Top 10 Maui Activities for Kids that Families Will Love Too

One of the most exciting activities for families is a luau! Hands down, the best luau in all of Maui (and all of Hawaii for that matter) is the Old Lahaina Luau. The Old Lahaina Luau has received numerous awards, and is considered to be unrivaled by tourists and locals alike. The show`s fame and talent even put them in the Macy`s Day parade.

This luau sells out very quickly! When you book your vacation, the next step should be to call and make a reservation for a night you will never forget.

The Old Lahaina Luau has it all! Situated on gorgeous, lush tropical grounds next to the water in Lahaina, guests will enjoy views of the islands of Lanai and Molokai`, and, of breathtaking sunsets.

Guests are greeting with fresh floral leis and island cocktails upon entering the luau. Before the entertainment begins, take a walk around the beautiful grounds; enjoy the Hawaii arts and crafts that are available for purchase. Be sure to stand near the imu as the Kalua Pig is dug up for the night`s main course!

The Old Lahaina Luau features an open bar, award winning food, and, the best traditional luau you will ever see! If there is just one activity you take in during your vacation, this should be it!

A trip to Maui is not complete without learning how to surf! Maui is home to some of the most famous surfing spots in the world! In one quick lesson, you can understand the thrill and excitement that goes with the sport. There is nothing more exciting than standing up on your board for the very first time.

There are several surfing schools available in Lahaina and all of them are fantastic at teaching kids. Be sure to book your space ahead of time, as they fill up fast.

Most lessons are held at "Breakwall" in Lahaina. "Breakwall" is where the royal Hawaiians surfed, and is also the site of an ancient Hawaiian burial ground. What makes this location so ideal for those learning how to surf are the shallow waters which make for the perfect break.

Click "View Website" for a full list of surfing and stand up paddling schools.

Who doesn’t love the aquarium? The Maui Ocean Center was named as one of the top twenty-five aquariums in the United States and is the perfect place to take the whole family. One visit to this extraordinary underwater world, and you will quickly discover just why.

Be sure to put some time aside to visit the Maui Ocean Center. The center has over sixty outdoor and indoor exhibits designed to educate visitors about our Pacific waters, as well as about the Hawaiian culture.

This beautiful aquarium features a 750,000 gallon tank with a walk-through tunnel; it is filled with sharks, sting rays, and a large assortment of tropical fish. The aquarium also features a turtle lagoon and a surge zone, a shallow reef and open ocean exhibits.

After a relaxing day exploring the Maui Ocean Center, stop by the award-winning Seascape Restaurant. Enjoy a refreshing Mai Tai or Cucumber Watermelon-Rita as you take in the ocean views and reflect on your exciting day!

Guests of all ages are introduced to the natural beauty and cultural traditions of Hawaii with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program, located at the Ritz Carlton. Through guided, family-friendly excursions, Maui becomes a living classroom where adults and children learn about the environment and leave with an appreciation and respect for nature.

Take part in such activities as a guided coastal hike and tide pool excursion to learn about Kapalua’s rich history and marine life.

Children’s programs are offered as well for ages 5-14. Environmental exploration and cultural discovery are at the forefront of these kid-friendly, expert-led activities. Staff is friendly, highly trained, CPR-/first aid-certified and has undergone complete background checks to ensure the safety and comfort of participants and their parents.

Some activities include Turtle Tracks where children will learn about Hawaiian turtles, where they nest and their importance in local culture on this naturalist-guided search that goes into the wild. Or, Survivor- Imagine finding yourself on a deserted island with no computers, TVs or video games. Here, children learn the basics of island survival and what life was like for Hawaiians in the past.

With many other fun and informative classes available, you are sure to find something just right for you and your family.

Let us state the simple truth – there is no better shave ice in the world than that at Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice. You have had a snow cone on the mainland?  Sorry, no competition. Nothing compares.

Ululani’s awards are endless. Year after year, Ululani continues to win the title of, “best shaved ice on the island.” Their homemade syrups and creative add-ons are nothing short of heavenly. With dozens of flavors, and premium island made ice cream to add to the bottom, it is tough to refrain from that second helping!

Try their “No Ka Oi,” a combination of coconut, mango and lilikoi. Add Roselani’s premium macadamia nut ice-cream, and toasted coconut to the top.

Or, try their “Haleakala,” a creation of coconut and leche flavor, topped with sweetened condensed cream.

With over six locations on the island, you are never too far away from

The Cannery Mall offers free hula shows every Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm, and free keiki (children) hula shows every Saturday and Sunday at 1pm. You can plan your shopping around your trip to the show. Longs Drugs and Safeway, as well as other retail stores, are located at the mall. Before you are finished with shopping, stop by and enjoy live music and fabulous dancing from our keiki and adult dancers.

Even if your children aren’t fans of goat cheese or goat products, a visit to the Surfing Goat Dairies is fun for the whole family! With an opportunity to hang out with goats, what’s not to like?

Maui Ag-Tourism has become a major attraction for those visiting our island. One of the very first to venture into this new market was Surfing Goat Dairies.

Surfing Goat Dairies is one of two goat dairies in Hawaii. Their high-quality products are featured in some of the top restaurants in Hawaii; these can also be purchased at the farm itself, or, in markets around the island.

They offer three different tours, each one casual, entertaining and fun for the whole family! Their "Grand Tour" allows you to feed and milk the goats, see the cheese making process and then sample their most popular and unique products.

The Kapalua® Ziplines are an adventure that will get the `ol heart to pumping and are perfect for ages 10 and up! This course is conveniently located in the Kapalua® Resort, and features over two miles of parallel ziplines! The course offers adventurers the chance to fly over water falls and forests, and also features breathtaking views of all three islands along the way!

Guests start their zip line tour at the Kapalua® Zipline office, located near the Honolua Store in Kapalua®. After check-in, you will board a 4-wheel drive Polaris, and begin your exciting twenty-minute drive up the Maui Mountains.

The course features three different thrilling tours: a 4-line tour, 7-line tour or their 3-line full moon tour. Whichever tour you take, be assured that the experience will be the memory of a lifetime.

Nothing says "Hawaii" more than the exotic sound of the ukulele. Ukuleles are relatively easy to learn and the perfect instrument for children. Lahaina Music is a wonderful store to visit, and to select your child’s very own ukulele before returning home.

Lahaina Music offers free Ukulele lessons and the friendly owners, Vania and Jason, are incredibly knowledgeable in all things music! Stop by for some lessons. Or, they are more than happy to join you at the beach or your condo.

Lahaina Music also offers guitar and ukulele rentals, for those missing their instruments while on vacation.

There is no greater treasure to bring back from your Maui vacation, than the gift of music!

Year after year, during the winter months, the majestic humpback whales make their way back to Maui`s warm waters. It is here that the whales breed, give birth, and raise their calves in the protective waters of our islands.

Whale season runs from December to May, so if you are planning a vacation during those months, you need to be sure to book a whale watching excursion. There is nothing more thrilling than watching these magnificent creatures jump clear out of the water and land in a giant splash! Your children will not believe their eyes!

These trips are not only the perfect way to get an intimate view of these marvelous creatures, but also, to learn from the educated crews.

There are a large variety of whale watching excursions available, everything from small rafts to larger boats, from short trips to longer day trips.

Click "View Website" to see a full list of whale watching tours.