Hawaii Family Getaway: A Guide to Maui Things to do with Kids

We opted not to do the Road to Hana or Haleakala this time simply because Owen and I did it in October, and we wanted to spend as much time with family as possible. But, I highly recommend doing them if you haven’t before. We are planning to do them on a future trip to Maui.  Either trip would make a great “staying out of the sun” day trip if you are sunburned!

Maui Things to Do with Kids for a Week

Here’s how we spent our Maui vacation for a week:

Maui Day 1: Arrival Day

• Arrived on Maui in the afternoon (Owen took a short nap on the airplane)
• Lunch/Dinner at Da Kitchen just minutes from the airport (featured on Food Network’s Drive-in’s, Diners and Dives). Their fried spam musubi and kalbi were amazing, and the lilikoi pie was out of this world!
• Costco for food, drinks, and supplies for the week. My main reason for going was to get 3 large tubs of Furikake Chex Mix. Owen and I can go through an entire tub in a couple of weeks. It is soooo good!
• Check-in at Honua Kai Resort (after 12 hours of road delays).

Maui Day 2: Relax Day

• Family breakfast in Condo
• Running errands in Lahaina (picking up swimsuits we forgot to pack, replacing food items that spoiled in the road delays, etc.)
• Pool time with all of the cousins! Owen was in heaven, getting to “swim” with his cousins wearing his water wings/life jacket.
• Lunch at Duke’s (located at the Honua Kai)
• Naptime for Owen
• Family dinner in condo

Maui Day 3: 4th of July

• Spam Musubi breakfast to go at Tesoro Station in Kahului (came highly recommended by a guy at the rental car place, and it was so yummy!)
• Attempted to get guava malasadas and donuts on a stick from T. Komodo Store & Bakery in Makawao, but they were closed due to the holiday. It’s fun to drive through the small, historic town, though.
• Attempted to tour Surfing Goat Dairy in Kula and sample their famous goat cheese truffles, but they were also closed for the holiday. But we did get to see lots of goats, and the drive was pretty.
• Walked the Kula Botanical Garden (after we called ahead to make sure they’d be open). Great way to stretch our legs after so much driving.
• Called ahead to see if Ulupalakua Ranch & Cafe was open (they were closed for the holiday) but decided to take the drive anyway for the scenery. Stopped several times to take photos.
• Turned around and drove 45 minutes to Kihei (while our toddler napped in the car) to eat at Zagat-rated fish tacos at Coconuts Fish Cafe. It was well worth the drive, and my standard for fish tacos has been raised.
• Stopped at Ululani’s Shave Ice in Kihei for delicious shaved ice! I had a snow-capped Sunset Beach, and my toddler had a Hawaiian Rainbow with ice cream at the bottom. This is my absolute favorite place to get shaved ice (and I’ve sampled a lot!) We were both happy customers!
• Headed back to the condo where we checked out Ka`anapali Beach and then hung out at the pool.
• Family dinner at the condo

Maui Day 4: Date Night

• Breakfast in Condo
• Darren played golf with his brothers for most of the day at Plantation Golf Course, which is used by the pros. Needless to say, they lost quite a few balls! But he said it was gorgeous and a highlight of the trip.
• Hung out at the resort pools all morning with Owen and his cousins
• My Mom arrived from Kauai for a short visit
• Had family lunch in the Condo
• Owen napped
• My Mom babysat while we had a date night at Roy’s (after loading up on after-sun products.) Read my Babymoon Date Night at Roy’s review here.

Maui Day 5: Maui Ocean Center

• Family breakfast in Condo
• Did a load of laundry
• Walk to Farmer’s Market, which was a bust. Only 4 stalls, and 2 of them had prepackaged items you could buy anywhere. We ended up buying papaya and lilikoi from the store in the same parking lot.
• Explored Maui Ocean Center. Read my review here.
• Lunch at Seascapes Restaurant next to Maui Ocean Center, which had super slow service and watery drinks
• Picked up an SPF rash guard for Darren and more after-sun products
• Owen napped (briefly)
• Family dinner at Duke’s, where we were treated to Hula Pie to celebrate birthdays and an anniversary
• Watched the sunset at Ka`anapali Beach

