Often regarded as a romantic
destination for couples, the Hawaiian Islands are not the
most obvious choice for a family vacation. In reality,
however, Hawaii is a very welcoming place for children, who
are known as “keiki” in Hawaiian.
In cafés and restaurants throughout the islands, you will
see a “keiki menu” especially for children. There are also
many activities for children to enjoy. Here is a round-up of
the most popular attractions for families.
The Polynesian Cultural Center
55-370 Kamehameha Highway
Laie, Oahu, Hawaii
With its varied program of events and several places to eat,
the Polynesian Cultural Center is the ideal destination for
an enjoyable family excursion. It is located in the north of
the island of Oahu, and it takes about an hour to drive
there from Honolulu.
Children and adults alike are fascinated by the canal
pagaent, where people from all over the Pacific Islands
dress in traditional costumes and display their traditional
dances on canoes, accompanied by music with a lively drum
beat.
Other highlights include watching a Samoan man climbing a
tall tree and bringing down coconuts, and sampling such
local foods as “poi,” a traditional Hawaiian staple food,
and Tahitian coconut bread.
If you have young children, it is advisable to bring a
stroller, as there is quite a lot of ground to cover and
little legs get tired quite quickly, especially in the heat.
Maui Ocean Center
192 Ma’alaea Road
Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii
At the Maui Ocean Center, you can see all of Hawaii's marine
life in one place, without going in a submarine or diving. A
visit to the Maui Ocean Center is an entertaining, learning
experience for a child of any age. It is also interesting
for adults, who can learn more about the different coral
reef environments and admire the vivid colours of the marine
life.
Young children are fascinated by the turtles that you can
see from above and below the water. Running up and down the
steps to see the turtles from both vantage points is a
favorite activity. Children also enjoy walking through the
glass tunnel surrounded by sharks and ray fish, and watching
the jellyfish and sea horses. They will learn to identify
many types of marine life during their visit.
The outdoor café is a great place to relax at the end of
your visit and your children are free to run around a little
if you they can’t sit still. The shop also contains many
items of interest to children, including toys, books and
souvenirs.
Baby Beach
Near Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
Baby Beach is only about one mile from Lahaina but, as it is
off the beaten tourist track and not signposted, you will
need to ask a local family for directions.
Baby Beach is a quiet, secluded beach in a sheltered bay
with very shallow water that is safe for even the youngest
of children to bathe in. Even if your children can’t swim,
they will love splashing around and cooling down in the sea.
Watch a lovely sunset from the beach before returning to
your hotel.
As you may expect for a non-tourist beach, there are no
amenities on Baby Beach, so bring everything you need with
you, including drinks.
Restricted Activities
Despite all of these fun things to do, there are also some
activities that you may not be able to participate in,
especially if you have younger children.
For safety reasons, children under three feet in height are
not allowed to go on the submarine excursions off Oahu and
Maui. An alternative, available for all including young
children, is the glass-bottomed boat excursions.
For the helicopter tours on Kaua’i and the Big Island,
helicopter companies often restrict seats to those aged over
12.
Children under 16 and pregnant women are not allowed on
tours going to the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of
Hawaii, because of the health risks involved at such high
altitudes.
Hawaii is a wonderful vacation destination for everyone,
young or old. There is no need to think twice about going if
you have babies or young children. You may not be able to do
absolutely everything, but the number of activities you can
enjoy as a family far outweigh the few restrictions.
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