By Kimberley Riccio
The Hawaiian Islands are known for their incredible honeymoon and wedding
vacations packages. However, Hawaii also offers great family vacations. Many
resorts, including many of the luxury resorts, are proud of their family activity programs and go all out to show the vacationing family an enjoyable and fun-filled time. There are programs and clubs for ages 5 through 12, programs for teens and programs for Mom and Dad that want that little extra time alone. Each of the islands has different activities for a family to enjoy, with the smaller islands having a low key or laid-back atmosphere. However, the main islands are the biggest tourist attractions and have the most to offer a vacationing family.
Kona Village Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii
The Kona Village custom-designed their family programs for their all-inclusive resort, that includes programs in which parents can plan time to enjoy intimate dinners for two without the worry of children. The resort is located on the grounds of an ancient fishing village, which is a ample setting for active families. Children ages 5 to 12 have an opportunity to join in fishing contests, coconut painting, net throwing and Hawaiian crafts, as well as have pool visits and ball games. Teens may seek out kayaking, snorkeling tours, sunfish sailing lessons and volleyball.
Kona Village Resort
Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway,
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
Phone: (800) 367-5290
Fax: (808) 325-5124
Email: inf@konavillage.com
The Fairmont Orchid Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii
The Keiki Aloha program, for children of 5 to 12 years old, features supervised activities from Hikes to petroglyphs, tide pool and cave exploration, shell hunting, crafts, and canoes rides to search for turtles. The older teens have many options, including tennis, snorkeling, surf lesions, kayaks and game room.
The Fairmont Orchid Resort
1 N. Kaniku Drive
Kohala Coast, Hawaii 96743
Phone: (808) 885-2000
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa on Kauai
The Grant Hyatt Kauai is a 50-acre resort is the foot of green mountains, and fronts a white-sand beach. Teen activities include kayaking, snorkeling, water volleyball, luau dancing and mountain biking. The younger children can enroll in Camp Hyatt and enjoy an array of activities from Koi fish feeding to lei making. The camp also gets the Kids involved in crafts and learning about Hawaii's marine and bird wildlife. Other fun activities include shell bracelet making, hula lessons, volcano making or interactive events with parrots, while parents enjoy time together at the spa.
Grand Hyatt Kauai
1571 Poipu Road,
Koloa, Hawaii, 96756
Phone: (808) 742-1234
Fax: (808) 742-1557
Email: conciergekauai@hyatt.com
Aloha Beach Resort on Kauai
This resort is a laid back family spot. There is pool swimming, tennis, volleyball and shuffleboard, as well as picnic area on the property. The resort is positioned on Lydgate Beach and features snorkeling and a children's playground. In addition, not far from the resort is hiking trails and lookout points in the Waimea Canyon; lava tubes and circular slides at the Kamalani Park; and kayaking and water skiing on the Waillua River.
Aloha Beach Resort
3-5920 Kuhio Hwy
Kapa'a, Hawaii 96746
Phone: (888) 823-5111
Email: info@abrkauai.com
Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort on Oahu
Awarded the best beach resort for families by "Parents Magazine," the resort goes all out to provide year round programs for children ages 5 to 12. Activities range from educational to fun filled adventures. The Rainbow Express Kids Club keeps the youngest of guests entertained with its full and half-day programs. There is also a high-tech submarine located at the Hilton Hawaiian Village that allow the exploring family to view the artificial reefs, various varieties of fish, along with the wreckage of sunken ships and an old passenger plane. Families can enjoy surf lessons, kayaking and the famous Waikiki Starlight Luau.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort
2005 Kalia Rd
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
Phone: (808) 949-4321
Fax: (808) 951-5458
Marriott Ihilani Resort at Ko Olina on Oahu
The resort at Ko Olina is located on Oahu's leeward coast and provides tropical fun for families. The resort's Beachcomber Club, for children ages 5 to 12, provides activities from treasure hunts, hula dancing, and crafts to Karaoke and sports. The resort has a marine Life program and ocean adventures such as kayaking for the teens.
Marriott Ihilani Resort at Ko Olina
92-1001 Olani Street
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707
Phone: (808) 679-0079
Fax: (808) 679-0080
Email: info@ihilani.com
Website: www.ihilani.com
Aloha Beach House on Molokai
The Aloha Beach House is a Hawaiian-style beach house that sits right on the beach of Waialua. It is perfect for families that want to laid-back style of staying in a Hawaiian beach house. The house sleeps five people. There are two bedrooms with high ceilings and ceiling fans. The master bedroom has a king size bed, second bedroom with three twin beds. There is one bathroom with tub and a private outside hot/cold shower. The house has a huge living/dining/kitchen area that opens out to an old-fashioned porch. The kitchen is fully equipped, and the house is complete with a VCR and library of videos, as well as all of kinds of beach toys to take down to the private beach. A family can enjoy the swimming, snorkeling, surfing, boogie boarding, windsurfing, fishing, kayaking and beachcombing for shells just by walking off the back porch and down to the beach.
Aloha Beach House on Molokai
Phone: (888) 828-1008
Four Seasons Resort at Wailea on Maui
The Four Seasons Resort is a very kid-friendly, family oriented resort hotel. Kid programs run year round and have welcome amenities for their young guests. On their first day, there are complimentary milk and cookies as well as child-sized bathrobes, and toiletries in the room. Activities range from Boogie boards to Whale watching for both teens and family activities together.
Four Seasons Resort at Wailea
3900 Wailea Alanui
Wailea, Maui, Hi 96753
Phone: (808) 874-8000
Fax: (808)874-2244
About the Author:
Kimberley Riccio has been writing professionally since 1978. She writes travel articles for various e-magazines and other online publications. Riccio holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from Wilmington University, culinary certification from Le Cordon Blu and a Master of Science in cultural sociology from the Defense Graduate Institute.
