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Kids & Families on Maui
Let’s face it — if the kids aren’t happy, Mom and Dad aren’t, either. Maui resorts can be your allies in Operation Fun, offering all kinds of ways to entertain the young ones (and young in spirit).
1. If your youngster would rather kick a ball than swing a club, Kā‘anapali Golf Courses has a game that’s a shoo-in. Held on the Kā‘anapali Kai Course, FootGolf is a family-friendly hybrid sport that combines soccer and golf. Players kick off the tee, and the “hole” is a plastic cup twenty-one inches in diameter. It’s fun for all ages, and available after 3:30 p.m. KaanapaliGolfCourses.com
2. In the waters off Pu‘u Keka‘a — the coast-hugging lava cliff nicknamed Black Rock — kids can peek beneath the surface and see how Maui’s other half lives. They can also learn about these sea creatures at the Maui Ocean Center Hawaiian Marine Life Hale at the Sheraton Maui Resort. A marine naturalist is on-site, and the space features marine-themed games and puzzles for the keiki (children). Open daily 9 a.m.–noon. Sheraton-Maui.com
3. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy the classic combo of graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate. Gather the family for a cozy evening beside Sheraton Maui’s oceanfront firepits, below Cliff Dive Grill. Purchase s’mores kits through the Sheraton’s in-room dining service and have them delivered to your room. The Grill offers food-and-beverage service at the firepits, so adults can sip on tropical beverages while the kids get to roasting their s’mores. A limited number of s’mores kits are available daily, and firepits are on a first-come basis, so plan early for this popular activity. Firepits are open nightly, 6–9 p.m. Sheraton-Maui.com
4. Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, is an educational experience in disguise. Local experts and naturalists transform Maui’s ecological re-sources into a classroom through hikes, tide pool exploration and storytelling. The public is welcome. RitzCarlton.com/Kapalua
5. Grab the camera — Madeline the Mermaid returns to the Grand Wailea, and the kids will surely want proof of the sighting. This real-life “mermaid” meets with fans to swim and chat, appearing during family vacation times: Christmas and New Year’s, spring break and summer. GrandWailea.com
