Hawaii might look tiny in the world map, but this island is actually bigger than you think! Hawaii actually consists of 8 major islands, but with so little time as always, we decided to set our eyes on the second largest Hawaiian island — Maui. The island is beloved for its world-famous beaches, the sacred Iao Valley, views of migrating humpback whales (during winter months), farm-to-table cuisine and the magnificent sunrise and sunset from Haleakala. Furthermore, as the locals describe it, the island of Maui is also divided into a “wet” (east) part and “dry” (west) part. With us coming from the cold northern climate of Canada, we of course wanted to get some sun and so the DRY part of the island was a no-brainer! Here are 7 family fun things to do with kids in West Maui, Hawaii.

1. Stay at a Resort with a kid-friendly swimming pool

Even though visitors come to Hawaii for the gorgeous beaches, our kids always opt for swimming in a pool. They always say “no waves to worry about here!”, and while some hotels only have adult swimming pools with mostly deep-end swimming, we made sure to choose a resort with kid-friendly pools. For this, we chose the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. The best thing about the Sheraton Maui is its meandering, waterfall-bedecked lazy river that wraps around the entire frontage of the hotel. This lazy river pool caters to all heights, whether you know how to swim or not!

We also really love the Marriott Bonvoy hotel line as we earn and use Bonvoy points for our stay here at the Sheraton. Using your points can really lower your overall cost for a vacation (especially for families), so make sure you don’t miss out on earning and redeeming points whenever you can! I mean, we did after all ended up getting a FREE trip to Disney World for a family of 4 because of this, so let the collection of points continue to accumulate! Every dollar counts! 😉

We also recommend you rent a private cabana to lounge in during those hot days, to keep yourself cool. It also provides a place that your kids can rest between swimming. Amazing poolside food service is also provided daily, so if you’re hungry, just make an order from your chair lounge and you get to eat poolside! 

People also choose the Sheraton for premium beach front access! As you walk into the hotel’s lobby, one can’t help but notice its unobstructed views of Kaanapali Beach! Waves are quite friendly in this side of the island, so you don’t have to worry too much about getting swept away in the ocean. Snorkelling in the ocean is also a fun activity for those avid swimmers.

2. Hotel Hop to see other resorts and try as much restaurants as you can! 

A change of scenery is always welcome when you’re on a trip, especially with kids! It surely keeps their inquisitive minds busy. So why not check out neighbouring hotels to see what they have to offer! Eating and trying local food is one of our top favourite things to do when traveling. When you’re done trying the different restaurants at the resort you’re staying in, why stop exploring there? There is actually a free shuttle service that runs from the Sheraton to the Hyatt and the golf courses, so make sure to take advantage of that as it’s one of the best and easy ways to get around the area. We also made sure to make any dinner reservations well ahead of time as restaurants book up fast! From unique Ube-pancakes for breakfast at Coral Reef restaurant (Sheraton hotel) to the our favourite dish the Seared Hamachi dinner at Waicoco restaurant (Westin hotel)….definitely a must-try when you’re in west Maui! If restaurants are booked up at the various hotels, we also enjoyed walking around shopping at Whalers Village which also offers great restaurant choices and some quick fast food bites!

3. Attend a Luau

One of the most festive and cultural experiences to be had on a visit to the Hawaiian Islands is a luau – a Hawaiian feast featuring lively music and vibrant cultural performances from Hawaii and greater Polynesia. More importantly, this cultural performance comes with traditional Hawaiian FOOD! This is a great opportunity for you and the kids to try what the locals eat! Popular luau dishes include Poi, Kalua Pig, Laulau, Haupia, and Poke. We were quite excited to find out that the luau offered a variety of sample dishes!

Speaking of hotel-hopping, we decided to book our luau at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa! Most hotels in the area offers a variety of luaus (including the Sheraton where we are staying in) but we made sure to read reviews of the different luau “flavors” that are available and ultimately decided that the luau at the Westin was the best choice for us. And after seeing their incredible performance, it surely did not disappoint!

4. Spend a half day at Lahaina

Once known as Lele, which means “relentless sun” in Hawaiian, Lahaina is a historic town that has been transformed into a Maui hotspot with dozens of art galleries and a variety of unique shops and restaurants. Strolling around Front Street can instantly give you a feel of old Lahaina in the 1800’s as they preserved some of the exterior look of the buildings around. Sitting adjacent to the old Lahaina courthouse is the iconic Banyan tree, planted in 1873…. a sight you won’t want to miss!

Being a Maui hotspot, Lahaina offers some great restaurant options to check out including Down the Hatch restaurant, which was recently featured by the famous “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” show by Guy Fieri. They definitely had one of the best fish tacos we’ve ever tried in our lives! Make sure you try their Ahi tuna tacos (truly unforgettable!) and of course, grab some Shave Ice next door for desert — another must-try Hawaiian staple!

5. Book a whale watching tour

If you visit Maui during the winter months (Jan-April), don’t forget to set sail from Lahaina Harbor on an unforgettable whale watching tour. Your kids will love it! The channel off the coast of Lahaina is one of the best places in the world to spot humpback whales. Even these magnificent creatures can’t get enough of Lahaina! Our kids surely had a blast whale watching and can now share with their friends the fun experience, “I’ve seen a whale up close!” 😉

We booked our tour with the Ultimate Whale Watch company which GUARANTEES spotting whales or you get your money back! We thought this was a pretty amazing guarantee so it was definitely worth the price of admission! We also really enjoyed having the smaller boat versus being on a larger ship as the atmosphere is just more intimate. Book your tickets in advance as seats are limited and book up fast!

6. Visit the Maui Aquarium

Named one of the “Top 10 Aquariums in the World” by TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards, Maui Ocean Center is the premier destination to encounter and learn about Hawaii’s marine life. Home to one of the world’s largest displays of live Pacific corals, the Aquarium exhibits only marine life found in Hawaiian waters including tropical fish, sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, octopuses, sea jellies, and more. The Aquarium highlights the beauty of Hawaii’s undersea world while perpetuating the deep connection between the Hawaiian people and the sea. The Aquarium’s mission is to foster understanding, wonder, and respect for Hawaii’s marine life.

There is also an unbelievable 15 minute, 3D film about the humpback whales featured in their cinema dome, that took 3 years to film in Maui’s very own backyard. Definitely check that out as you and the kids will both be amazed! You can easily spend a half day exploring the aquarium so make sure to reserve ample time in your day to do this. They also have a restaurant for you to sit back and take a break.

7. Explore other beaches in the area!

Maui has more than 80 accessible beaches of every conceivable description, from rocky black-sand beaches to powdery golden ones; there’s even a rare red-sand beach! With our limited time in Maui, we were only able to check out 4 gorgeous beaches during our time here: Kaanapali Beach, Ukumehame Beach, Secret Cove Beach and Po‘olenalena Beach. Each of them offers a different vantage point of the island, and not to mention… different takes on Maui’s gorgeous sunsets! So get out there, go rent a car for the day, and drive around the island as it is absolutely worth it!

Our final thoughts…

Hawaii has always been a dream destination of ours and now a place we leave with so many fond memories created together. We hope to come back to Maui and explore the east island and the popular road to Hana route and see the sunrise of Haleakala the next time. Maui is the perfect family destination to enjoy the many sea life, beaches, relax, and soak in some sun.