Family-Friendly Things to Do in Maui
Updated: Mar 2, 2022
Maui is one of the more popular Hawaiian Islands, especially when it comes to family vacations. This island is full of natural wonders, as well as outdoor adventures. If you have an active family, Maui is going to be the perfect destination for your next family vacation. You can spend days hiking, ziplining, biking, and taking long car rides to experience heart-racing thrills you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Don’t worry though, there are plenty of opportunities to sit back and relax when you visit Maui. There is nothing better than sitting next to a waterfall, while you devour a picnic lunch. And if you forget to grab lunch before you leave your resort, there is almost always a food truck nearby waiting to feed you something delicious.
I can never say enough good things when it comes to the island of Maui. Maybe that is why it is usually near the top of my list of places to return to in the future. You will feel the same way once you have experienced everything this island has to offer. But first, you must be aware of the best family-friendly things to do in Maui. This information will help as we are planning your itinerary for your family vacation on the island.
Family-Friendly Things to Do in Maui

Haleakala
Haleakala is a massive volcano that is just over 10,000 feet in height. You will find this volcano inside Haleakala National Park. While this volcano has not erupted in more than 200 years, it is still an incredible destination to visit while on vacation in Maui. Most families choose to arrive at this volcano early in the morning, so they can drive to the top to watch the sunrise.
If you don’t want to watch the sunrise, you can always arrive later in the day to hike the trails along the crater floor. Or you can watch as the sun is setting at the end of the day.
Lahaina
Lahaina is a touristy destination in Maui, but that doesn’t mean you must cross this area off your list when you are visiting. This historic town is full of boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. A walk down Front Street is a must when you are in Lahaina. However, so is a walk along the Lahaina Historic Trail. A few places to stop along the trail include the oldest living banyan tree on the island, Pioneer Inn, US Seamen’s Hospital, and Hale Paahao, which is Lahaina Prison.
Baby Beach
Baby Beach is a beach on the north shore of Maui. Thanks to the reef that connects to the western end of the beach, there is a lagoon that is protected from the ocean. This lagoon is the perfect spot for kids to swim, as you relax on the sand. It can get windy in the afternoons though.
When you are visiting Baby Beach, you must take the time to look out towards Lanai, as well as Kahoolawe Island. The glimpses you get of the island may be all you see because you are not allowed to visit that island.
Humpback Whale Watching
If your family wants to see humpback whales when you are on vacation in Maui, we will need to plan your visit carefully. The first humpback whales arrive near this island during the months of October and November. However, whale watching season doesn’t officially start until December, and peak season is considered the month of February. You must capture a glimpse of these whales by March because that is when the humpback whales migrate until later in the year.
You can easily see the humpback whales from the shoreline in Maui. However, I always recommend heading out on a boat tour, because it allows you to see these magnificent creatures up close. There are many different Maui whale watching tours to choose from, but I will find the perfect one for your family.

Snorkel Tours of Molokini
Molokini is a crater that is shaped like a crescent moon. The area is a marine preserve, as well as a seabird sanctuary. When you decide to take a snorkel tour of this area, your family will have the chance to see more than 200 different species of fish, as well as reef sharks, moray eels, and octopus. You can also swim with the green sea turtles, or honu, when you are in the water. If we plan your tour during the months of December through March, you can see humpback whales on your ride to and from this crater.

Road to Hana
The Road to Hana is one of the extraordinary scenic drives in the entire world and you will love experiencing it with your family when you are on vacation in Maui. This stretch of road is just over 64 miles long, so you must be prepared for a long drive. There are also more than 600 curves, so if someone in your family get motion sickness, you will want to be prepared with remedies before you leave.
There are so many stops you can make on the Road to Hana, which will make your trip even longer. We must choose the stops you want to make in advance if you don’t have a lot of time available. However, if you do have extra time, we can create a plan where you are in this area for a couple days, so you can really fall in love with this area of Maui.
Maui Ocean Center
One of the best ways to see all of Maui’s wildlife, flowers, plants, and cultures in one location is to take your family to the Maui Ocean Center. You will find the Ocean Center over in Ma’alea Bay. Everyone in your family will fall in love with the turtle lagoon and living reef. But it will be the humpback whale exhibit and open ocean that will keep everyone mesmerized for hours.
Ali’i Kula Lavender Fields
The Ali’i Kula Lavender Fields are comprised of just over 13 acres of land. All that acreage is filled with 55,000 lavender plants. There are 45 varieties of the plants, but you may not be able to tell them apart without a little assistance. Your time at this farm will have you learning how one lavender plant was turned into this gorgeous space that locals and tourists love. Before you leave the farm, you must stop in the gift shop to purchase a few lavender items to take home with you.
Surfing Goat Dairy Farm
If your kids love animals, you may want to make the trip to the Surfing Goat Dairy Farm. This working farm offers a multitude of tours that offer insight as to how the farm works. If you do not want to take a tour, you can spend a little time feeding the goats, checking out the pigs, and making friends with the farm dogs and cats.
These are some of the best family-friendly things to do in Maui. While you can place all these things on your itinerary, there are so many other options to choose from. I would love to chat with you, so I can find out exactly what you are looking for during your next family vacation in Maui. This will ensure I know what to include when I am creating your itinerary and planning the rest of your trip.
So, are you ready to plan your family vacation in Maui??
If you are ready to start planning, I would like to invite you to schedule a planning session with me by clicking here. This link will take you directly to my digital calendar, where you can set up a convenient time for us to connect.
