There is a reason why Maui is one of the top summer travel destinations for families with kids. Apart from the very scenic locations and beautiful beaches on the island, it also hosts a large selection of fun outdoor activities that even kids can enjoy. And if you are thinking about bringing your children on your summer Maui vacation, here are some kid-friendly activities that you might want to include in your Hawaii vacation itinerary.

Laze Around the Maui Beaches

Maui is practically surrounded by a lot of scenic beaches, including the one that fronts our beachfront vacation rentals. And depending on your preference and the type of water activities you are interested in trying, there are lots of options for you and your kids when it comes to spending a day at the beach.

If you want to go picnic and swim in calm waters with a picturesque spot, the Kanaha Beach Park, Kahekili Beach Park, Launiopoko Beach, and Baby Beach are good choices. There’s also the scenic Baldwin Beach Park which has a recreational area in case you and your kids would like to try some beachfront activities. For an upscale day by the beach, you may also visit the Ho’okipa Beach Park, Kaanapali Beach, and Kapalua Beach which are lined with some beachside villas, spas, and resorts.

So grab the beach gear that comes with the resort amenities, refresh on the Maui beach safety tips, and have some fun in the warm Hawaiian sunshine!

Visit the Aquarium

Does your child have a fascination for marine life? If they are looking forward to seeing colorful fishes, sharks, jellyfish, corals, and other underwater creatures, they will surely enjoy visiting the Maui Ocean Center. This aquarium and oceanography center in Maui is the largest tropical reef aquarium in the Western Hemisphere.

Apart from your usual aquarium visit, you may also try joining some of the activities hosted by this center. There are reading sessions that kids will surely enjoy, yoga classes, marine life, and history exhibits, as well as talks and presentations,  lead by expert oceanographers. You can take this opportunity to let your children enjoy and learn about the many wonders of the ocean.

Go Snorkeling

Maui is one of the most beautiful tropical locations in the world when it comes to getting closer to marine life. With its vast oceans and colorful underwater seascape, you and your kids will surely enjoy snorkeling and swimming with the tropical fish, turtles and more. For the best snorkeling experience in Maui, the following locations are your best snorkeling beaches in Maui: Molokini Crater, Turtle Town, Kapalua Bay, Maluaka Beach, Ahihi Kinau Reserve, and Honolua Bay.

Being the most popular activity offered in Maui, Hawaii, snorkeling should definitely be a part of your travel adventure agenda. It will also be a great tropical experience for your kids, as they will have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the Hawaiian ocean and the life underwater.

Dolphin & Whale Watching

Give your kids the adventure of a lifetime by letting them witness the wondrous beauty of the whales and dolphins that visit the oceans of the Hawaiian islands. The Pacific Whale Foundation and Maui Whale Watching are among the many tour agencies and companies that offer whale watching tours, as well as support conservation efforts. They educate their guests about life and the importance of preserving the life of these majestic creatures. Apart from the Humpback Whales who only visit during the winter season, your children will also enjoy watching the playful displays the Bottlenose and Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins do during dolphin season — which is year-round!

Visit the Maui Banyan Tree

If your child loves the nature, parks, and trees, then they will surely be amazed once they see the massive Banyan Tree, the oldest living tree in Maui. This tree was planted in Lahaina’s famed Front Street in 1873 and it was just eight feet tall. Today, it’s as high as sixty feet and its branches spread out across the area, covering more than 200 feet of the park.

Apart from sheltering the visitors of the park, the banyan tree also serves as a place for roosting for birds of various species. At sunset, island birds will be flying around and resting on the many branches of the tree, so if you decide to visit the tree in the evening, you might wanna avoid standing underneath its branches.

Take Mermaid Swimming Lessons

Does your child love “The Little Mermaid” and dreams of being a mermaid? Well then, this is the perfect time to let them fulfill this dream with this unique Maui activity! Hawaii Mermaid Adventures, Mermaids on Maui and Maui Island Mermaids are some of the tour agencies on the island that offers mermaid swimming lessons for all ages. That’s right, you can be a mermaid too!

Enjoy an Authentic Hawaiian Luau

If your kids enjoy watching shows and dancing along to hula music, then you should bring your whole family to one of the best Hawaiian luau parties hosted on some of the beautiful beachfront locations in Maui. Some of your choices include the Old Lahaina Luau, Maui Nui Luau, Legends of Kaanapali Luau, and many more. These celebrations are usually held during sunset, wherein you get to enjoy beautiful Polynesian music, dance, and stories, as well as a delicious Hawaiian buffet.

While not a full luau, we should mention that we offer a Free Mai Tai Party to our guests that include pupus (snacks), live Hawaiian music and hula dancing!

Go Sailing

Let your kids experience the beauty of the ocean while you and your family are on a sailboat. Teach them a thing or two about sailing Maui and let them enjoy one of the various sailing adventures offered on our island paradise. Tour agencies offer sunrise or sunset sailing, whale watch sailing, snorkel tours to Molokini, as well as picnic sailing during the day.

Ride the Atlantis Submarine

Another way to let your kids appreciate the abundance of life underwater is by going for a submarine ride. The most popular of which in Maui is the Atlantis submarine ride offered by Atlantis Adventures. You and your children can ride and dive 100 feet below the surface to enjoy the beauty of the marine ecosystem of Maui

Go on a Hawaii Hiking Trip

Apart from the beautiful oceans, Maui also boasts some of the best hiking trails that your whole family can enjoy. Some of the hiking trails you can visit in Maui include the West Maui Forest Reserve, Waihee Ridge Trail, Ko’olau Forest Reserve, and many more. These picturesque hiking trails and scenic mountain views will give you and your kids the chance to appreciate the beauty of Maui on land.

And if you are looking for something in your own “backyard”, guests of the 2 and 3 bedroom condos for rent here at Kahana Village have exclusive access to some exciting things to do. Yes, even the little ones! From stringing your very own lei in a free oceanfront lei making class to mingling with your Hawaii neighbors at our kid-friendly free Mai Tai party, you are sure to enjoy your stay here on Maui!