Maui, with its 30 miles of beautiful beaches, delicious eats and natural wonders and warm temperatures all year round, is a magical, special destination. It is rich in history, culture and beauty. The second-largest island in Hawaii is a popular destination for babymoons and honeymoons. It’s also a great place for parents to take their keiki (kids) on vacation. The island is full of family-friendly attractions, such as the Maui Ocean Center and notable cultural programs.

What you should know before you travel to the Valley Isle, including how to get there, where you can stay, and what to do.

The 19 Best Beach Resorts for Families

Maui is a great place to visit.

There are now more options for flights to Hawaii from the mainland than ever before. Most major airlines offer daily flights to Hawaii. United Airlines has made it easier to travel to Hawaii by adding nonstop flights to major U.S. cities. In 2021, the airline will offer a nonstop flight between Newark International Airport and Maui. United operates this flight on its premium Boeing 767 300ER, which normally flies from New York to London, Geneva and Zurich. It features Polaris Business Class suites, Premium Plus Premium Economy, Economy Plus and standard Economy seats.

United also offers direct flights to Maui every day from Denver, Los Angeles, with an additional flight on Saturday, Chicago, five times per week, and San Francisco, two to three time daily.

Maui Accommodations

There are many options for accommodation in Maui that will suit your budget. There are many hotels in Kaanapali on the western side of the island and Wailea in South Maui. There are a few family-friendly hotels:

Four Seasons Resort Maui Wailea

The Four Seasons Resort Maui, located in Wailea is a great option for those looking to save money on a five-star hotel. The oceanfront 383-room property is a great choice for travelers of any age. It offers world-class dining and three pools that overlook the Pacific. One pool was designed specifically with little ones in mind, and includes a playpen. Beach toys are available, as well as personalized touches like a stuffed toy for children upon arrival.

Included in the complimentary family amenities are strollers, baby monitors (including organic bath products), high-chairs and baby spill mats, pop-up tents, playpens, bottle warmers, diapers and swimming diapers, a singing baby swing, rocking chair, and much more.

The resort also offers many activities for children aged 5 and older.

Ocean Aloha Children aged 5-12 can experience Maui’s marine wildlife through an interactive activity led by a Maui Ocean Center Naturalist. This includes an Ocean Explorer Live-Touch Pool, which features sea stars, sea cucumbers and sea urchins.

Hawaiian Star Stories Great for older children (ideally 9+), and parents, Star Stories features Hawaiian navigator Kala Baybayan Tanaka who recounts the story of Polynesian wayfinders who used stars, winds, and currents in order to travel to the Hawaiian Islands. Families and young travelers can learn about how to use star knowledge in order to better understand the way we know direction. They will also discover some cultural stories that are preserved within the stars, and the important cultural lessons they impart.

Kids for All Seasons Program:The resort offers a free camp program for children aged 5 to 12 from 9 am to 5 pm every day. Keiki can participate in tennis, swimming, snorkeling and other activities while learning about Hawaiian culture. The games room offers a variety of video games and foosball.

Lighting the Night: Children can follow a torchbearer dressed in full regalia as they run through the property lighting over 50 torches.

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

Andaz Maui, at Wailea resort is also located in the southern part of the island. It sits on 15 acres with direct access to Mokapu Beach.

The modern luxury property has activities for the whole family, including hula classes, an outrigger trip, guided kayak tours and standup paddleboard, ukulele, and lei making classes. Dena Roady explains that the resort’s activities were developed by Kalikolehua Storer – Andaz’ Hawaiian Culture and Training Specialist – to pay tribute to Maui’s beautiful island. She says, “We are committed to providing guests with extraordinary experiences that are rooted on intentional travel.”

The Andaz’s exclusive luxury luau – the Feast at Mokapu – takes place between the resort and Mokapu Beach on the grassy lawn. The show is an educational and inspiring story about Hawaii’s Polynesian origins arriving on Maui. Dancers and storytellers will celebrate Hawaiian values, which focus on love, connection, and responsibility to the land.

Storer hopes that the experience will give guests a deeper understanding of the Hawaiian culture. She says, “Our hope for them is that they will see beyond the rainbows, hula skirts and mai tais, and really lean in to what is shared, and respond with Aloha not only for Hawaiians but also all other people.” Take the feeling of Aloha that they experience and spread it to others on the plane, in the grocery line, etc.

