5 Days in Maui with School-Age Kids
These actions run in your browser. They do not create an account or send your itinerary preferences anywhere.
Budget
$2,500
Mid-Range
$4,000
Luxury
$6,500
Best Months
Dec, Jan, Feb
Highlights
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1: Arrival & Ka'anapali Snorkeling
Morning
Fly into OGG. Stock up at Costco Kahului (snacks, drinks, sunscreen, reef-safe sunscreen is required by law). Drive to Ka'anapali. Check into the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa — it sits directly on Black Rock, the best snorkeling spot on Ka'anapali Beach. Budget option: Aston Ka'anapali Shores has kitchenettes (save money on meals) and a good pool.
Afternoon
Snorkel at Black Rock (Pu'u Keka'a). The rocky point at the north end of Ka'anapali Beach has a reef teeming with tropical fish — parrotfish, Moorish idols, humuhumunukunukuapua'a (Hawaii's state fish), and green sea turtles. The water is calm, warm (78-82°F), and visibility is typically 40-80 feet. Kids 5+ with basic swim skills can snorkel independently. Rent gear from Boss Frog's in Ka'anapali ($10/day) or bring your own. The cliff jump at Black Rock is a Maui tradition — locals and visitors leap from the 25-foot rock into deep water (adults only, but kids love watching).
Evening
Dinner at Japengo at the Hyatt Regency — Pacific Rim cuisine with sushi, fresh fish, and a spectacular ocean-view terrace. Or more casual: Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman at Whaler's Village — wood-fired pizza, craft cocktails, and live music. The truffle fries are legendary. Kids' menu available. Arrive for sunset — the view from the terrace is extraordinary.
💡 Tip: Snorkeling at Black Rock is best in the morning when water is calmest and visibility is highest. Afternoon can bring chop and current. Always snorkel with a buddy. Bring an underwater camera — the fish here are bold and close. Reef-safe sunscreen only.
Day 2: Molokini Crater & South Maui
Morning
Book a Molokini Crater snorkeling tour with Pacific Whale Foundation or Trilogy Excursions ($90-140/person, kids 5+). The boat ride takes 45 minutes to reach this crescent-shaped volcanic crater 3 miles offshore. The sheltered inner wall has 150+ feet of visibility — you can see fish 100 feet away. Schools of yellow tang, convict tang, and Moorish idols swarm the coral walls. Sea turtles are common. Some tours include Turtle Town (a second snorkel stop where turtles rest on the reef). The boat provides gear, snacks, and drinks.
Afternoon
Return to Ma'alaea Harbor. Drive to Big Beach (Makena Beach State Park) — the most stunning beach in Maui with fine golden sand and turquoise water. The bodysurfing here is excellent for kids who can handle moderate shore break (the waves can be powerful — stick to the south end for calmer conditions). Or visit Little Beach (clothing-optional, be aware) just over the hill. Grab lunch at Jawz Fish Tacos food truck near Makena — $10 for generous fish or shrimp tacos with mango salsa.
Evening
Dinner at Mama's Fish House on the north shore — the most famous restaurant in Maui. Reserve 2-3 months in advance. The menu lists which fisherman caught your fish and where. The macadamia nut-crusted mahi and the Polynesian Black Pearl dessert are iconic. It's expensive ($80-120/person) but an unforgettable experience. Kids are welcome. If Mama's is booked, Nuka on South Kihei Road has excellent sushi and Japanese cuisine at half the price.
💡 Tip: Molokini tours depart early (6-7am) — book the first departure for calmest water and clearest visibility. Motion sickness is real on the boat ride — give kids Dramamine 30 minutes before departure. Bring your own child-sized mask if possible — boat rental masks often leak on kids.
Day 3: Road to Hana Adventure
Morning
Start the Road to Hana by 7am. This 64-mile winding road has 620 curves and 59 bridges — it's an adventure, not just a drive. Stop at Twin Falls (mile marker 2) — an easy 15-minute hike through a bamboo forest to a waterfall with a swimmable pool. Then Waikamoi Nature Trail (mile marker 9.5) — a short loop through a dripping rainforest. Stop at Halfway to Hana stand (coconut candy and banana bread) for snacks. Garden of Eden Arboretum (mile marker 10.5, $15/adult, $5/child) has ocean viewpoints and botanical gardens.
Afternoon
Continue to Wai'anapanapa State Park (mile marker 32, reservations required) — the famous black sand beach. Kids are amazed by the jet-black volcanic sand and the sea caves and blowholes along the lava coast. Swim carefully — the beach has strong shore break. Drive into Hana town and eat at Braddah Hutts BBQ (food truck) — smoked meats, rice, and mac salad. Or Hana Ranch Restaurant for a sit-down meal with local ranch-raised beef. Decision time: drive back the same way (safest, 2.5 hours), or continue the back road through Kipahulu (unpaved, rougher, 3 hours, check rental car restrictions).
