What are some cool things to do on Maui with kids? Does Maui have fun activities for families? Inside this post I’ll share about all of our favorite things to do when we go to Maui with kids!
What can kids do on Maui?
I organized this post into a simple guide for families that want to visit Maui! Here are some of the many things that kids can do on the island of Maui.
- Go on kid friendly hikes
- Play and snorkel at the beach
- Go on some fun Maui adventures
- Try some yummy treat spots
This post is our guide to a family trip to Maui. We typically stay for one week. Scroll down and dive into this post for ideas when you take your kids to Maui.
Why we love Maui with kids!
We’ve been going to Maui with kids since my youngest was a baby (and now he’s 17!). Every two years our entire extended family goes together on a trip to Maui and each visit we love to explore new things. Now we have 15 kids that we bring across our family and everyone loves it.
We love Maui with kids because…
- The people are so helpful and friendly.
- There are so many beautiful and unique places to visit.
- The beaches in Maui are great for all ages for kids!
- It has something for everyone!
My top tip for taking kids to Maui
Balance your visit with “trip” days and “vacation” days.
We like to have some days where we have excursions (like snorkeling or surfing) and others where we just hang out at the beach and the pool for hours with very little driving.
Keeping the activities balanced makes the trip a lot more fun for everyone!
Top things to do on Maui with Kids
This post is broken down into five categories to help you navigate to what you want to find as you plan your trip to Maui with kids!
- Kid Friendly Hikes on Maui
- Kid-friendly Beaches on Maui
- Other Maui adventures we love
- Kid Friendly Places to Eat on Maui
- Treat Spots on Maui
RELATED: Traveling with kids? Here are some of our favorite airplane activities for kids!
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Kid Friendly Hikes on Maui
Maui is filled with incredible places to hike and explore! We love hiking with kids and found a few short hikes to go on with kids around the Maui.
Iao Valley Monument and Trail -Advance reservations are required for out-of-State residents. There is an entrance fee and a parking fee. Reservations can be made at https://gostateparks.hawaii.gov. The hike to see the monument is very short and steep. We also like to hike down to the river nearby and roam around on trails down there. It’s beautiful! So lush and green!
Kapalua Coastal Trail– This is a 2.5 mile out and back trail that’s flat and partially paved. We loved it for little kids because you have great ocean views and you can turn back whenever you want. There’s also a restroom near the parking lot.
Nakalele Blowhole hike– This is a 1 mile out and back trail. My kids love this trail because it’s rocky and they can climb down things a bit. Make sure everyone wears closed toed sturdy shoes. Visiting during high tide is the best. When we’ve done this with babies and toddlers, it’s best if you have a backpack or baby carrier. Caution- Make sure to follow directions on all signs and stay away from the blowhole.
Twin Falls (first waterfall hike on the road to Hana)- If you want to try going on the Road to Hana, but don’t want to commit to a full trip, this is a fun way to wet your feet. Twin Falls has a beautiful 1.8 mile out and back hike that we’ve done with toddlers, preschoolers, and up! It ends at a waterfall and there are other waterfalls along the route. We usually bring swim suits and towels to swim and play. Bring water and water shoes. There are porta potties available close to the beginning of the hike. The Wailele Farm Stand situated by the beginning of the trail and sells fruit, smoothies, banana bread, and more!
Waikamoi Ridge Trail– This is a short hike along the Road to Hana if you want to get out and stretch your looks and roam around. Wear sturdy shoes. It can get muddy. My kids loved all the vines hanging down. I loved that it was shady and beautiful!
Ke’anae Arboretum– This is a peaceful stop along the Road to Hana and it features Rainbow Eucalyptus trees. It’s a botanical garden and entry is free. We loved checking out the different types of tropical plants.
Ohai Loop Trail– This is a 1.2 mile loop trail near Wailuku, Maui. It has beautiful views and the trail is pretty easy! We did it with kids ages 2-16 and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
Have any other favorite hikes on Maui? Please share in the comments!
Kid-friendly Beaches on Maui
We’ve spent several days exploring different beaches around the Maui! Each time we visit, we try a new one and revisit old favorites. The beaches with an asterisk we visit every time we go to Maui.
- Kaanapali Beach*- We love Kaanapali Beach because its close to resorts, shops, and parking. Whalers Village is close nearby to grab lunch, a treat, or a fancy drink. My big kids also have fun jumping off rocks at Black rock.
- Kapalua Bay Beach*- Kapalua Beach has beautiful views, is calm for young kids, and is great for snorkeling. Restrooms and showers are available too!