Kaanapali Beach Resort

The Kaanapali Hotel is located on the western side Maui. It allows families to stay in Lahaina. This part of the island offers lots of shopping, sightseeing and attractions, including the Whalers Village, Lahaina Cannery Shopping Center and West Maui Parasail. The resort is also close to hiking/biking paths, ecotours and scuba dive.

The Best Beach Resorts for Families

Maui Family Activities You Must Check Out

Maui has a wide range of fun and educational activities that are suitable for all families. Here are a few things to think about:

Local Butterflies: Learn More

Visit the Maui Butterfly Farm located near Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop, a delicious destination for anyone who has a sweet-tooth. Get a tour and learn more about butterflies and what your family can to to do to prevent them from disappearing across the U.S. mainland and islands.

Meet Alpaca

Visitors to the Maui Alpaca Farm are treated to a history lesson, farm education and a guided walking tour, during which time they can feed and take photos with the alpacas and bunnies on the property.

Mermaids are in Demand

Hawaii Mermaid Adventures is located in Kihei in South Maui. It offers big keiki a chance to learn mermaid swim with a certified instructor who is both a Lifeguard/CPR and a marine naturalist. This experience includes a marine life lesson and mermaid stories.

Book a family photo shoot

You should consider booking a professional photographer to capture your family’s Maui trip. Love and Water Photography is owned by Shawn and Adam Ravazzano, a married couple and parents to two children who specialize in Hawaii weddings and portraits. The couple is best known for their dreamy, ethereal photos that are bursting with poetic pastel colors, as they timed their shoots to coincide with a beautiful Maui sunrise or Sunset.

Local Goods to Buy

Shop for handmade items at markets and farmer’s markets, such as the Maui Swap meet. It’s also a great way to learn more about the local products, like breadfruit and lilikoi. Or Hawaiian traditions, like lauhala.

Maui Ocean Center – Explore it!

Maui Ocean Center, a destination that fosters understanding, respect, and wonder for Hawaii’s aquatic life, is a must for families visiting the Valley Isle. The keiki will be treated to presentations, feedings and a variety of educational experiences by roaming Marine Naturalists.

Tour a Cacao Farm

Families can explore a private cacao farm that has more than 20 acres cacao trees at the Ku’ia Estates Chocolate Factory, the largest factory in Hawaii. Learn about the cacao trees and how they are harvested before you taste award-winning chocolate.

Maui Cultural Lands Volunteer Program

You can also help remove invasive plants by heading to the Maui Culture Lands. Alohais not just a greeting. You will also learn about sustainability. Visitors and locals alike share, touch, love, and show compassion.

The 19 Best Beach Resorts for Families

Maui: Why it’s Important to Travel Intentionally and How To Do It

The Hawaiian Tourism Authority has developed a new tourism strategy in recent years. This new strategy has sparked concerns over the impact tourism is having on the land and intrusive behavior of visitors. It also sparked discussion about how tourism can benefit residents as well as tourists. It is more important than ever that families and tourists visit Maui, Hawaii, and the Hawaiian culture and community.

Hawaiian Language: Learn more about it

Hawaiian and English are the official languages of Hawaii, including Maui. Maui is also home to Chinese, Japanese and Filipino speakers, as well as Hawai’i Creole English, or “Pidgin”, which was created by the blending of Hawaiian and immigrants languages during the sugar-plantation era.

You and your child can both learn “‘olelo Hawai’i” before and during your Maui vacation by using an app like Duolingo, or Google Translate.

Check to Make Sure That Your Sunblock is Reef-Safe

Coral reefs, or “apapapa” in Hawaiian, are a fragile ecosystem. Beach goers have been damaging coral and removing it. Thankfully, coral and rocks where marine life reside are protected by state law, and in 2021, the state enacted a ban on the sale of sunscreen containing avobenzone and octocrylene, chemicals that contribute to reef safe sunblock.

Practice aloha ‘aina

Aloha’aina means “love for the land.” You can volunteer at the Maui Ocean Center, and participate in a beach clean-up event with your family. Check with your hotel to see what charitable activities are available. As an example, Four Seasons Maui guests can take part in a Malama Hawaii volunteering experience. This allows guests to learn about Maui’s rich history through the processing of historical artifacts at Lahaina Restoration Foundation.