Evening
If driving back the same way, stop at Koki Beach (red sand beach near Hana) for sunset photos. Drive carefully — the road is dark and winding at night. Grab plate lunches from Tin Roof in Kahului (chef Sheldon Simeon's restaurant — the mochiko chicken and garlic noodles are extraordinary) if you pass through on the way back. Or grab poke from Tamura's in Kahului.
💡 Tip: The Road to Hana is long — start early and don't try to stop everywhere. Pick 3-4 stops and enjoy them. Download the Shaka Guide app ($10) — it's a GPS-triggered audio tour that narrates the entire drive with history and legends. Pack swimsuits, towels, snacks, and lots of water. Fill up gas in Pa'ia — there are no stations until Hana.
Day 4: Haleakalā & Upcountry
Morning
Drive to Haleakalā National Park summit (10,023 feet elevation). For sunrise, book a reservation at recreation.gov ($1) months in advance — sunrise above the clouds is otherworldly. But sunset is easier with kids (no 3am wake-up) and equally beautiful. The drive takes 1.5 hours from Ka'anapali. The summit is cold (30-50°F) — bring warm layers, jackets, and blankets. The visitor center has exhibits on the silversword plant (grows only here) and the endangered nēnē goose. Short hikes include the Pa Ka'oao trail (0.4 miles, 10 minutes) for panoramic crater views.
Afternoon
Drive down to Upcountry Maui. Stop at Kula Lodge for lunch with spectacular views of the central valley and West Maui Mountains. The burgers and lilikoi (passionfruit) pie are excellent. Visit Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm ($5/person) — 45 varieties of lavender on a hillside with sweeping ocean views. Kids can make lavender sachets. Then head to Surfing Goat Dairy ($15/person for a farm tour) — kids milk goats, feed baby goats, and taste award-winning goat cheese. The 'Udderly Delicious' tour is interactive and funny.
Evening
Drive back to the coast. Dinner at Down the Hatch in Lahaina — fish and chips, poke nachos, and a harbor-view patio. Live music most nights. Kids' menu with fish sticks and quesadillas. Or Moku Roots in Lahaina for a plant-based option — the cauliflower tacos and smoothie bowls are outstanding.
💡 Tip: Haleakalā summit is freezing cold — it's above the cloud line and temperatures drop below 40°F even when the beach is 85°F. Bring jackets, blankets, and warm hats. The altitude (10,023 feet) can cause mild altitude sickness — bring water and move slowly. The drive down has many switchbacks — carsick kids should take Dramamine.
Day 5: Surf Lesson & Departure
Morning
Book a family surf lesson at Lahaina or Ka'anapali through Goofy Foot Surf School or Maui Surfer Girls ($90-120/person for a 2-hour group lesson). Kids 5+ can learn to stand up on foam boards in the gentle waves at Launiupoko or Ka'anapali Beach. Instructors are patient and experienced with kids. Most kids stand up by the end of the lesson — an unforgettable achievement. Alternatively, rent boogie boards ($10/day from Boss Frog's) and bodysurf at Ka'anapali — no lesson needed, just catch waves.
Afternoon
Last stop before the airport: Pa'ia town for lunch at Pa'ia Fish Market (grilled fish plates and fish burgers at outdoor picnic tables) and souvenir shopping. Or grab Tin Roof to go in Kahului. Drive to OGG. Fill gas at Costco. Return rental car.
Evening
Travel home.
💡 Tip: Surf lessons are best in the morning when wind is calm. Book at least 2 days ahead. Launiupoko has the gentlest learning waves. Kids should be comfortable in the ocean and able to swim — the instructors help, but basic water comfort is essential. The feeling of standing on a wave stays with kids forever.
Packing List
- ✓ quality snorkel gear sized for child's face
- ✓ reef-safe sunscreen (Hawaii law — no oxybenzone)
- ✓ rash guards for snorkeling and surfing
- ✓ warm layers for Haleakalā summit (30-50°F)
- ✓ waterproof camera or GoPro
- ✓ water shoes for rocky beaches
- ✓ refillable water bottles
- ✓ motion sickness tablets (for boat trips and winding roads)
- ✓ light rain jacket for Hana road
- ✓ binoculars for whale watching (Dec-April)
Safety Notes
Maui ocean conditions change rapidly. Check surf reports and lifeguard flag conditions before swimming. Rip currents kill more people in Hawaii than any other natural hazard — know how to escape (swim parallel to shore). Molokini boat tours can be rough — motion sickness is common. Haleakalā summit altitude (10,023 ft) can cause headaches and nausea — descend if symptoms worsen. Road to Hana has narrow one-lane bridges and blind curves — drive slowly and pull over for faster traffic. Hawaii requires reef-safe sunscreen — fines apply. Sea turtles are protected — 10-foot distance, never touch. Humpback whale watching season (December-April) means you may see whales from shore.
Full Destination Guide
Maui offers the quintessential Hawaiian family vacation: stunning beaches, whale watching, and a relaxed pace that lets families slow down and enjoy the island life.
Read the Maui, Hawaii family guide →