- Napili Bay Beach– This family friendly sandy beach is great for snorkeling and seeing sea turtles. The water is usually calm too.
- Maluaka Beach– This beach is near Wailea and is great for snorkeling. It’s referred to as “Turtle town.” My kids had fun snorkeling and playing in the sand here!
- Makena Beach– Makena Beach is one of the largest on Maui. It’s great for swimming and sunbathing. The beach is south of Wailea. We typically spend most oof our time closer to Kaanapali, but we’ve enjoyed our visits to Makena when we’ve come to Wailea. Restrooms and picnic facilities are available.
Have any other favorite Maui beaches you’d add? Please share!
Other Maui adventures we love
- Paddle boarding– we rent paddleboards from Snorkel Bobs and Boss Frogs. You can also rent other beach gear like umbrellas and chairs.
- Surfing– There are so many great places to learn how to surf on Maui! Unfortunately the location where my kids learned is no longer accessible since the Lahaina fires. The company is teaching lessons in Kihei though. We used Maui Waveriders.
- Snorkeling– We usually buy snorkels and fins on Amazon before we come to Maui and then bring them in our suitcases. They are great to pull out and use at all the beaches! For snorkeling excursions we used Trilogy to go to Molokini and around Maui. We’ve also used Pacific Whale Foundation.
- Whale watching– If you’re in Maui during whale season, I highly recommend that you go whale watching! My kids loved their boat ride to see and learn about whales with the Pacific Whale Foundation.
- Luau– Luaus are a fun way to learn more about the Hawaiian culture and food. The Drums of the Pacific Luau at the Hyatt Regency is the one we’ve gone to the most. It’s very well done- but pricey! There are also free or inexpensive luaus or hula shows that are offered around if you don’t want to spend much money. Whalers Village and the Cannery Mall sometimes have some.
- Zip lining– Ziplines are fun for older kids and teens! We loved our adventure a few years ago with North Shore Zipline.
Any other Maui adventures you’d add? Please tell me in the comments!
Kid Friendly Places to Eat on Maui
- Dukes– The ambiance is great, food is delish (my favorite are the nachos!) and they’re always so awesome with our giant group of kids that we bring!
- Teddys Bigger Burgers– If you like burgers, fries, and shakes, Teddy’s is for you. It is not fast food, so don’t plan to eat quickly… but it’s super yummy!
- Round table Pizza (Maui Zaui)- If you need a quick pizza take out option, this is always a great one for us with a large group. Make sure to try the Maui Zaui pizza.
- Hula Grill– I love that this is right by the ocean and has great views. The Barefoot Bar is sandy and fun with little kids because they can play in the sand while you wait. My kids love the burgers and tropical drinks.
- Monkeypod Kitchen– Kid friendly and yummy! Noodles & Cheese are free for kids under 3.
- Paia Flatbread Company– If I could eat at a restaurant in Maui every day, it would be this one. The pizza is SO good. This is a fun stop on your way to or from the Road to Hana, or if you’re exploring Paia for the day.
- Slappy Cakes– This is breakfast heaven for kids! They get to make their own pancakes. There’s a griddle at your table so you can squeeze out pancake batter to design your own dinner. The rest of the food is delish too! This is such a fun meal and experience for families.
Do you have any other favorite kid friendly spots to eat on Maui? I’d love to hear about them!
Treat Spots on Maui
I typically measure my favorite vacation spots by their treats! Maui has so many yummy ones!
- Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice– We love Ululani’s! There are shops in Kihei, Paia, and Kahului!
- Ono Gelato Co.- One Gelato is at Whaler’s Village. It’s the perfect treat when you’re shopping, at the beach, or at the end of the day.
- Haagen- Dazs– We love stopping by Haagen Daz at the end of the day. It’s also at Whaler’s Village and stays open late!
- Island Cream Co.– Island Cream Co has shave ice and ice cream. Yum!
- Leodas Pie Shop– One of our favorite stops on the way into Kaanapali and on the way to the airport is Leodas! The pies are so good, and so is the food! Plan for a line! Yum!
- Dukes for Hula Pie– Dukes is delicious anytime, but we love it for brunch followed by Hula pie!
- Lapperts Hawaii in Wailea– If you’re near Wailea, don’t miss Lapperts. The ice cream is delicious!
We’re looking for more treat place ideas for our next trip! Do you have any? Please share in the comments!
What else would you add to this list of things to do with kids on Maui?
Do you have a favorite activity or place that we missed? Let us know in the comments!
RELATED: Need more ideas for Hawaii with kids? Check out this list of Things to Do with Kids on Oahu and this list of Things to do on the Big Island with Kids.
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