During our recent trip to Maui, we took some time away from the beaches to go explore the island. Not all activities are made equal and we wanted to share our feelings about what we’ve done here.

The activities described in this post took place in December 2023 and January 2024.

View other posts in this series:

• Trip Introduction: Ringing in the New Year in Maui
• Review: Grand Wailea
• Dining at Grand Wailea
• Plenty of Aloha: Review of the Andaz Maui at Wailea
• Andaz Maui Dining Options
• Having Fun on Maui with Kids (this post)

Sea Maui Whale Watching

I wanted to take the kids on a whale watching cruise. There were a lot of options available to choose from and not too much reliable information out there.

I found this excursion on Viator, which I’ll admit I generally avoid. But since I was interested in earning status with American Airlines and the AA shopping portal three in some extra miles on top (1,800 of them), I figured it was worth a try. On top of the bonus miles, I had a cash back offer for Viator on one of my credit cards to help sweeten the deal. It was definitely still a pretty penny to do the excursion (about $70 per person), but the blow was softened a bit by the extra rebates.

We found the check in booth for Sea Maui in Ka’anapali (Whalers Village) where a friendly agent checked us in and had us wait about 15 minutes for the rest of the passengers to arrive. We were then escorted a short walk over to the beach where we directly boarded the boat. Boarding the boat was pretty smooth and we didn’t get too wet but disembarking is where I got a bit soaked (as you’ll see later on).

We were one of the first passengers to board and dipped into a cozy spot that afforded some decent shade. Of course, we would soon realize that this particular spot didn’t give good views of the ocean, so we eventually abandoned it.

We had a total of two hours out on the ocean. While they didn’t explicitly guarantee seeing whales, it seems safe to say that it’s pretty easy to find whales in the area during this time of the year. The kids had a blast being on the catamaran and the staff here was very friendly.

The cruise is listed as being an open bar. We started off with some pog juice (mixed with sparkling wine for the adults). Don’t come in expecting top-shelf drinks, but service was excellent and they made sure to continually top me off.

Midway through the cruise, staff came around with some snacks, which the kids enjoyed more than the drinks.

We saw plenty of whales on the cruise, with the captain taking us to several spots with plenty of activity. You’re not going to get too close to the whales, but you won’t have problems seeing them splashing around and having fun.

When you board, everyone’s shoes are tossed into a basket, which is just dumped out when you come back to land. Make sure you remember which shoes are yours!

Getting off the boat can be a bit challenging, depending on the tide. I think most people didn’t have a problem, but I got drenched getting off at the wrong time. Yes, it is more of a struggle leaving after leaving an open bar. We can just leave it at that.

Kalama Park

A small park just north of Wailea, Kalama Park is a fun stop to take the kids. The park features a nice playground with plenty of shade that can keep kids entertained for a good 30+ minutes. It’s also across the street from a good breakfast place (more details to follow in the next post).

For those not interested in the playground, there is a lovely jogging path around the island here.

We also saw some turtles, which can be a little challenging to see with all the waves, but I swear they are there!

If you happen to be in the area, it’s worth a stop, but I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to come here.

Maui Tropical Plantation

Nestled between Wailea and the airport is a nice road stop that definitely has that family-run feel to it. If you’ve been to the Dole plantation on Waikiki, this will feel similar but with less production value.

We pulled in to the large parking lot to find a cute gift shop. Just beyond the gift shop is where you can take a tour of the plantation.

There are plenty of ducks here taking advantage of the food the tourists leave behind.

We booked tickets for the tropical express tour online. While they recommend booking tickets in advance, there was no problem booking tickets in person when we visited.

The tour is conducted in a tram that takes you around the premises. The driver talks into a speakerphone to provide narration throughout the journey.

Midway through the tour, you’re invited to step out of the tram to stretch your legs and listen to a demonstration of how to open a coconut and to see some artwork.

They also have zip lines here if you want a different way of experiencing the plantation. Our seven-year-old son Alex was hopeful to give it a try, but they had no spots available when we were there. Maybe next time!

Also found here is a sit-down restaurant but we didn’t get a chance to try it. We used this activity as a way to keep the kids entertained between the time we had to check out at the Grand Wailea and check in at the Andaz Maui. I’m not sure I would return to do the tour of the premises but I would likely come back for the zip-lining, if the kids feel up to it.

Maui Ocean Center

Not too far away from the Maui Tropical Plantation is the Maui Ocean Center. The best way to describe this activity is by calling it an aquarium. The only things that set it apart from the standard aquarium are the Hawaiian-themed activities and the focus on sea life found in the area.

We found a diver being playfully attacked by a lobster, much to the amusement of the kids.

