Planning a dream Hawaii trip with kids

As the rain rains, and I can no longer pretend that winter’s not around the corner, my thoughts turn inexorably to… beaches, the kind of palm fringed tropical ones you’d find on a dream Hawaii trip with kids.

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Hawaii has been on my family wishlist for years, the mix of traditional culture, some of the world’s most beautiful scenery and those beaches – so I’ve already got a string of ideas for my dream Hawaii trip with kids.

The biggest issue is working out how much I could fit into my daughter’s school holidays – because let’s face it, Hawaii isn’t a weekend break destination…!

Which means scaling back my idea of hopping from Honolulu in O’ahu to Hanalei on Kauai to Wailea on Maui, and fitting in an impressive 14 different beaches. Mmmmm several a day. Tempting! Not to mention a few historic sites, plenty of culture and some shopping.

Remembering the jetlag that hit me when I travelled to the South Pacific years ago, all that sightseeing and island hopping was going to be a bit full-on with a child. 

For more help planning a family holiday in Hawaii, check out these Hawaii travel guides with kids – including guides for Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island with kids

So with my more realistic hat on, I whittled it down to two different Hawaii holidays – each possible itinerary starts in Honolulu but one taking me to Kailua Kona on the Big Island then Kihei on Maui, the other going to Lahaina on Maui first followed by Kailua Kona. 

There’s plenty of opportunity to mix and match, depending what your family’s interests are. Not to mention more than a few of those glorious dream Hawaii beaches.

If you’re not sure what the best Hawaiian island for your family is, this great guide is a good place to start with an overview of each

Day one

Fly overnight from London to Honolulu (straight from school!) arriving at 9.30am on Day two.

Day two – Honolulu

Hit the beach. After a long flight, the island’s museums and memorials can definitely wait another day.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

Home to around 400 different species of fish, you can also spot green sea turtles here. With calm clear turquoise water, it’s a perfect spot for kids and for snorkelling.

Lanikai Beach, Kailua

Ranked as one of the best beaches in the world, it looks out over two islands called the na mokulua or mokes. There are no facilities but there are places to eat within walking distance (or a few minutes drive).

Day three – Honolulu

Time for a bit of sightseeing – still keeping it low-key.

Bishop Museum

Home to the largest collection of Polynesian cultural artefacts – 24 million historical, cultural, and natural treasures, which tell the story of Hawaii and the culture of the peoples of the Pacific. Perfect to understand a bit more about the islands we’ll be visiting.

USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park

Home to a Second World War submarine, there’s a museum as well as the chance to climb on board the submarine (ages four and above only) with a kids’ audio tour and Junior Submariner activity sheets to fill out and win a prize.

I know my daughter is fascinated by submarines (me too!) and it’s a more accessible option for younger kids than other wartime sites.

Other suggestions included the USS Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Missouri Memorial, which would be great for older kids, or those studying the Second World War, especially to learn more about Pearl Harbor.

Day four – Honolulu

Some more history – perfect for capturing children’s imagination.

Iolani Palace

The only royal palace in America, it was home to Hawaii’s last monarch, Queen Lili’uokalani before she was overthrown in 1893. Today the rooms look as they would when the queen was in residence, in all their former royal glory.

There’s also a statue of the Queen in downtown Honolulu.

Byodo-In Temple, Kaneohe

A smaller scale replica of the 950-year-old Byodo-in temple in Uji, Japan, it’s set at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains, around an hour from Honolulu.

The Buddhist temple was created to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Hawaii’s first Japanese immigrants and it’s a great reminder that there are strong Asian influences throughout the islands. Plus it’s a beautiful, tranquil spot with waterfalls and peacocks.

Day five – Honolulu

Time for another beach.

Waikiki Beach

Two miles of white sand on the south shore of Honolulu and one of the world’s most famous beaches, it’s actually divided into eight beaches with a promenade.

Perhaps a dip in the man-made swimming lagoon of Duke Kahanamoku Beach or the protected area at Prince Kuhio Beach, before some snorkelling at San Souci beach, one of the most family-friendly stretches.

At one end of the beach is Honolulu Zoo, with native species as well as animals from around the world (as long as you’re not actually visiting on Christmas Day, the one day of the year that it’s shut!)

Or check out this North Shore day trip itinerary if you’d like to explore the other side of the island

Day six – Honolulu to The Big Island

The last day on this island, taking a four-hour flight to Kailua Kona in the evening. So two choices depending if we’re feeling active or want to explore a bit further.

Diamond Head State Monument

The hike to this viewpoint takes a couple of hours (best for six plus, even better for older kids) with some amazing scenery to spot from the lookout.

