Top 3 Things to do in Maui with Kids
Maui, Hawaii is by far one of my favorite domestic vacations we’ve taken so far! The scenery is like something out of a movie and the local people that I encountered were all so welcoming and relaxed. That relaxed nature was exactly what I needed on this trip too, before that I had been so consumed with work it was time to really just sit for a while and decompress. I left the island so recharged and relaxed! Prior to this trip I searched the internet for hours to find the best excursions and places to visit for the 5 day trip I had in mind. 5 days isn’t nearly enough time to enjoy this island fully, so I settled on a few things I really wanted to do and also left two days just for lounging around at our hotel. Below I’m going to outline 3 awesome adventures we were able to experience on this trip.
- Old Lahaina Luau
The top adventure we attended was an authentic luau at Old Lahaina Luau. I can attest to all the excellent reviews that can be found online for this luau! They have two seating options available, lower tables that are up front by the stage and regular table with chairs that are farther away from the stage. At the lower tables you sit on pillows on the ground that put you right by the stage, up close and personal with all of the entertainment. If you can’t easily get up and down from low areas, or need back support for extended periods of time I would definitely recommend reserving the table and chair selection. Even though they’re farther away from the stage I overheard plenty of people say they could still see the show clearly. We sat at the lower tables for the experience and Laila absolutely loved it! The luau includes unlimited drinks (including alcohol at no additional cost) and an all you can eat traditional Hawaiian buffet. Old Lahaina Luau also allows you to come early to enjoy cultural activities prior to the feast and luau.
As far as the prior activities, we took a traditional hula dance class that Laila really enjoyed (and still does to this day). Laila was able to walk around to different sections of the property and speak with the lol al people to learn the history of the island and the importance of keeping their traditions alive. We watched the staff unearth a pig from a traditional underground oven that they included in the buffet options. After the pig was unearthed everyone was seated at their tables and then escorted to the buffet where we were able to pick any and everything we wanted to eat that night (you’re able to go back as many times as you want to refill your plate).
At sunset, the dance entertainment begins and you are shown through dance and commentary the history of the island from the beginning. It starts with the Polynesian migrations, then showcases the ancient Hawaiian hula, followed by a contemporary style of hula. The entire show was so exciting and beautiful, something your whole family is sure to enjoy. At the end of the night you can meet the dancers and staff to talk and take pictures if you would like (there’s no additional cost for this). Everyone at Old Lahaina Luau seemed to be genuinely happy to be there interacting with the guests and they don’t try to up-sale you on anything once you’re there, everything on the property is included in your ticket price.
- Pride of Maui- 5 hr snorkel excursion
Laila was 4 years old at the time of this trip and had never been snorkeling before, so I wanted to make sure if I selected a snorkel excursion the company would be extremely kid friendly. Pride of Maui exceeded my expectations as far as how accommodating the crew is with all of their customers.
Once on board the catamaran you get a safety briefing and a small breakfast of fruits and pastries was set up while we sailed to the first snorkel site at Molokini Crater. On this trip to Maui, both of Laila’s grandmas (referred to as Nani and Nini) came with us to give me more time to rest outside of activities. I took advantage of the help at the first site and went Snuba diving for the first time. Snuba is similar to scuba diving in that you have an apparatus that helps you breathe underwater in an effort to help you dive up to 15 feet under water, but it doesn’t require a certification and the air tank is above water on a raft instead of attached to your back. It was the most amazing experience once I got used to getting my air supply and breathing regularly through my mouth and not my nose. This was an add-on that came with an upcharge, but I definitely think it was worth the extra money.
After this stop, it was off to the 2nd site at Turtle Town. Here you can snorkel with not only fish, but huge turtles as well! I got in the water with Laila at this stop and she honestly wasn’t the biggest fan of being in the open ocean with visible waves. This was her first time snorkeling and I was so proud of her for trying it out, hopefully it will make the next time we snorkel easier because she will now know what to expect. I have to applaud the staff though, they went out of their way to make the little kids present feel at ease in the ocean and had so many options when it came to floatation devices for kids and adults alike.
Once we got back on board from the 2nd snorkel site it was time for lunch! They opened up a huge buffet that included hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken breast, pasta salad, and cookies. Once we left Turtle Town they also opened up the included all you could drink bar for anyone of legal drinking age (water, sodas, and punch were available on board from the beginning). If I had to give the tour a rating overall, it would definitely receive 5 out of 5 stars from me! The staff made sure everyone (and I mean everyone) had a great time and they also made sure everyone was safe the entire trip.
- Maui Tropical Plantation
A relaxing and beautiful place to visit in Maui is the Maui Tropical Plantation. We had dinner there one night at The Mill House, a farm to table restaurant that prides itself on everything being fresh. If you go here to eat and relax, I highly suggest you go while the sun is still out and request a table outside. The views from here are breathtaking!
We went back to Maui Tropical Plantation for a few hours the last day of the trip and took a train they offer at a cost around the plantation to learn about all the fruits that grow on the farm and see the other activities they had to offer. They offer a few different zip line activities, but we didn’t have enough time to try them out. We did take the time to taste the freshest fruit I’ve ever had before, of course my favorite was the famous Hawaiian pineapples. This is a great place to come to take it easy and take in some really awesome views.
I can’t stress enough how much I love this island, and I can’t wait to go back and continue exploring everything we didn’t get to see the first time around!
