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Activities for Kids in Maui
Things to Do for Families with Kids on Maui: Activities, Beaches, Shows, Nature, Restaurants, Shopping, and Lots More
You brought your children along to Maui. Now what are you going to do to keep them happy and entertained?
Maui Ocean Center (aquarium) in Maalaea (south end of central valley of Maui) 270-7000
Excellent aquarium takes about two hours to tour. Includes exhibits about Maui’s sea life, including live fish, sharks, turtles, rays, and others.
www.mauioceancenter.com
Hawaii Nature Center on the road to Iao Needle from Wailuku 244-6500
Modern interactive science museum, with exhibits about Hawaiian flora and fauna. Guided hikes also available.
www.hawaiinaturecenter.org
Hike in the park in Iao Valley
The Iao Needle is a 2,250-foot tall rock formation surrounded by lush green mountains, in the center of the west half of Maui, 22 miles from Kaanapali Beach. Free admission. The road into the Iao Valley begins in the center of downtown Wailuku. Take an umbrella, since there is often a light steady drizzle there. Walk along the path from the parking lot. There are great views from the top of the walkway, and a lovely stream to stroll by at the bottom of the walkway. Wear bug repellant for the walk by the stream.
www.hawaiiweb.com/maui/html/sites/iao_valley_state_park.html
Baby Beach in Lahaina (if they are too young for the waves at other beaches)
Baby Beach has much calmer waters than most other beaches, because an offshore breakwater blocks many of the big waves from reaching the shore. This makes it a good place for children to go in the ocean, though even here they of course need adult supervision. Baby Beach is in the north part of Lahaina. Park on Kai Pali Street, just off of Front Street.
See a different beach every day
All beaches in Hawaii are public. Try out several beaches while you are on Maui. Each beach is different and each beach is beautiful. On West Maui (Lahaina side) I suggest Kaanapali, Kapalua, Olowalu (Mile Marker 14). On the south side (Kihei-Wailea) I suggest Kamaole III, Keawakapu, Big Beach.
Snorkel (if they are old enough and well supervised)
Rent your snorkel gear at Maui Dive Shop or Snorkel Bob’s for about half the price they charge at the big hotels. A good place to take children for their first snorkel is Baby Beach, in Lahaina, because the water is usually calm at that beach. (Baby Beach is in the north part of Lahaina. Park on Kai Pali street, just off of Front Street.) Other top snorkel spots on Maui are Black Rock (north end of Kaanapali Beach by the Sheraton), Mile Marker 14 (just south of Olowalu), Kapalua Bay, Honolua Bay, Makena Landing, and (a boat ride away) the island of Molokini.
Hula show free at Lahaina Cannery Mall 661-5304
Weekdays have adult hula dancers, but young kids often enjoy weekends when the hula dancers are children. “Keiki” is Hawaiian for “children” so check for keiki hula shows.
Schedule is at www.lahainacannerymall.com
Luau at the Hyatt 661-1234 or Royal Lahaina 661-3611
These two luaus are more showy, so more entertaining for kids, (and less expensive for families) than the more authentic Hawaiian luau at Old Lahaina Luau 667-1998. You can usually get discounts on those hotel luaus (and other activities) through www.mauifun.net
Pineapple Plantation Tour 669-8088
Maui Pineapple Company offers a 2½ hour tour of their pineapple fields in Kapalua (north of Kaanapali and Lahaina). You will learn all about pineapple growing, and taste just-picked fresh pineapple.
www.kapaluamaui.com/activities/adventure/pineapple.html
Dan’s Greenhouse 661-8412
At the corner of Lahainaluna and Wainee streets in Lahaina. Live birds and other animals and plants to see or buy.
www.dansgreenhouse.com
Under the Banyan Tree in Lahaina
Younger kids just like running around here. Older kids like seeing the people as well as the giant tree.
Hyatt Regency Hotel on Kaanapali Beach 661-1234
See the penguins, flamingos, swans, and crowned African cranes.
Hyatt Maui
Watch glass blowing in Makawao 572-4527
Hot Island Glass at 3620 Baldwin Avenue (call to confirm times)
www.hotislandglass.com
Swap Meet 877-3100
Great bargains and lots of choices of fun stuff to buy at this large flea market in Kahului on Saturday mornings. Good prices on T-shirts, jewelry, hand-painted shirts and dresses, flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, and much more.
http://www.mauiexposition.com
Hilo Hattie stores Lahaina 667-7911 or Kihei 875-4545
Some of the best deals on kids clothes and souvenirs.