Sunset Beach park

This stretch of golden sand on the north coast is perfect for older kids who want to try their hand at boogie boarding – or for younger ones to sit back, play on the sand and watch the surfers (between the occasional paddle).

Day seven – Kailua-Kona

The first day on the Big Island, staying around Kailua-Kona – mixing up history and the chance to get in the waves. You can swap day seven, eight and nine around to suit.

Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park

What’s better than spotting dolphins? Swimming with them, on an excursion in the marine life conservation area of Kealakekua Bay, with a guide to show visitors the best snorkelling spots as well as pointing out some of the unusual geological features from lava tubes to caves.

It’s a good spot to see sea turtles and tropical fish on the corals too.

Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, Honaunau

Not far away lies one of Hawaii’s sacred sites, where you can discover more about Hawaii’s history and culture – from watching traditional crafts to learning about ancient codes of conduct, weaving, fishing and carving. Once, people could even escape death for breaking sacred laws by coming here.

Day eight – Kailua-Kona

The second day on the island – carry on as we started, with more history and downtime.

Puukohola National Historic Park, Kawaihae

On the northwestern coast of the island, it’s home to an ancient heiau, or temple – one of the last major ones to be built.

There’s fascinating history (it’s thought a human chain passed the lava rocks from hand to hand from a valley 25 miles away), while you can also see a submerged temple dedicated to shark gods and learn how a stranded British sailor became an advisor to a king.

Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area, Puako

Time for more beach – if only to compare them to O’ahu’s. Hapuna Beach is often listed as one of the country’s most beautiful, with soft white sand, clear water and plenty of facilities including umbrellas to rent and places to buy snacks. There are lifefguards too, and enough surf to go bodysurfing.

Day nine – Kailua-Kona to Kihei

The final day on this island – so time for one last beach, before another tour and 45-minute flight to Kahului on Maui in the evening for a stay in Kihei.

Kahaluu Beach, Keeauhou

Time for a final dip – this time from a black sand shore where the clear waters are great for snorkelling, and the fish have a reputation for being unusually friendly. Sea turtles turn up here as well.

Dolphin and whale watching, Kailua-Kona

After swimming with the spinner dolphins on day seven, there’s chance to discover more of them, along with the whales which live in the waters off Hawaii. Choose from smoother catamaran rides to Zodiac rafts, which let you get closer to the marine life.

Tours start from two hours long, but you can also combine them with kayaking or visits to Kealakekua Bay Reserve.

Day 10 – Kihei

The first of three days on Maui, we should be in our stride of mixing chilled out time by the ocean and discovering the island’s historic sites.

Ho’okipa Beach Park, Paia

Where else to start but a beach – and Ho’okipa Beach Park is known as one of the world’s top windsurfing destinations, as well as a good spot for serious surfers.

But there’s a calmer area for swimming at low tide, thanks to the coral reef’s protection.

Maui Ocean Center, Wailuku

The aquarium has recreated Hawaii’s ocean ecosystem, so you’ll only find marine life that naturally lives in this area – but with 60 exhibits, and an clear tunnel taking you through a 2.8 million litre tank, there’s plenty to see, from tropical reef fish to sharks and stingrays.

You can also try dolphin and whale watching here, at Maalaea, for a cruise along west Maui’s coastline on an excursion similar to the ones from Kailua-Kona.

Day 11 – Kihei

Time for more sightseeing…

Lahaina Banyan Court, Lahaina

On the site of an old fort, you can take a self-guided trail through Lahaina’s historical district, stretching out across two acres.

The highlight is spotting the largest banyan tree in Hawaii, with its giant trunk and roots covering almost 2,700 square metres.

Ka’anapali Beach, Lahaina

The penultimate beach of the trip, Ka’anapali Beach is ideal with younger kids thanks to the shallow waters – and as ever, plenty of glorious sand to play on.

There are boat tours off the beach, as well as snorkelling if you want a final fix.

Day 12 – Kihei to London

One last day means one last beach before the flight home, flying back from Kahului on Maui to London (and arriving home on Day 13).

Wailea Beach, Wailea

A last chance to marvel at turtles swimming through the water, soft sand and shallow water, it’s also considered one of the most beautiful beaches on Maui. You can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, or rent an umbrella instead and soak up the warmth.

PIN FOR LATER: PLANNING A DREAM HAWAII TRIP WITH KIDS

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions and wish to sit on as many of Hawaii’s beaches as possible, are my own.

Images – Maui beach courtesy Adobe Stock, all others Depositphotos