Hawaii family-friendly travel guide

Hawaii with kids

Touting palm-studded surf towns, verdant jungles and glistening black sand volcanic beaches, Hawaii (Hawai’i to the locals) is heaven on earth for families seeking an experience-packed tropical escape.

Hawaii conjures up images of exotic hula dancers, swaying palm trees and crystal clear water. With hundreds of beaches scattered around the six main islands of Hawaii this picture is indeed true, however, the ‘Islands of Aloha’ offer so much more.

Hawaii’s eight main islands are Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui and Hawaii (also known as the Big Island). The four largest and most family-friendly are Maui, Kaua’i, O’ahu and Big Island. Each island has its own unique character, culture, and attractions for families.

The beaches, hiking, cultural experiences, wildlife and national parks are all part of what makes Hawaii so great for families.

where

Where to go in Hawaii with kids

O’ahu

O’ahu is the beating heart of Hawai’i, home to most of the state’s population. Home to bustling Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach, laidback surf towns and revered monuments. This vibrant island is a bonanza of shopping, dining and entertainment options.

Surfing

The legendary ‘father of modern surfing’, Duke Kahanamoku, grew up surfing the waves of Waikiki. 

A Hawaiian holiday wouldn’t be complete without surfing. The waves are gentle and the waters calm. Head to O’ahu’s North Shore for a once-in-a-lifetime experience paddling with Hina and Aka, the wave-catching pooches of Hawaii Surf Dogs. Or book a private lesson for groms as young as three at 808 Surf School.

On Waikiki Beach, Ohana Surf Project offers private family lessons. It’s also a great spot to enjoy a thrilling ride on a traditional outrigger canoe.

Thrill seekers can head to Waimea Bay for some big wave surfing.

Dole Plantation

Sunkissed and surfed out, head to the famed Dole Plantation ‘pineapple experience’. Lose yourselves in the world’s largest maze and tour the grounds on the Pineapple Express. Then devour icy scoops of sweet pineapple-flavoured soft serve.

Pearl Harbor

Bring history to life with a visit to Pearl Harbor. You can wander through the hangars of the Pacific Aviation Museum and marvel at WWII aircraft. Then board the USS Missouri battleship or take a fascinating boat ride to the floating USS Arizona Memorial.

Sea Life Park

Around half an hour’s drive away, Sea Life Park promises hours of wildlife fun for kids. Children of all ages will love learning traditions such as lei making and hula as they explore the interactive villages at the unforgettable Polynesian Cultural Centre in Laie.

Maui

Maui is utterly jaw-dropping, home to lush valleys, two volcanoes and a kaleidoscope of beaches to suit any mood. It is the second largest in Hawaii’s chain of islands.

If you go to only one island other than Oahu during your holiday, go to Maui. This scenic island offers visitors the chance to experience Hawaii’s true culture and natural wonders, far from the crowds of Waikiki. 

Begin your Maui mission by catching a sunrise from the Haleakalā Crater, one of the highest peaks in the Pacific. It is a deeply spiritual place for locals. It’s also the location of the Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory, and the Surfing Goat Dairy Farm where your little ones can feed the resident goats.

Road trip

For the ultimate Aloha State road trip, follow the picturesque Hana Highway, stretching from Kahului to Hana and scattered with towering waterfalls, cinder-black beaches and charming seaside towns perfect for pitstops.

Whale watching

Maui is one of the world’s best places to spot humpback whales. They migrate past Maui from November to May. Pacwhale EcoAdventures offers a range of eco-friendly whale-watching experiences departing from Lahaina and Mā’alaea Harbour. The tours are led by certified marine naturalists for a fun and informative look into the behaviour of these incredible mammals.

Lahaina is actually an old whaling village and as many as 1500 sailors would take leave here in the 1880s, including Herman Melville who wrote the classic novel Moby Dick.

Lahaina village

The historic seaside village of Lahaina is another unmissable destination. Wander through its sun-drenched streets to discover more than 1,000 years of history. As the sun drops into another Maui sunset, head to Old Lahaina Luau for a local feast and traditional dances with ocean views as your backdrop.

