Maui with Small kids

I have to admit that a Hawaii vacation is different with small kids. It was a little harder than I expected, but we all survived, had fun and soaked up too much sun. 

Here are my top 5 suggestions 

1.  Snacks

Take advantage of the local snacks to break up the day. They are usually on the sweet side, so we usually limited it to one treat a day. Explore all the shave ice and fruit stands. There are usually banana bread and dried fruit options at any bakery or fruit stand. 

2.  Alternatives to snorkeling

We took turns doing basic snorkeling along some of the beaches we visited, but we could not stray too far from the beach. We found some other ways to give the kids a chance to see the amazing sea life in Hawaii. 

Glass bottom boat - this operation was well run and caters to kids. They have divers that find specimens on the sea floor and bring them up to your window to see in detail. 

Maui Ocean Center - small, but very thorough aquarium. Especially good for a rainy day or when you need a break from the beach. 

3.  Beaches with shade and parking

I quickly learned that shade is a premium on the beach.  It feels like you are constantly slathering your kids with sunblock, so it is nice to be able to retreat to a shaded area rather than baking in the sun.  

By the time you pile up the towels, sand toys and any chairs or umbrellas, there is a lot to carry to the beach. Plus, it doubles in weight after it gets wet. So the closer you can park the better.  We usually left the house right after breakfast. the earlier you get there, the more parking will be available. 

4.  Haleakala Junior Ranger Program

My kids loved this program. The booklets are free at either Haleakala visitor center and there are activities for all ages. My 4 year old was very proud to have a purpose to our hike and get the official jr ranger pin at the end. I believe they have similar programs at most National Patks so I highly recommend asking about this program. 

5. Relax

It was hard for me to let go of my typical schedule watching, but once I let go of trying to do too much, I finally relaxed a little. We would plan most of our activities in the mornings and left the afternoon for nap times and playing in the pool.  I still stressed about meals, but the kids always found something they liked when we went out.