Family Fun

From snorkeling and sandcastle building on sun-soaked beaches to exploring aquariums and fishponds, there’s seemingly endless ways to connect with the family in the Hawaiian Islands.

Here's a look at some of the sights and activities that await you and your family on each island:

Kauai
Learn about Kauai’s fascinating natural environment at the Kokee Natural History Museum in Kokee State Park. Let the little ones snorkel in the shallow tide pools at Poipu Beach on the South Shore. Catch the hula show at the Smith Family Garden Luau, or head to Lydgate State Park to climb on the wooden play structure. Don’t forget a ride on the Kauai Plantation Railway in the Kilohana Estate, an excursion bound to bring a smile to your child’s face. 

Oahu
Explore the inside of a real submarine at Pearl Harbor and pet a dolphin at Sea Life Park. Ogle the fish at the Waikiki Aquarium or get a bird’s-eye view of a giraffe at the Honolulu Zoo. Explore Hawaiian artifacts in the Bishop Museum or get lost together in the 1.7-mile garden maze at the Dole Plantation. Play authentic Hawaiian games and experience a luau feast at Polynesian Cultural Center.

Maui
Walk through a tunnel surrounded by a 750,000-gallon water tank as manta rays and sharks swim overhead at Maui Ocean Center. Turn your 7-to-12-year-olds into Junior Rangers at the Haleakala Visitor Center, or get them involved in hands-on exhibits at the Hawaii Nature Center in Wailuku. If you’re staying in a hotel or resort, take advantage of keiki (children's) programs that includes everything from lei making to hula lessons.

Molokai
Spend the afternoon at Big Wind Kite Factory in Maunaloa, where little ones can be their own flight captains and pilot their ships on the trade winds. Soak up the sun on Papohaku Beach, one of Hawaii’s largest white-sand beaches; tour a macademia nut farm or send a real coconut from Central Molokai’s Hoolehua Post Office.

Island of Hawaii
Pose for a lovely family photo set against the Japanese bridges in Liliuokalani Gardens. See them discover ancient petroglyphs carved into the rocks at sites along the Kohala Coast, or take a closer look at the underwater world with a snorkeling trip on the Kona Coast. Let them explore the planetarium and interactive exhibits at the Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii and lava fields at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park together. 

Lanai
Spend the days lazily exploring the island’s rustic backroads and serene beaches. Have a picnic in Dole Park in the middle of Lanai City. Go for a horseback ride to get a unique perspective of Lanai’s vast terrain. Build a sandcastle and explore the tide pools of Hulopoe Bay. Or simply splash in the pool and take part in the many activities at Lanai’s fine resorts.