Ulalena show 661-9913
Hawaiian history told in dance and old Hawaiian music, at the Maui Theater in Lahaina. Some kids love it though others are bored.
www.ulalena.com
Maui Fun Festivals and Events Near Your Vacation Rental
If you are vacationing in Maui, there are a large number of events and festivals planned for your entertainment. Vacation rentals on Maui are usually ideally located to these festivals, so attendance is convenient. Some beach condos are walking distance to these activities. Contact our Maui specialists to find out what location you should choose.
| Upcoming Festivals, Holidays and Ho’olaule’a! |
| Friday Night is Art Night in Lahaina Town |
01/01/1990 to 01/01/2099 |
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Stroll through dozens of art galleries in LahainaTown each Friday from 7 to 10 pm for special gallery shows, featured artists-in-action, and refreshments, all free and open to the public!
Lahaina has earned its nick-name of “The Art Capital of the Pacific,” due to more art galleries per capita than any other American town. A walking map of participating galleries is available in Lahaina Visitor Center (open daily from 9 am to 5 pm) |
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| First Friday Wailuku Street Party |
01/01/1990 to 01/01/2099 |
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First Friday Wailuku is a FREE street party with free live music, outdoor stages, food and drink specials, fresh art, vendor booths, retail discounts and more!
Stroll pedestrian-friendly Market Street, Main and Vineyard Streets in downtown Wailuku. The FIRST FRIDAY of every month, 5:30pm to 8:00pm. Presented by the nonprofit Wailuku Community Association and sponsored by the County of Maui Department of Economic Development and Hawaii Tourism Authority. Experience First Friday in Maui’s historic downtown Wailuku! Email alohamandm@yahoo.com for details. • Location: Downtown Wailuku |
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| Kapalua Wine & Food Festival |
06/11/2009 to 06/14/2009 |
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Hosted by Master Sommelier Fred Dame, this renowned event convenes all-star winemakers and sommeliers, celebrity chefs and connoisseurs from around the world in a series of exceptional wine tastings, festive evening functions and gourmet cooking demonstrations paired with wine at the spectacular Kapalua Resort.
Celebrating its 28th anniversary, this nationally acclaimed food and wine extravaganza includes alfresco samplings of reserve bottlings and the bounty from Hawaii’s ocean prepared by top Hawaii chefs. Opening event is The Grand Tasting and closing event is Kapalua Seafood Festival. For tickets, call 1-888-665-9160 or go to www.kapalua.com. • Location: Kapalua Resort |
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| Na Kamehameha Pa’u Parade & Ho’olaulea |
06/13/2009 |
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A colorful floral parade through LahainaTown at 10 am features Pa`u riders on horses decorated with exotic island flowers representing each major island. The community parade includes marching bands, floats and more, all honoring King Kamehameha the Great’s families. An awards ceremony and arts festival take place at Banyan Tree Park with island food and crafts, pa`u dressing and riding demonstrations, plus Hawaiian entertainment. Free admission; 9am to 5pm.
More info at www.visitlahaina.com/events_calendar.html |
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| Maui Film Festival at Wailea |
06/17/2009 to 06/21/2009 |
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World-class culinary arts events, filmmakers panels, A-List tributes and private parties are heading Wailea’s way as the 10th annual Maui Film Festival at Wailea brings its five-day-long under-the-stars ‘Cirque du Cinema’ to the Wailea Resort.
The Maui Film Festival at Wailea will once again be a celebration of compassionate cinematic vision and storytelling as it showcases nearly 50 of the best major and mini-major studio and independent and World Cinema feature releases alongside 25 of the best short films of the summer. More information and passes are available at www.MauiFilmFestival.com. |
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| Lahaina 4th of July Fireworks |
07/04/2009 |
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Stroll historic Lahaina and enjoy holiday specials in many oceanview restaurants and town shops. For an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration, listen to a variety of bands play in a free concert on the oceanfront Lahaina Library lawn starting at 5 pm.
A fireworks display lighting the night sky over Lahaina’s roadstead is scheduled for 8 pm, presented by Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise. Fireworks can be viewed from charter boats in Lahaina Harbor and on land throughout LahainaTown. Call Lahaina Visitor Center, 667-9194, for updates. Info: (888) 310-1117 |
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| Bark in the Park benefits Maui Humane Society |
08/15/2009 |
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Maui Humane Society’s Bark in the Park is a Walk for the Animals and Benefit Concert.
Bark in the Park is a fabulous community event and fundraiser for Maui’s orphaned animals. Bark in the Park begins with a Walk for the Animals first thing in the morning and continues throughout the day with games, contests, demonstrations, and food and service vendors. New for 2009, Bark in the Park will feature live music into the afternoon (artists to be announced). Free admission, donations encouraged. Visit www.mauihumanesociety.org for more information on this exciting event! • Location: Keopuolani Park |
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| Maui Photo Festival & Workshop |
09/16/2009 to 09/20/2009 |
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The Maui Photo Festival & Workshops celebrates digital photography by bringing world-class photographers to one of the most photogenic places in the world: Maui.