The kids liked the Hawaiian-themed activities here, which included creating their own bookmark using traditional Hawaiian printing techniques. It was good but not worth a trip out to specifically do it.

In the center of the ocean center is a small kids playground. It’s not enough to keep Alex entertained, but four-year-old Char was intrigued for a short while. Given its size, don’t be surprised to see it crowded with just a couple of kids in here.

Char needed a break and so we bought her a souvenir. Perhaps it’s worthy of a separate discussion, but we try to give the kids the option of one small item at each destination to help them remember each trip. Char chose a stuffed turtle and was excited to show off her new friend to the turtle statue just outside the gift shop.

There is both a sit-down restaurant and a grab-and-go option here. We ended up getting some dole whip from the grab-and-go stop below. Prices here were a bit on the expensive side—$11 for dole whip isn’t cheap by any metric—and quite honestly items were cheaper at the nearby Maui Tropical Plantation. So if you’re hitting up both spots in the same day, get your snacks there.

I don’t have plans to come back here the next time we are in town. Honestly, I would rather have done the ride in the submarine, but sadly it was closed for our dates.

Mokapu Beach vs Wailea Beach

I thought I would officially review the beaches right outside the Andaz Maui (Mokapu) and the Grand Wailea (Wailea). If you’re just looking for sun, I think you would be fine at either location. However, if you’re planning on going into the water, either to swim or to snorkel, then Mokapu Beach is the place to be. We found the waves tamer at Mokapu as there appeared to be a bit of natural shelter in the way the beach is set up that helps break up the waves. There’s also some coral at Mokapu with fish activity while Wailea felt fairly barren. Both beaches are connected with a nice jogging path. I think it’s perfectly fine to stick to the beach closer to your hotel, but if you’re coming in from elsewhere or you don’t mind the walk, I would say go to Mokapu.

Haleakala

The giant mountain in the center of Maui can be fun if you’re into outdoor activities. We didn’t go there this trip, but I want to at least give a few comments as I know it’s a popular activity (we last went up before the kids).

• First, I personally think watching the sunrise is a bit of a letdown relative to the needed investment to make it all happen. It’s nice once you’re up there, but you need to book in advance (thus committing yourself without knowing what the weather will be like), you’ll likely need to drive for a couple of hours, and wake up before 3am. If that doesn’t seem stressful enough, cloud formations may not always cooperate. And you’re going to be very cold as you stand around waiting for it. Yes, it is a lovely sight, but it’s a lot for a what is otherwise a relaxing trip to Hawaii.
• The mountain is a national park, so expect lots of hiking trails. Just remember the weather up there is much colder than down by the beach.
• There are third-party activities you can do. Jenn and I have done horseback riding in and around the crater, which was an awesome experience and felt like a unique experience. If you’re bringing kids, just note there is a minimum age with tour operators.

Road to Hana

Another activity that I debated bringing the kids, but ultimately decided against it. Again, it was something Jenn and I did before the kids. A few comments:

• This is a whole day activity regardless of where you stay on the island. In fact, it’s best to get driving before it becomes busy or it may be difficult to find parking. And be prepared for a long drive. Beautiful, but long.
• Despite what might be implied by the name, most of the fun is getting out and exploring, not driving. You’ll want a guide to help give ideas on where to stop (Maui Revealed is a good option) as not all stops are going to be easily identified.
• There are places where the road is not wide enough to fit two cars despite it being intended for traffic in both directions. You’ll need to be very observant, but it’s not bad once you’re used to it. If you want a real challenge driving, try the north side of Maui around Julia’s Best Banana Bread. IYKYK
• I don’t think it’s necessary to stay the night in Hana. There aren’t many options to stay in Hana as it’s a fairly rural town. There also aren’t many restaurants if you do stay the night and get hungry. The real benefit to staying the night is being able to see some of the sights in the area before they get crowded by everyone else driving in. I think if you decide to stay the night, most people end up not needing more than one night in the area.
• We chose against bringing the kids on this trip mainly because of the long car ride and since it takes a full day away from the beach. Maybe we will take them next time.
• Book lunch/dinner at Mama’s Fish House well in advance. The restaurant is somewhat around the start of the drive (yes, still an hour away but it’s by far the best thing in the area).

Extra: Rental Car Trolley at OGG

This isn’t truly an activity, but I thought it was worth a mention. At Kahului airport (OGG), you’ll find a trolley that takes passengers from the airport terminals to the rental car section and back. If you’re waiting for luggage to arrive and the kids are getting antsy, it might be worth your time to take them on a roundtrip of the airport on the trolley. Plus, it’s free!

What did you like to do while in Maui?