Saturday, March 24, 2012

Best places to visit with kids (West & South Maui??)

This is our first trip to Maui. We went to Kauai a couple of years back and loved it! We are staying in Kaanapali and I%26#39;ve been reading that Maui revealed book like crazy. Seems like the best beaches are on south maui, but the drive is far to just go to the beach. Is there one in particular there that is a must see? Also, are there any good places to go that the kids would love? Just wanting to get some ideas, we leave June 14th. Some have said that the Hana drive would be too much for the kids, since they would be stuck in the car for a long time.

Best places to visit with kids (West %26amp; South Maui??)

Not to worry. There are plenty of great beaches on West Maui as well. The ';best'; beach for you will likely depend on how old your kids are and what you want to do. That being said, Kaanapali itself is a great beach for swimming and snorkelling. There are also great beaches at Napili and Kapalua. Kapalua Bay and DT Fleming were both voted ';Best Beach in the World'; by Dr Beach. Kapalua is great for walk-in snorkelling and DT Fleming for swimming, boogie boarding and surfing.

Best places to visit with kids (West %26amp; South Maui??)

Come down to South Maui at least once. The good beaches start at the Kamaole Beach Parks in South Kihei and go south through Wailea and Makena. Kids enjoy the Oceanarium (Maalaea).

(No favorable reviews here for the Sugar Cane Train and few for the submarine. Most kids are either bored or carsick on the Road to Hana -- sometimes both!)


There are wonderful beaches on the west side! Where are you staying and how old are the kids? With a little more info we can give more specific advice.


It would definitely help to know the ages of your children.

I hope you decide to head to South Maui at least once, otherwise you won%26#39;t know if you like it or not. The two areas are amazingly different. Easy to enjoy the Kamaole parks, playgrounds for the keiki%26#39;s and lovely beaches. We are partial to South Maui, but thoroughly enjoy West Maui as well. Maluaka Beach is definitely one of my favorites, Here is a link that I like with bits of info on the various beaches on the islands - www.hawaiiweb.com/maui/beaches/default.htm

It would be easy to combine a visit to Iao Valley and Kepaniwai Heritage Park with a trip to South Maui. Iao is lush and green, historical and beautiful. Kepaniwai is just before the entrance to Iao - we go afterwards, and the little representations of the immigrants living quarters is fascinating - beautiful gardens with Koi pond and huge banyan tree. Or the Aquarium if you are interested in the island sealife.

The Whaling museum in Whalers Village might interest you, and it%26#39;s free. Lahaina is very interesting, worth checking it out.

As for the Road to Hana, highly subjective - some love it and others hate it, some are indifferent. If you have Google Earth you can actually take a virtual drive that will show you just how wiggly it is. DH said set the speed to 20mph and see how long it takes!


Hi, Thanks for all of your great suggestions. My kids are 13, 8 %26amp; 5 (all girls!)I am making lists and writing everything down. We will definately head to South Maui, I%26#39;ve heard so many great things about it and we will be there for 9 days (minus 2 days of travel makes 7 full days!) We can%26#39;t wait to go!


Thank you so much for your suggestions. My kids really enjoy the flowers and vegetation of Hawaii so we will take that trip to Iao Valley. Maluaka beach sounds great too, as does the Kepaniwai Heritage Park as my kids and I know little of Hawaiian culture and history. BTW, my girls are 13, 8 %26amp; 5 years old.


Those are great ages for all of the previously stated things to do! If you are further interested in the history and culture, a stop in Wailuku at Bailey House museum would be worth considering, but your younger two might prefer the Whaling museum - There is a lot of history in Lahaina as well.

I would not take three kids to Hana, and I have taken kids on many cross country drives!

If you want some free entertainment in a laid back location, without having to do a luau, stop in at Kaanapali Beach Hotel for a fun bit of music and hula - silly jokes as well. It is on the grounds between the pool and lobby - if you don%26#39;t like it you aren%26#39;t out anything.

What were your favorite things on Kauai?


I loved Kauai! The beaches were my favorite part, we stayed in Hanalei Bay and the town was very quaint and had the best shaved ice ever! Snorkeling at Tunnels beach was awesome and Ke%26#39;e beach was a great place for my littlest daughter. One of the best days was when we went to Moloaa beach! The water temp was easily 90 degrees and the snorkeling was great, and there was NO one there! It%26#39;s a bit off the beaten path, but well worth it. Smith%26#39;s Tropical Paradise Luau was incredible fun. I think my husband will like Maui better. He%26#39;s from New York and needs a little excitement on his trips, just not beaches day in and day out like I enjoy. So I think being by Lahaina will be fun and something he will enjoy? I just think there is more to do in Maui, but maybe it%26#39;s not as lush as Kauai because of less rain? I can%26#39;t wait for my first trip there!


Just a heads up on Maluaka. It is very nice but no public restrooms on the beach. Only at the parking lot 1/4 mile down the street..

Beaches in South Maui that have restrooms and shower post close to the beach are:

Kamaole, Ulua, Wailea, Polo.

West Maui..Kapalua.

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