose the Old Lahaina Luau, as it had great reviews on Trip Advisor.

When we arrived at the Old Lahaina Luau, we were greeted with fresh Hawaiian Leis and Travis and I were given mai tais. We had chosen the traditional low tables, so we were seated on cushions on the ground very close to the stage. Before the show, we were able to watch the Hawaiians excavate the kalua pig which had been slow roasting in an underground oven called an imu. The boys were also taught how to play a traditional Hawaiian game called ulu maika, which is similar to lawn bowling. I loved the Old Lahaina Luau, because from the menu to the show, everything seemed very traditional and authentic. Spencer said this was one of his favorite things we did in Hawaii.

9. Wailea Beach

Wailea beach is another gorgeous beach in Hawaii. The Wailea area seemed more posh and upscale then the more laid back, old Hawaii vibe of the west end, were Lahaina is located. There were gorgeous resorts along the beach, for example the Wailea Beach Resort or the Grand Wailea Resort and Spa. It was fun to see a different side of Maui. The water at Wailea beach is warm and calm for kids to swim in. There are walking paths near the beach if you want to check out some of the nearby resorts. It is just beautiful.

10. The Road to Hana

Last, but certainly not least, is the road to Hana. The road to Hana is a truly amazing thing to do in Maui with your kids. The Hana highway is a narrow road that hugs the coast and leads from Kahului to the small village of Hana. There are many hair pin turns and one lane bridges, so if driving the Hana highway is not in your comfort zone, fear not. There are tours such as the Ultimate Hana Full Day Adventure that you can take so that you can just relax and enjoy the beauty of the Hana Highway. We had our own car, so we set off before sunrise so that we could be on the road to Hana at sunrise.

The road to Hana is definitely a full day adventure. There are many stops along the way. Research the stops before you go and choose the stops that suit your family. Also, download an audio guide that will tell you stories about the highway and the stops using GPS. I used the Shaka Guide Maui Road to Hana Driving Tour. The app will give you directions to all the best spots, and you listen to interesting stories along the way. You will find bamboo forests, trails through rainbow Eucalyptus trees, hidden waterfalls and lagoons, and black sand beaches. Trust me, you have never seen beauty like this. The trip to Hana is definitely more about the journey than the destination! This was my favorite day in Maui- as a nature lover I was in heaven.

My wish for everyone would be to get to experience a family vacation like a trip to Maui. Every day was a new adventure for all of us. Doing these 10 amazing things together truly made it a dream trip none of us will every forget.

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