This summer I’m going on vacation to Maui with my girlfriend and her 5-year-old daughter. Does anyone have any suggestions on what sort of activities to do there? (Also anything you WOULDN’T recomment would be useful). Neither of us has been to this part of Hawaii before. We will have a rental car and be staying in Kihei.
Thanks!
I’ve never been to Maui, but beach activities for one. (Sand castles, burying each other, wading, etc)
5 years old is probably young for snorkeling., or any heavy duty hiking or mountain climbing.
Paddleboats?
Boat, plane rides?
Brian
DON"T do the road to Hana with a child. I could barely take it. It was full of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen, however, to fully enjoy it takes too long for a child to be entertained. I could barely stand it myself. I don’t do car trips very well. It was an 11 hour day. But I did get swim in a waterfall and stand in it and let the water run over me. That was the best part. Like in Cocktail.
To see the sights without tiring out a child, I would suggest driving to the top of Haleakala crater. It is only about 1 hr 45 min to the top from Lahaina. Maui is not that big, so you don’t necessarily have to stay in Kihei area. We stayed in Kahana, not far from Kihei.
I just back April 28th. I also went last May. Hawaii is a great place. I also loved Lahaina, and I think her daughter would like the park there. There is a HUGE banyan tree, and the child in me took over and I played in it myself. You can climb a little and it makes for great pictures. Don’t go there after dark though. This guy kept asking us if wanted any Mowee Wowee. We later found out this is typical after dark. Not dangerous really, just annoying. There is also a small island you can see from Maui called Molokin, they have great snorkeling , it is an enclosed reef and I think she would enjoy it.
The road to Hana is defintely worth it and if you don’t think you will go back then you should drive it. Be prepared they tell you 8 hours, it took us 11 and we were exhausted. But I don’t think a kid would like it. The scenery is extraordinary, but not many activities, just alot of looking.
The small island should be Molokini.
And I guess the drive really depends on the child. She may be the “good” type that can handle it, rather than the “antsy” type that probably couldn’t.
If she can stand the plane ride, that will tell you alot. We flew from New Orleans, so it was 11 hours for us. Just seeing how she does on the plane ride will tell you alot.
Thanks for the suggestions! Keep 'em coming. I’ve read about cycling down the volcano (some companies offer a “ride along” bike attachment for children who are too young to cycle) - anyone have experience with that? She is a pretty low maintenance child - OK with hiking (but not for miles and miles).
The road to the top of Haleakala is scary! Very twisting and turning, I personally would be frightened that I’d wipe out on the way down. I only drove it though, never biked it, so maybe my perception isn’t accurate.
Tip - bring a jacket, maybe sweatpants for the child for the top of Haleakala. When I was there, it was in the 80s at sea level, and very chilly up top - probably 40s or 50s. Just put them in the trunk of the car, check the temp when you get out.
You might ride the Atlantis submarine out of Lahaina. It takes you down about 100 feet deep and you see lots of fish and coral. A tour guide helps you identify fish and tells you how to pronounce the name of Hawaii’s state fish (the humuhumunukunukuapua’a). My 5 year old niece loved it.
I second the beach. (If you’re staying in Kihei, I assume the beach is what you’re there for). And I’d try different beaches on different days - they aren’t all the same. I think a little variety in that department would add to the fun for both adults and kids. They’ve got beaches with black sand and red sand along that side of Maui, as well as beaches with very different scenery and ocean views.
The guidebook Maui Revealed includes very good descriptions of the beaches, among many other things. I think it has kid suggestions too, although I didn’t read it with that in mind.
And I’d also second the banyan tree in Lahaina, 45 min. by car from Kihei. If I’d been there as a kid, I would have gone apeshit over it. A lot of boat/submarine/etc. tours also leave from Lahaina, so you don’t have to go there just to see the banyan.
Thank you, this is very helpful. I’ve read a lot of stuff about Maui on the Internet and will obtain a guidebook or two, but it’s useful to hear what people really think about what to do there.
We were in Maui last summer with our son, who was 4 at the time. We took a helicopter ride to Haleakala from Alex Air and he LOVED it! We also took him snorkeling at Molokini, and he was a little scared, so I’m not too sure about recommending it. I do recommend that you go to one of the time-share sales pitches to get discounts on these activities. Just go with a steely resolve, and you’ll do fine!
My son also loved the Old Lahaina Luau (and we loved it too!). Obligatory pic
Kihei is hot right now. It’s the hot part of the island basically. Most of the beaches are lava, so bring
extra shoes. I wore them when I went in the water because the lava is so sharp. Buy a plastic
card with the types of fishes on it, you can take the card into the water & compare it to fish
that you see. I did that it was alot of fun. There were a lot of kids on the beach, which was, of course
mostly lava…
Kalama park is a nice place for kids to play while you relax for a while. There is a nice playground and sometimes a band practicing nearby.
This public park is about halfway down south Kihei Road just south of Foodland.
Check out Maui Tacos if it’s still around.
Walk down Front Street in Lahaina, but dont buy anything. Check out the Art Galleries. Ask how much for the Kincade. Say you’ll call you broker. Bubba Gumps is good eats and lots of fun.
Dont buy gifts at any ABC stores. Got to K-mart.
Smell the plumeria flowers for me.
