A Family’s Guide to Fun in Maui

It may look like just a couple’s paradise at first glance, but Maui is really the perfect paradise for families as well. With resorts built for legendary romance and kid-centric fun, plus endless activities everyone can get behind, Maui is a great family retreat. Here are our favorite family-friendly resorts and activities in Maui.

 

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa

Hyatt New Pool 2

Forty oceanfront acres make up this gem, where romance meets adventure. A half-acre pool with waterfalls means everyone can make a splash and the kids will love the exotic wildlife walking the grounds, including penguins! Spacious rooms are ideal for families, and authentic Polynesian cultural demonstrations are beyond exciting here – these visceral shows will keep everyone wide-eyed and having a blast.

Plus, one of the best luau’s in Maui includes a show and an all-you-can-eat dinner featuring classic dishes like Kalua Pua’a, Huli Huli chicken, Polynesian rice, and others. You can also step inside award-winning restaurants ranging from Asian-inspired cuisine with a Hawaiian flair at Japengo, to a mouth-watering steak at Son’z.

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Fairmont Kea Lani

2010 Signature ext shot from Fairmont 2

Gorgeously situated on Maui’s coast, this all-suite and villa resort takes “roomy” to a new level. Following a $70 million renovation, it’s also refreshed and more luxurious than ever, featuring the award-winning Willow Stream Spa, three swimming pools, and two activity pools connected to – wait for it – a 140-foot waterslide! The kids are excited.

The Inspire Your Energy program will also inspire wellness and fitness throughout your stay, while the Kids Club keeps the kids more than occupied – they’ll be having the time of their lives. Water sports, championship golf, and tennis are also on site to keep you active. Beach villas are ideal for larger or multi-couple getaways, with plenty of space for the kids to run around.

All this set to the backdrop of Maui paradise and island-inspired cuisine throughout four incredible restaurants and four lounges. Enjoy a gourmet bakery & deli, poolside dining, and the award-winning signature restaurant Kō, featuring locally-sourced dishes inspired by the region and its history. Wind down at LUANA to take in a sunset with a cocktail, where the conclusion of each day is treated like a celebration.

 

Westin Ka’anapali

2010-The Westin Ka'anapali -exterior2 22

Mix Maui’s oceanfront bliss with Westin’s standards and you get this.

Resort villas are equally spacious and chic, offering wide-spanning residences in paradise. Situated on 26 acres along Maui’s North Beach, this resort makes for an experience you’d expect at a world-class hotel but with more room to spread out, perfect for the whole family. These villas include full kitchens and signature Westin Heavenly® Beds.

Plus, adults get to rejuvenate at the Spa Helani, a Heavenly Spa by Westin, including in-villa spa services available. And everyone can have fun at the recreation lagoon, featuring six outdoor pools, two children’s pools, and a pirate ship pool right next to the Westin Family Kid’s Club and keiki playground area. In other words, this is just as much a kid’s paradise as it is an adult’s.

Plenty of activities, including ideal snorkeling conditions, are always available, and the amazing dining options make for a multicultural extravaganza consisting of locally island-inspired cuisine, Italian, and classic American fare.

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You Know Where to Stay – So What is There to Do?

Old Lahaina Luau

Luau

If you’re looking for an authentic hula & feast somewhere off the resort, this one is unbelievable.

Start off by receiving an aloha greeting, flower lei and all. Learn about the fascinating Hawaiian history and culture – right along the ocean’s edge, of course. Gather around to watch the ceremonial kalua pig be unearthed from the “imu,” a traditional Hawaiian oven. Dig into a feast for the ages, including the Pua’a Kalua (Kalua Pig), Lau lau (pork wrapped in Lu’au leaf), Poke ‘Ahi (marinated raw ahi tuna), He’e Poke (marinated cooked octopus), Big Island sweet potato, Pipi Ko’ala (grilled beef steak), and other delectable dishes.

When sunset strikes, the entertainment begins – entertainment being the award-winning production that tells the tale of the Hawaiian people in an exhilarating and respectful way, honoring the ancestors of the land. You’ll hula yourself into total happiness.

Atlantis Submarine

Maui Coral

If you’re going to explore Maui, you might as well explore all of Maui.

Take a deep dive into Maui’s underwater mysteries and natural beauty. One hundred feet below the surface, ride a technologically-advanced sea vessel to Maui’s other paradise – the one below those stunning, turquoise waters past coral reefs, fish, and other marine life, all in the comfort of air conditioning and in complete safety.

Kids will be more than comfortable and will be truly wowed by what they can see out of the window. These high-tech 48-passenger submarines are as featured in National Geographic, so you know you’re in good hands safety-wise and when it comes to the underwater sights.

Whale Watching

Whale Maui

OK – maybe we saved best for last. Sorry other fantastic things to do in Maui, but what beats whale watching? Really.

For some of the best whale watching in the world, look no further than gorgeous, unique, stunning, and incomparable Maui. Each winter – from December through May – thousands of humpback whales make their way to Hawaii. Take a guided trip out for mesmerizing looks at the playful whales in their natural habitat, or just spot them on your own from the shore – they’re that prevalent.

So much so that Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa even hosts what they call Whale Tales, celebrating whale season by inviting their guests to learn about the humpbacks’ expedition every winter. A Maui Ocean Center expert will give lessons about the whales and on the best ways to spot them, classes that are perfect for every age group. They’ll even lend out binoculars to help you get that much closer to the majestic action.

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