Fun Family Activities In Hawaii
Recently, two friends asked for advice about family outings on Maui. I can share gobs of information on Kauai, see You Had Me At Aloha Beautiful Kauai, however we have not been to Maui in years. Nonetheless, I wanted to share general advice for activities on any of the Hawaiian Islands. They found it helpful and you may too! And, many of these activities are FREE!
These are my honest opinions and recommendations — I do not receive any compensation or discounts during our travel. This story does not include any affiliate links but other posts do. In that case I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please click the links to support my blog.
Budget-friendly activities in Hawaii
Beach hopping
You are on a tropical island, so look at a map and go BEACH HOPPING. The deserted beaches with a trek to get there are my favorites. You may even find a sea turtle or sea lion resting on the sand. Explore the tidal pools, take a stroll, build a sandcastle. This is a great and FREE way to enjoy paradise.
Grab your snorkel and check out the UNDERWATER WORLD. You may even see a sea turtle swim by! If you did not bring your own gear there are plenty of places to rent it by the hour, day, or week.
HEAD TO THE WAVES. You can rent a boogie board or just body surf and save a few bucks. My guys actually prefer body surfing to boogie boards. Or, grab your rash guard and rent a surf board for an hour or two. We like to start out with a surfing lesson to brush up on skills and learn about the local conditions.
Ocean Safety Notes
A good rule of thumb is to only go in the ocean where there is a lifeguard. We followed that, mostly. Always be aware of conditions and undertows, even more so in the winter.
If no one is in the water there is probably a good reason. We were warned to stay out of the water at a lovely looking beach because of it’s shelf — where sharks hang out! I heard similar advice if the water is murky and near a river mouth.
I like to bring our own masks and snorkels so we can jump in the ocean on the fly. We usually leave the fins at home due to save on luggage space. However, I found fins were necessary in Hawaii’s winter ocean; the currents were strong even in calmer waters.
Hiking
Hawaii is a hiking paradise, so get out and see the natural beauty and diversity of the island on foot. There are easy costal walks and more difficult mountain trails — Hawaii has hikes for every level. Look at your guidebook or google “best hikes near [insert town or island]” or “best hikes in Hawaii with kids.” You will get gobs of information.
FITZ BITS TIP: Pack water shoes and a plastic garbage bag. Wear you water shoes for hiking if there is a river crossing, after a rainfall, or when hiking on muddy winter trails. Have extra shoes in the car and throw your muddy ones in the garbage bag to wash up later.
Be sure to pack water, sunblock, and snacks for those longer hikes. Have fun!
Magnificent waterfalls
Continuing with my theme of FREE, it is no secret that Hawaii has oodles of incredible waterfalls. Some awe-inspiring falls are right off the road. Others require a short or longer hike where the journey is part of the adventure.
Research or ask around if there is a waterfall you can wade in and maybe even find a rope swing or cliff jumping. Remember to bring your swimsuit and towel. Note: You may not want to put your head under the water in the rivers. Just sayin’.
Cliff jumping
Find out if and where you can safely jump into the ocean or rivers. Maybe it is best to do on a tour? Although we did it on our own.
Use extreme caution when cliff jumping. Do a thorough check and talk to others who are there. Are there rocks beneath the surface? How deep is the water? Where is it best to jump? You need to be aware of water depth, shifting tides, water bugs, etc. Do your research and be safe.
Rent a bike
Get out and explore on two wheels. Maybe take a cruiser on a paved trail along the ocean. Or, switch gears and head to a mountain biking trail (no pun intended!).
Rent a kayak
It is fun to get out in the water and explore. Kauai is the island for river kayaking. For ocean kayaking, I recommend you talk to the kayak rental location before going out on your own. If the conditions are favorable then go-for-it! If not, take a tour with a seasoned guide that may also include snorkeling or other activities. So fun!
Attend a luau or hula show
Experience Hawaii’s local food and soak up the Polynesian culture by attending a Luau. There are many Luaus to choose from — although some are reported to have better food than others. They are set on gorgeous grounds or a beautiful beach with pre-activities, a full dinner, and entertainment generally including stories, dancers, drums, fire dancers, and more.
The Luau experience is expensive and you may not want to give up your entire evening or eat a big meal. Good news, there are other ways to experience the Hawaiian culture. And, they are less expensive too. First, some luau venues offer show-only tickets for a fraction of the price. There are also free Hula shows at cultural centers, hotels, shopping centers, and other establishments. Most shows are casual and you can come and go as you please. Note: This is not a show with hula hoops! Hula is a native Hawaiian dance with arm movements that tells a story to rhythmic drumming and chanting. We have watched traditional and contemporary hula shows and they were both great.
Find your favorite shave ice and poke
Shave ice is a must-have treat on your Hawaiian vacation. There are so many fun flavors to choose from. You can even get ice cream on the bottom — which my kids 100% recommend you do! Their favorite is the macademia nut ice cream (except for my nut-allergy kid of course). I like saving the calories for dinner.
Please don’t stop reading after the next sentence. A poke bowl is a delicious marinated fresh raw fish salad that you really should try! Trust me. There are many varieties to choose from. You will find poke tacos and such on restaurant menus. My favorite poke bowl was the yellowfish tuna (AHI) with rice and the vegetarian avocado poke when I wasn’t feeling so daring. We like finding the local places where folks are often lined up out the door. A lot of those shops do not have much seating, but no worries — take yours to-go and enjoy it at the beach.
Relax at your hotel pool or beach
This never lasts long with our active crew!
And now to spend more money on activites
There are a lot of great tours that are totally worth mentioning. However know that you can still enjoy a wonderful family trip to Hawaii without the extra expenses. I get it, it all adds up!
Boat tour
The islands are magnificent to view from out on the water. There are various types and sizes of boats and tours ‘a plenty. There are snorkeling tours, sunset tours, dolphin tours, whale tours, booze cruise tours, and many combinations of these.
FITZ BITS TIP: Bring along dramamine if the ocean is rough and you are prone to motion sickness.
Luau Dinner
Several to choose from.
Horseback riding tour
Explore the many options. Does the trail ride take you along a beach or to a waterfall? Or both!
Kayak tour
There are many river and ocean tours.
Helicopter tour
We enjoyed a helicopter tour on Maui that played local Hawaiian music between the pilot’s commentary. It was a special touch. Look at the details when comparing options. Take dramamine or similar if you are prone to motion sickness!
Movie tour
A lot of movies have been filmed in Hawaii. It is fun to check out those locations and you can see and learn a lot more on a tour. Boat tours and others will probably give you insights to some movie locations as well.
Agriculture tour
Choose from various fruit tours, chocolate tours, or coffee tours. Some are even free!
Etc.
Zip lining, ATV tours, botanical gardens….
Visited in February 1999, December 2000, and December 2018/January 2019
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