Hawaii for Families
Little Nomads has found the some great ways to chill out in Hawaii with the kids. What are the best friendly hotels in Hawaii for kids? and what things can you do to keep the keeps occupied and ensure that they are not bored? So we have come up with the following suggestion to help you with your planning on where and what to do with the kids while laying back in Hawaii.
Big Island
Kona Village Resort (tel. 800/367-5290; www.konavillage.com): A parent’s dream with custom-designed programs to entertain your kids, from tots to teenagers, from dawn to well after dusk, all at no charge. There’s even a dinner seating for children, so Mom and Dad can enjoy an intimate dinner for two later in the evening.
The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii (tel. 800/845-9905; www.fairmont.com): The Keiki Aloha program, for kids 5 to 12 years old, features supervised activities from water sports to Hawaiian cultural games for $60 for the full day. The resort has some great money-saving deals; for example, children 5 and under eat free at various restaurants in the resort
Oahu
Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa (tel. 800/HILTONS; www.hawaiianvillage.hilton.com): The Rainbow Express is Hilton’s year-round daily program of activities for children ages 5 to 12. The program costs $50 for a full day, including lunch, and offers a wide range of educational and fun activities. Everything about this hotel is kid-friendly, from the wildlife parading about the grounds to the submarine dives offered just out front. In three of the resort’s restaurants, kids ages 4 to 11 eat free.
J. W. Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina Resort (tel. 800/626-4446; www.ihilani.com): This resort on Oahu’s virgin leeward coast is a haven of relaxation and tropical fun for travelers of all ages. The Keiki Beachcomber Club, for children ages 5 to 12, is available daily. Activities (9am-3pm) range from kite-flying, tide-pool exploration, and snorkeling to Hawaiian cultural activities. The cost is $58 per child.
Maui
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (tel. 800/334-MAUI; www.fourseasons.com/maui): The most kid-friendly hotel on Maui not only offers a complimentary kids program year-round and an everyday activities center (daily 9am-5pm), but also makes the children feel welcome with extras such as complimentary milk and cookies on their first day and children’s menus at all resort restaurants and even from room service.
Hyatt Regency Maui (tel. 800/233-1234; www.maui.hyatt.com): The Camp Hyatt program, which takes children as young as 5 years old (and as old as 12), operates daily from 9am to 3pm and offers young guests a range of activities, from “Olympic Games” to a scavenger hunt. The cost is $60 for a full day.
Kauai
Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort and Spa (tel. 800/55-HYATT; www.kauai.hyatt.com): In addition to the Camp Hyatt program (for kids ages 3-12), it’s the collection of swimming pools — freshwater and salt, with slides, waterfalls, and secret lagoons — that makes this oceanfront Hyatt a real kids’ paradise. During the summer months and the holiday season, there’s Rock Hyatt, an activity room for teens to gather in and play electronic games. Summertime also boasts Family Fun Theatre Nights, when the whole family can enjoy a showing of one of the more than 400 movies filmed on Kauai.
Family friendly activities in Hawaii
Big Island
Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Centre A museum dedicated to the memory of Hawaii’s first astronaut who perished aboard the Challenger Mission in 1986. The center’s interactive exhibits and videos tell the history of manned space flight, physics and daily life in space.
Dolphin Quest Situated at the Hilton Waikaloa Village, experience dolphins close up with interactive programs which will leave you and your kids with memories of a lifetime. Programs run for kids from 5 years old up. (www.dolphinquest.org)
Oahu
Atlantis Submarine An eye-opening experience, taking you to the bottom of the ocean! See real marine life up close, descending 100 feet underwater in the submarine. Hint: book in advance online and save 10%! (www.atlantisadventures.com)
Honolulu Zoo Home to over 1,000 mammals, birds and reptiles, including lions, giraffes, hippo’s, elephants, monkeys etc. There is also a children’s zoo, where kids can meet domestic animals up close. (www.honoluluzoo.org)
Polynesian Cultural Center Hawaii’s top paid attraction – 7 native villages provide participation experience of Hawaiian and other South Pacific cultures; experience Hawaii’s most authentic luau and the world’s larges Polynesian night show. (www.polynesia.com)
Sea Life Park 62-acre ocean theme park – swim with dolphins, come face to face with Sea Lions, play like a pirate or just kick back and watch thrilling animal shows. (www.sealifeparkhawaii.com)
Waimea Falls Park A wonderful way to spend the day – 4 themed areas featuring nature, adventure, Hawaiian culture and a children’s play centre. Activities include horseback riding, hiking, kayaking and mountain biking. Swim under spectacular waterfalls and watch the Hawaiian warrior diving games.
Maui
Haleakala Bike Company Hawaii’s most experienced, most affordable downhill tour company. Older boys and dads will enjoy the ‘Extreme Bikers Mountain Special’ tour, but there are gentle bike tours too. (www.bikemaui.com)
Maui Ocean Center State-of-the-art marine park dedicated to fostering understanding, wonder and respect for Hawaii’s marine life. See spectacular live coral displays, marvel at elusive garden eels and majestic lionfish, muse at the colorful Hawaiian wrasse, enjoy playful swimming displays by Hawai‘i’s beloved green sea turtles and awe at close encounters with sharks, rays and more, all while learning about Hawai‘i’s natural history and cultural heritage. (www.mauioceancenter.com)
Makena Stables Horse riding tours with views of spectacular lava flows and outer islands. The stables offer guided groups with maximum 6 people, catering for children over 13 years old accompanied by an adult. (www.makenastables.com)
Whale Watching Adventures The Pacific Whale Foundation offers trips to see whales, dolphins and coral reefs with sea turtles. Summer camps for children over 5 also available. (www.pacificwhale.org)
Kauai
Kauai Children’s Discovery Museum Science, art and cultural exploratory museum with hands-on touch, see, feel and learn experiences. Dedicated areas and programs for kids of all ages (from birth up!) including StarLab, Early Childhood Centre, Treehouse Reading Room, and ‘Pure Play’ areas (www.kcdm.org)
Keike Adventures on Kauai Keike is Hawaiian for ‘children’. Fun, educational nature hikes designed especially for children aged 7 to 14.
Koke’e Natural History Museum Free museum providing interpretive programs and exhibitions and guided eco “wonder-walks”. The museum has an interesting exhibit on Hurricane Iniki and the damage it did in 1992 (www.kokee.org)
Suggested Reading
Frommer’s Hawaii with Kids, 2nd Edition
Family vacations have never been so easy with Frommer’s. It’s like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places local parents and kids like best. Frommer’s expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go-they’ve done the legwork for you, and they’re not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges, and tells you which ones are kid-friendly. Every Frommer’s with Kids Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, suggested age ranges for activities and attractions, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and outdoor activities. You’d be lost without them! This second edition of Frommer’s Hawaii with Kids reveals the most fun and educational experiences for kids in America’s tropical paradise. It’s full of incredibly detailed tips — right down to which hotels offer cribs and rollaway beds and which restaurants offer high chairs. Inside you’ll learn where to find interactive museums, Hawaiian entertainment, and all the best beaches and watersports for the whole family.
Please feel free to add any other hot spots for families in Hawaii.