From novice to pro, attendees will learn from classroom sessions, location shoots, real-world assignments and photo safaris led by pro photographers. $695 for 4-day festival cost varies on added excursions. Lodging and travel not included. Contact 808-283-8438 or visit www.mauiphotofestival.com. • Location: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali Resort |
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| Maui County Fair – 87th Annual |
10/01/2009 to 10/04/2009 |
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The Maui County Fair is all about reconnecting with friends and family in an environment where everyone from the keiki to senior can find something to appreciate. It’s a learning experience, a carnival, a chance to enjoy artwork, photos, crafts, flowers, and other exhibits created by your Maui neighbors, fabulous entertainment, and great local grinds – all rolled into one.
For more info, visit www.mauicountyfair.com. • Location: War Memorial Complex |
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| Lahaina Banyan Tree Ho’olaule’a |
10/11/2009 |
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Lahaina Celebrates under the Banyan Tree on Saturday, October 11, 2008 from 9 am to 5 pm with an Arts and Crafts Fair, Hula Show, Live Entertainment featuring the Air Force Band of the Pacific and much more! Free admission.
• Location: Banyan Tree |
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| Halloween in Lahaina |
10/31/2009 |
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Halloween on world-famous Front Street is more than just a night on the town in costume. It includes Haunted Houses for kids, Costume Contests with great prizes for all ages, Children’s Costume Parade, plus food, crafts and activities in Banyan Tree Park.
Live music and dancing fun take place along Front Street, which is closed to vehicle traffic from 4 pm to Midnight. • Location: Front Street |
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Basketball Enthusiast Go To Maui – Awesome Maui Invitational
Now is the time to book your vacation rental for the Maui Invitational coming in November. The Island of Maui will be packed with basketball players, coaches, media, and fans, so call Coast 2 Coast Vacation Rentals today to get your condo, beach house, or villa reserved.
TOURNAMENT DATES
November 23-25, 2009
November 22-24, 2010
From Maui Classic to EA SPORTSTM Maui Invitational®, a 25-year journey as the nation’s premier early-season college basketball tournament:
Half a century ago the NCAA opened the door to greater competitive equity in college sports by adopting what is known by many as the Hawaiian Exemption, paving the way for Hawaii-based colleges to compete with mainland schools in spite of their geographic isolation.
On December 23, 1982…little known NAIA Chaminade upset top-ranked Virginia, led by three-time MVP Ralph Sampson, 77-72. Called “the greatest upset in college basketball history,” the win put host Chaminade on the map nationwide and led to the creation of the Maui Classic.
82 schools representing 21 conferences and 37 states have competed in the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational.
Maui participants have won an astounding 54 of 70 NCAA championships, 54 of 70 national runner-up spots and comprise 210 of 280 Final Four teams.
Participating teams are reimbursed 100% of their travel-related expenses, enabling small conference and mid-major schools the rare opportunity to compete on a neutral court with the top basketball programs in the country.
Each year, more than 4,000 out-of state visitors – boosters, players, officials, team and game personnel, media representatives, sponsors, production crews and basketball fans in general – travel to the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational and boost the local economy by more than $10 million.
Tournament sponsors such as the Maui Visitors Bureau, Hawaii Tourism Authority and County of Maui Department of Parks & Recreation have invested a total of nearly $2 million in the Lahaina Civic Center to create a quality host venue for the mecca of college basketball for three days in November – from a new playing floor, rollaway bleachers, lighting and parking to the addition of permanent air conditioning in 2003, new scoreboards in 2004 and a beautiful wall mural of the Island of Maui in 2006.
For many of the hundreds of players from around the country who have competed in the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational over the years, the cultural and educational experience of Hawaii is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Under the selection and oversight of NCAA Officials Coordinator Hank Nichols, the 12 officials assigned to the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational are perennially among the best in the country, with most having officiated in the NCAA Tournament for many years.
In late 2002, ESPN and KemperSports Marketing completed a long-term contract extension, guaranteeing live television coverage on ESPN or ESPN2 of a minimum nine tournament games through 2011. This translates to national television exposure for all eight participating teams and their respective conferences, a minimum of two games televised nationally for six teams, and all three games televised nationwide for four of the eight teams in the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational.
All 12 games were televised in 2005, 2006 and 2007 with the addition of ESPNU. All twelve games will be again televised for the 2008 tournament.
AP College Basketball Editor Jim O’Connell calls the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational “the best in-season tournament in the country – the standard by which all others are compared.”
In the recent Dec. 31, 2007 issue of Sports Illustrated, Alexander Wolff takes an in-depth look at the dramatic college basketball game that spawned today’s EA SPORTS Maui Invitational. In the piece titled, “The Greatest Upset Never Seen,” Wolff describes Chaminade’s miraculous upset of then top-ranked Virginia on Dec. 23, 1982, which “led to the creation of what has become the Maui Invitational, the sport’s most prestigious in-season tournament.”
