Perfect Days With Kids

Maui

South Shore	Lahaina & Kn'anapali	Hanakao'o Beach to Kahehili	Kipahula to Kaupo
North Shore & Road to Hana	Northwest Coast Adventures	Molokai	Lanai

North Shore

Probably the best way to lure kids away from the beaches of South and West Maui is to talk about seeing Haleakala’s crater and also windsurfing and kitesurfing on the North Shore. Driving to the top of Haleakala, and perhaps bicycling down the volcano, surely is one of the great travel adventures for children and anyone’s lifetime. The Road to Hana, a rather long drive to a village that is difficult to describe and may require some extra explanation. You can talk about seeing rain forests, lots of waterfalls, a huge, mysterious ancient temple, exploring a huge cave and swimming in beautiful “hidden” pools below the volcano. Drop a few hints about possibly seeing ’50 to ’60 foot waves at “Jaws” (in winter only).

Iao Valley
Try to plan an excursion to Iao Valley early on a Saturday morning and stop first at the Maui Swap Meet in Kahului. Everyone in the family will find something inexpensive and appealing as a souvenir, gift or just for himself or herself. The Swap Meet also is the place to see a cross-section of “real” Mauians, shopping, meeting family and friends, and having fun.

Pick up a picnic lunch at the Swap Meet to take to Iao Valley State Park or in Wailuku while you’re having breakfast. The Iao Needle surely will impress the kids. Interactive displays at the Hawaii Nature Center ($ 10am-4pm) may be of interest to your kids, and also the banana trees, native and exotic plants in the Iao Valley Botanic Garden along the stream.

Find a quiet spot to picnic somewhere around the Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens and Iao Stream. As an alternative picnic spot, on the way out of Iao Valley stop at the beautiful Tropical Gardens of Maui at the entrance to the valley. Your kids will be fascinated by acres of exotic plants along the self-guided tour. Visit the gift shop and send some beautiful flowers home to friends or relatives.

Waihe’e Valley
Another adventure trip for kids, planned for another day in order to be able to start early in the morning, follows a trail across Swinging Bridges up 3000’-deep Waihe’e Valley to its awesome walled amphitheater (warning: only cross the bridges when the water is low and bring mosquito lotion). Don’t forget your camera because the kids will want pictures of themselves crossing the swinging bridges.

On your way back through Kahului from Waihe’e Valley head for the Maui Marketplace and its Kau Kau Corner to find the Aloha Grill. Aloha Grill serves 22 kinds of burgers, including 8 veggie types, together with one of the biggest assortment of toppings on the island, delicious hot dogs, corn dogs, and awesome fries. (Beware: the Maui Mall Megaplex will be running 10 of the latest films that your kids will want to see.)

With 16 places to eat, including Chinese, Hawaiian, Mexican, Korean, Japanese and American eateries, you should be able to find something that your kids like to eat in Queen Ka’ahumanu Center’s “United Nations” food court. (Beware: Ka’ahumanu Center includes just about every store and brand that teenagers love.)  For example, the Koho Grill & Bar in Queen Ka’ahumanu Center is an excellent place to take kids for lunch or dinner.

Ka’ahumanu Center is full of young Mauians shopping and meeting friends and you’re likely to see local entertainment in the entry court. For a genuine Mauian meal experience, take the kids to the Tamakwaya store and build your own plate lunches. Kihata’s, in the middle of Tamakwaya, may be just the place to start the family on saimin (soup with noodles and fish or beef). Don’t leave Ka’ahumanu Center without stopping at Maui Yogurt and Ice Cream.

Kanaha Beach Park
Bring bathing suits and snorkel gear to Kanaha because the wave-free Spartan Reef provides good snorkeling. Depending on their age, kids can play in the pool near the lifeguard station. Across the street is Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, which may or may not interest your children, but you can make a game out of sighting a coot or stilt or other endangered species.

Baby Baldwin Beach
On the west end of Baldwin Beach, Baby Baldwin is a pretty place for kids to swim and play around in a protected pool at the shore. There’s plenty of parking near the beach. Just down the beach from Mama’s Fish House, Mama’s Cove provides another safe place for kids to swim and frolic. Kids are always playing on the sands of Baldwin Beach County Park just west of Pa’ia and your kids will really enjoy boogie-boarding near the shore in light surf. (Tip: Baldwin Beach is packed on weekends.)

Ho’okipa
You and the kids will really enjoy spending time at Ho’okipa Lookout watching windsurfers spin and cavort offshore and the surfing action nearer to shore. (Tip: Just west of Ho’okipa, on the Pa’ia side, an unmarked dirt road that locals know about leads to a great spot for viewing and photographing windsurfers. Watch out making a left turn on the blind curve.) The parking lot for Ho’okipa Beach Park down below at the pavilion usually is crowded with surfers, especially late in the day, “talking story” about their day and the surf. You and the kids may want to drive down, hangout and checkout what’s happening. For kids who are experienced surfers, nothing could be better than surfing at Ho’okipa (and telling about it when they get home).

“Jaws”
Near the start of the Hana Hwy. trip, you can score some points with the kids (in winter) by taking a short, adventuresome detour to see a legendary surfing spot. At MM10 turn off Hana Hwy. on a paved road to the right past and along side of the bridge, turn right on the dirt road under the bridge, drive toward the boat ramp at Maliko Bay, park out of the way of boat launches (a favorite of divers), follow the narrow trail along the right side of the bay and look east along the sea cliffs for huge waves --“Jaws.” If you don’t want to go to this effort, after MM9 and before you descend into Maliko Gulch (opposite Hamakuapoko Rd.), pull off the road, park and walk a few steps to the shoreline and look east towards “Jaws.”

Meals
For an off-the-beaten-path meal in Haiku, tryVEG-OUT on Kokomo Rd. in Haiku. Fish tacos are yummy at Milagros Food Co. in Pa’ia. Across the street and impossible to miss at the corner of Baldwin Ave. and Hana Hwy., The Pa’ia Fish Market is perfect for meals with kids who like fish. In addition to a dozen different fish selections, including delicious fish tacos, The Pa’ia Fish Market serves burgers, chicken sandwiches and pasta. For dinner, besides tasty steaks, pasta, seafood and other fare, the outdoor courtyard of Jacques Bistro on Hana Hwy. (next to Charley’s, your best bet for breakfast) will be fun for the kids with its lanterns, “buzz”, music and surfers hanging out.