After years of dreaming about Hawaii, we finally made it a reality. Nearly everyone that I spoke with met me with a shocked face when I told them it wasn’t just my husband and I traveling to the island, but we were also bringing along our 3 kiddos.
Of course I was bringing my kids. Was the trip chaotic? Sure. But would I have wanted to let my children miss out on all the adventures we shared together? Absolutely not. We made memories as a family that will be cherished for a lifetime.
If you are looking for a beach destination within the states that boasts culture, Maui is definitely a top pick. Not only are you surrounded by clear ocean water and exciting sea life, but the Hawaiian culture radiates where ever you go. This is something I made a priority in sharing with my kids.
We spent 7 nights in Maui and did not want to come back. There is SO much to do on the island and you could easily spend a couple weeks exploring all that Maui has to offer. We opted to take things a bit slower on this trip and embrace island time.
Here are my top recommendations if you plan on taking your kids to Maui:
BLACK ROCK BEACH AT KAANAPALI BEACH
We stayed at Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa and a big reason we did so was being right on Black Rock Beach. This is by far one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. We made the short walk down here every day and were always greeted with the majestic sea turtles swimming around. There is truly nothing more magical than swimming with the sea turtles. Just remember they are wildlife and please do not touch them. We also saw a large variety of fish while out snorkeling. The water is quite shallow, so even my littlest kids that weren’t old enough to snorkel were still able to see the turtles through the clear ocean water.
Try to go early in the day to avoid the crowds, but trust me when I say it is well worth it. Come back at sunset to see the ceremonial cliff dive off black rock!
If you’d be more comfortable taking a tour, you can purchase one here via GetYourGuide
MAUI NUI LUAU
You simply cannot go to Hawaii and not partake in a luau. We loved the Maui Nui Luau. It is so much more than food and hula girls, but it is a full blown cultural experience where you learn to appreciate the Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures. I was a bit shocked to see the price tag for a luau for my family of 5, but it was worth every penny. This luau was hosted at the Sheraton which was very convenient if you are staying there. If not, no worries as most resorts will shuttle to the luau.
The luau starts with a traditional lei before you enter and you’ll find your seat. There is an open bar with Mai Tai’s and Pina Coladas, and they have virgin ones for the kiddos! Early on in the luau, they talked about the significance of their traditional tattoos and if you wanted to participate you and your kids could get one. Don’t worry, it is just a stamp with ink that easily washes off.
Holy buffet. The costs was worth it if not simply for the amount of food you are presented with. There was an immense amount of food which was all delicious. Even if you have a picky eater, they will be able to find something to eat.
The evening continued on with lessons about culture, history and traditional dances. All the kids enjoyed running around and dancing to the Polynesian music. My husband and daughter even got selected to go on stage and dance with the professionals. Highlight of my night.
And last but not least, you can’t forget the fire dancing. This now lives as a core memory in my son’s head.
EAT THE LOCAL FOOD
The food in Maui is fresh, delicious and to be perfectly honest, downright expensive. I’ll be honest and say my husband and I shared a lot of meals and then ate whatever the kids didn’t eat. But was it worth it? Totally. Indulge in the fresh squeezed juices, local fish and delicious fruit.
We ate at Hula Grill for both brunch and dinner, which I would highly recommend trying both. The Ahi Tuna Steak was incredible. My kids loved the lemonade slushes they had while mom and dad got to sip on fancy cocktails. The famous Hula Pie is mandatory for dessert! Calories don’t count in Maui. Definitely make reservations because they fill up quick!
Monkeypod Kitchen was another hit. Go for happy hour to get half off appetizers and $13 pizzas. Another perk, happy hour has $4 off all speciality cocktails. It is a win for everyone. Not only was this a more budget friendly option, but the food was delicious and I drank hands down the best mai tai I had in Maui. End the meal with coconut cream pie and banana cream pie. Delish!
Coral Reef at the Sheraton had a lovely breakfast each morning. You can opt for the buffet or order off the menu. My kids loved the pancakes and Hawaiian french toast. They had a Maui style eggs benedict that was one of the best I have had. Don’t miss out on the banana bread with lavender butter, a Maui staple! Some mornings the kids can even feed the koi fish right outside the restaurant while they wait for their food.
Maui Brewing is a great restaurant for dinner with beautiful sunset views over the Pacific. They have lots of kid friendly food and a great selection of local craft beer. The seasonal sour was my fav-tasted like rainbows in a glass. I would also say this is more of a budget friendly option on the island.
Shave ice while in Maui is a must. We went to Island Vintage Shaved Ice in Whaler’s Village, along with Black Rock Shave Ice at the Sheraton. We particularly liked the latter. We had the pina colada style one and it was delish. It is a great way to cool down after a long day at the beach.
Last but not least, ditch the Starbucks and get yourself an Island coffee at Island Vintage Coffee. I have to say I was quite appalled at how many people were drinking Starbucks when they were surrounded by authentic Kona coffee. 100% Kona coffee is well worth the extra walk. The Island latte is drool worthy. They also have a wide selection of yummy acai bowls with local fruit.
WHALER’S VILLAGE
Whaler’s Village is an outdoor shopping mall right off the beach in Maui. This is where the majority of the restaurants I mentioned are located. There is about every high end store you could imagine, plus some touristy places to find a souvenir. There is also a little kids play area and a candy store, which we avoided at all costs. Never-less, this is a great shopping area and I would recommend looking around. I even scored a few clearance deals on some Lululemon clothes at their outlet. Now that is my kind of souvenir!
A fun activity for kids is to crack open an oyster to get a pearl. They have this activity at one of the little stands in the village. I took my daughter to do this and she thought it was so special. We turned her pearl into a necklace that she can now wear forever and remember that moment from our last night in Maui. Now did I completely get scammed into buying the necklace holder and chain for her pearl? Definitely. We had every intention of cracking open the pearl and just taking that home. Looking back, I am glad we turned it into a necklace she can have for a lifetime.
BEACH AND POOL TIME
Like I said before, we wanted to take things slow and enjoy being on Island time. It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, so this was the perfect opportunity to slow down and spend time together as a family. We spent lots of time building sandcastles at the beach, wading in the ocean, lounging by the pool and watching our kids have the time of their lives. Maybe this isn’t your vibe, but it was exactly what our family needed.
The pool at the Sheraton has a lazy river and little slide for kiddos. Although, I had just as much fun going down the slide too! If you aren’t staying at the Sheraton, you can get a day pass. While you’re there, order yourself a Black Rock Mai Tai at Cliff Dive Grill. A dollar will go back to a relief fund for the tragic fire. Make sure you pack reef safe sunscreen to protect the marine life in Maui! We love all the Sun Bum products!
So would you take your kids to Maui? I would take mine back in a heartbeat. Watching them swim with sea turtles, see seals, put their feet in the ocean for the first time and dancing at the luau was well worth the long flights and jet lag. There is nothing more special than watching the wonder in your child’s eyes. Now don’t get me wrong, we had our fair share of overtired kids and tears, but the end result trumped the few not so great moments. Maui is a cultural hub in paradise. Your kids deserve to experience that.
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