Want to Visit Hawaii with Kids? Here’s Tips From a Mom Who’s Been 35 Times
I’m Marcie. I’ve visited Hawaii more than 35 times, and my kids have already extensively explored Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. Are you planning a trip to Hawaii with the kids? Here are my top tips for an easy and stress-free Hawaiian vacation.
My mom lives there, so we have a great excuse to visit as much as possible. But that doesn’t mean every trip to Hawaii with kids is smooth sailing. Because my family loves to travel and travels often, I have picked up a few tips along the way. Below are a few suggestions to consider when traveling to Hawaii with kids.
6 Hawaii with Kids Travel Tips
Whether you are traveling to Hawaii with a baby, toddler, or kids of any age, Hawaii is an awesome family travel destination.
1. Plan Ahead
Many dream of taking the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants vacation where you don’t have a plan for what you’ll do and where you’ll go. As exciting as this sounds, adding children to the equation has the potential to backfire. Kids are unpredictable as it is, so it is best to give your Hawaiian vacation a little forethought and plan ahead.
First, consider not surprising the kids with the vacation. It can be exciting to plan the perfect moment to surprise the kids with a fun adventure, but children do not always react favorably to surprises, especially younger ones. Vacations can be very exhilarating, but also potentially stressful and anxiety inducing for children who are accustomed to routine and structure and prefer predictability.
There can be a lot of unknowns that may throw them off or confuse them. They may worry: Where are we staying? How are we getting there? How long are we staying there? What can I bring? Are we leaving right now? Not all children react this way, however. You know your children best, this is just something to take into consideration with planning a trip to Hawaii with kids.
Children need and love to be engaged, and the younger they are, the more engagement they require. Not all children will find joy in lounging on the beach all day like the adults dream of. Hawaii is full of activities for kids of all ages. My suggestion is to have a few activities planned and scheduled in advance so they have specific activities to look forward to.
2. Ease Into Activities
It can be tempting to jump right into adventures the moment you land, but you may want to consider easing into activities that require travel when in Hawaii with kids. Even though these islands is a shorter flight from the West Coast than most other tropical destinations, you may still experience jet lag. If Daylight Saving Time can throw your kids off, just imagine what jet lag can do!
Take a day to get settled into your hotel. Unpack and explore your surroundings and get a good night’s sleep because chances are, you will be awake fairly early. Speaking of waking up early, take walks along the beach to see the sunrise, since you’re likely to be up anyway. When you’re in Hawaii with kids, try to make the most of it! Even when it’s 5 am in the morning.
If you are traveling from the East Coast and you have an extra few days, you may want to consider staying in Southern California for a night or two to help your kids adjust to the difference in time zone. You might even plan for a quick Disneyland trip, which will encourage your kids to stay up late to watch the fireworks!
Not every day will be rainbows and sunshine when you’re in Hawaii with kids, so it is important to research and plan for rainy day activities.
3. Choose Age-Appropriate Activities
Hawaii offers a vast array of family-friendly activities designed to enhance your adventure and make memories that will last forever. When deciding on excursions for the family, it is important to choose activities everyone will love (which may prove challenging), but also age-appropriate.
Surfing
Surfing is always a hit with teenagers. Teens may take lessons in groups, but younger children will require private lessons for safety reasons. Many surfing lesson companies will take photos and video during the excursion, which are always fun to see.
Snorkeling
Whether you go on your own or join a group tour, snorkeling with kids is always a blast. It’s a great way to check out Hawaiian sea life. Snorkeling is perfect for kids ages 5 and up. Younger kids will love doing a snorkeling boat tour that has kick boards with plastic windows so they can see underwater.
Zip Lining
Hawaii is simply stunning and one of the coolest vantage points is from the air. Children as young as 5 can zip line through the palm trees and over the jungle. The minimum weight requirement can range anywhere between 50 and 80 pounds.
Horseback Activities
Horseback riding is also a popular activity in Hawaii for kids. You can go riding on the beach or in the mountains. The minimum age for horseback riding can range between 7 and 10, depending on the company.
Helicopter Rides
Helicopter rides, while pricey, are adventurous and exhilarating. Children as young as 2 could possibly ride a helicopter, but there usually is a minimum body weight requirement. Each activity has its own height, weight, and age requirements, so it is best to check with the resort or local shops before sharing with the children.
Scenic Drives
The Road to Hana, for example, is a tourist must-do activity, but it’s sometimes best for school-age children. The many hairpin turns won’t be much fun with toddlers or preschoolers who get carsick or bored easily. We have taken a toddler on the Road to Hana and he had a blast, but he doesn’t get carsick.
You can even do a Half Hana road trip if your kids are more antsy.
4. Create an Itinerary
It’s always helpful to have a plan when traveling to Hawaii with kids. That way, you can make sure to balance your day with activities that are close in proximity. We like to plan our activities for the morning and leave our afternoons fairly open in case our kids need a break.
We also like to add in “free days” every few days in case we want to just hang out by the resort pool or go back to a favorite beach. This is a totally manageable 5 day Maui itinerary for families that want a comfortable pace. The most important thing is to chat with your family to make sure everyone gets to do their top activity.
5. Pack Wisely
Packing for an entire family is both an art and a science. You need to make sure you have the right essentials for the plane ride, and also for when you arrive in paradise. When traveling with little kids, you’ll want to take extra time packing for your flight. Make sure to include wipes, Pull-Ups, and diapers. But, I also think it’s best to purchase full size packages of those items once you arrive.
This saves space and weight in your luggage. Be sure to purchase these on the larger islands because they will be pricier and harder to find on the smaller islands. You may be tempted to forego packing sunscreen and beach toys in favor of purchasing them when you arrive, but I encourage you to pack these things. You will find these and other items to be significantly more expensive on the islands. Many hotels offer complimentary life vests, so check with your hotel before lugging your own.
If you plan to do a lot of swimming, it is best to bring at least two swimsuits per person. This allows you to take a break from the beach for lunch and nap time, put on a dry suit and continue the fun! I also suggest packing clothes you aren’t particularly attached to, just in case something gets lost or destroyed.
Along the same lines, pack inexpensive flip-flops because, again, chances are they may be lost on the beach anyway. You may want to pack closed-toe shoes because this is required attire for many activities such as horseback riding Don’t forget to pack a set of warm clothes– pants and a jacket– for the colder mornings and evenings. This is especially helpful if you plan to seeing the sunrise at Haleakala or go exploring the mountains/volcanoes in Hawaii.
6. Pick a Family Friendly Hotel
Planning a family trip can be stressful, and traveling to Hawaii with kids offers its own set of unique challenges.
One final suggestion I have for you is to consider a resort with lots of activities and amenities, like Marriott’s Ko Olina pictured above or the ultimate Hawaii family resort, The Hilton Hawaiian Village. Resorts take away the stress and hassle of planning your trip to Hawaii with kids if your main goal is to relax. Many hotels also offer kids club or childcare options, so look at those first!