Maui Day 6: Snorkel Trip

• Early morning breakfast in the condo
• Snorkel boat trip to Molokini on Four Winds, which was a fantastic group outing for our family. Read my review of the Four Winds here.
• Stopped at Ululani’s Shave Ice in Kahului (Owen napped in the car)
• Checked out the Maui Cook Kwee’s Factory in Kahului and stocked up on 15 bags of cookies (we eat a lot of cookies in our house!)
• Dropped my Mom off at the airport
• Picked up Spam Musubi from Tesoro station before heading back to the condo
• Darren and Owen hit the pool
• Family dinner in the condo

Maui Day 7: Upcountry Maui and Kihei

• Picked up several family members to take them on our adventure
• Headed to T. Komodo Store & Bakery in Makawao to sample their guava malasadas, donuts on a stick, malasadas on a stick, cream puffs, cocoa puffs, apple turnovers, and coconut turnovers (can you tell we like bakeries?)
• Visited the goats at Surfing Goat Dairy in Kula. Owen had fun petting a goat but was more interested in playing with the dump truck with other kids in their sandy play area. We also got a couple of boxes of their famous goat cheese truffles.
• Drove to Kihei for another round of fish tacos from Coconuts Fish Cafe (still soooo good!)
• Hit up Ululani Shave Ice so our nieces could try it for the first time, and they loved it!
• Took our time driving back to the West Side so Owen could get in a good nap
• Stopped at Foodland Farms in Lahaina for bags of fresh lychee (a family favorite fruit)
• Swung by the ABC Store and Deli in Ka`anapali for freshly made Spam Musubi and gifts for friends back home
• Ate our musubi in the car while Owen finished his nap
• Relaxed in the condo before heading to a family dinner at China Boat in Ka`anapali

Maui Day 8: Last Day

• Packed and cleaned the Condo while Owen watched Lilo & Stich (Read my review of the Honua Kai Resort & Spa here)
• Got coffee!
• Loaded car and went to Kahului early to pick up souvenirs  and have lunch at Da Kitchen
• Stopped by Tesoro station for gas and Spam Musubi to eat on the airplane
• Darren dropped us off at the airport with all the luggage, car seat, and stroller while he returned the rental car
• Flew home to Seattle

We had such a fun time in Maui with family! Even though we were only gone for eight days and didn’t pack too many activities into those days, we were exhausted and ready to come home. Eight days was the perfect amount of time for us to vacation with extended family.

Other Maui Things to Do With Kids

While enjoying the sun and surfing on Maui, don’t miss out on other family-friendly adventures.

• Visit the Maui Tropical Plantation in Central Maui for a glimpse of island agriculture and a fun tram tour.
• Embark on a Maui Treasure Hunt, an exciting outdoor adventure perfect for energetic kids.
• Baldwin Beach Park offers expansive sands for picnics and play, ideal for a day under the sun.
• Experience the magic of the Maui Butterfly Farm to learn about and interact with these delicate creatures.
• The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort in West Maui not only provides luxurious accommodations but also engaging activities for families.
• For a unique experience, join Hawaii Mermaid Adventures for a swim with mermaid tails.
• Explore the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm in Upcountry Maui for serene walks among fragrant fields.
• Don’t forget a trip to Haleakala National Park for breathtaking views and nature trails.

Lastly, a visit to the Maui Ocean Center offers educational and interactive marine exhibits that captivate both young and old.

These additions ensure your Maui itinerary is packed with fun, learning, and unforgettable memories.

Maui Things to Do With Kids Wrap-up

Our Maui adventure was filled with unforgettable family moments, from exploring the vibrant marine life to learning about Hawaiian culture. We cherished seeing Hawaiian green sea turtles and delving into the rich Hawaiian islands’ heritage.

Our journey from the lush landscapes of East Maui to surf lessons near Baby Beach offered a blend of relaxation and excitement. To enrich your Hawaii vacation and make your stay in Maui with kids truly remarkable, add visits to the Maui Tropical Plantation and the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort to this itinerary.

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