Make time for a traditional luau at Old Lahaina Luau. A fabulous venue to experience coconut pudding and taro cooked in an imu (earth oven), followed by hula dancing under the stars.

Kaua’i

The aptly named Garden Island is draped with lush rainforests and emerald valleys. Around 90 per cent of Kaua’i is inaccessible by car, so hiking is the best way to experience its natural beauty. Kaua’i is surrounded by 80-kilometres of beaches for sunbaking, snorkelling and surfing.

Scenic hikes

If you have active kids, lace up your boots to traverse Kōkee State Park and Waimea Canyon on the West Side, boasting hundreds of trails with show-stopping vistas at every turn.

Horse riding

Horseback riding is a fantastic way to experience the island, trotting through sugar cane fields and past secluded beaches. Several companies offer guided tours ranging from 90 minutes to five hours. There’s plenty of time to stop for snacks and pictures too. Some offer the opportunity to visit privately owned ranches littered with secret vistas and hidden waterfalls.

Zipline

For something a little faster-paced, Skyline Hawaii – Poipu Zipline Tours lets you soar above cloud-swathed jungles across three different valleys. Or try a ‘Family Fun’ zipline tour for ages ten and over to learn about Hawai’i’s rich culture from the sky.

Poipū Beach Park

Poipū Beach Park is a favourite spot for families. It has lifeguard services, picnic facilities and a natural wading pool for young children. Just off the crescent-shaped beach lies a popular bodyboarding site for teens. The area is a snorkelling dream. Explore the park’s sheltered tide pools teeming with bright corals and flashy fish.

Big Island

The Big Island is still growing, thanks to one of the world’s most active volcanoes which has been erupting since 1983! Known as the world’s only drive-in volcano, Kilauea produces enough lava to resurface a 32-kilometre, two-lane road daily. 

If the sheer size of Big Island doesn’t leave you breathless, its snow-dusted peaks, otherworldly volcanic landscapes, wild coastlines and impossibly green valleys will. Officially named Hawai’i Island, the island is more commonly known as Big Island.

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Make your first stop UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Prepare for some of the most awe-inspiring hikes of your life. Home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes – Kīlauea and Mauna Loa – the park’s rugged lava fields, craters and ash-covered deserts can be explored at your own pace or on a guided tour. Watching Kilauea’s blistering lava flows meet the sea and walking through a 500-year-old lava tube into the rainforest is a treat for everyone.

Kids will love getting their hands dirty as they help restore the ‘āina (land) by participating in Stewardship at the Summit voluntourism projects to cut invasive Himalayan ginger from the national park’s pathways. Gloves and equipment are provided but BYO snacks, water and sun protection.

Go chasing waterfalls

Most of Big Island’s waterfalls can only be viewed from a helicopter but the twin cascades of ‘Akaka Falls State Park can be accessed on foot. Kids should have no problem trekking the orchid-fringed trail that leads to the tumbling Kahuna and ‘Akaka Falls.

Hilo Farmers Markets

To sample some of the US’s freshest produce, stop by the Hilo Farmers Markets. Open seven days a week, the markets are the perfect place to stock up on local produce, tropical flowers and handmade souvenirs. Then vsit Suisan Fish Market, also in Hilo, for the freshest poke of your life.

Lanai

Relaxation is the order of the day on tranquil Lanai. Be sure to take a family day trip to picturesque Hulopoe Bay and Sweetheart Rock, where legend has it that two lovers lost their lives – one in the waves of a storm, the other from a broken heart. Lanai City started out as a pineapple plantation town in the early 1900s and is a great place for shopping and inexpensive dining.

Molokai

As the least developed of Hawaiis main islands, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you arrive on Molokai. This island may be serene, but looks can be deceiving because Molokai is Hawaii’s adventure capital. Try sport fishing, hiking to Mo’oula Falls, or taking a mule ride to Kalaupapa Peninsula, there’s something here for everyone.

Be sure to visit Kapuaiwa Coconut Beach Park, a royal coconut grove planted in the 1860s. The safest (and most memorable) view is just off the highway at sunset. Fishponds the locals built about 800 years ago from lava boulders and coral are also worth a look.

Molokai has a strong focus on sustainability and preservation of its unique way of life.