More and more families are choosing Hawaii as their next holiday destination, with so many family-friendly activities and adventures making it the ideal destination for a relaxing getaway that promises to keep kids entertained. If it’s your first time to Hawaii, you might feel spoiled for choice when it comes to kids’ activities, so for a little inspiration here are 5 of Hawaii’s most unique and exciting activities for little travelers.
Submarine Tour
To really impress the kids and show them a whole different side of Hawaii, a Submarine tour is just the ticket. Atlantis Submarines operate submarine tours from Waikiki, Maui and Kona, where passengers are safely submerged into the deep to experience Hawaii’s unique marine life up close and personal.
Kids will love exploring shipwrecks, sunken airplanes and coral reefs, where they will spot all sorts of under-water residents, including beautiful reef fish, turtles and maybe even a shark or dolphin. It’s a real aquatic adventure for kids and parents alike.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
If you’re venturing out to Hawaii’s Big Island, a visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will be a hit with the kids and is a fantastic way to get the family outdoors, experiencing the natural wonders of Hawaii’s volcanic landscape.
Kids can explore the Thurston Lava Tube on foot and watch the smoke billowing from the active Kilauea volcano. A hike up to the Kilauea Iki Crater will bring kids to a mass of hardened lava frozen in stone, as they feel the heat rise up from the molten lava beneath the ground. If you can make it to Kalapana, you’ll be able to watch molten lava flowing into the sea, but the hike is more difficult.
Dolphin Encounters
For a truly unforgettable and unique experience that your child will treasure long after the day is done, there are none quite as special as a dolphin encounter. Dolphin Quest operate a Kids’ Aquatic Adventure program on Oahu, designed just for the little traveller.
For kids between 5 and 10 years old, this program provides an interactive encounter with dolphins in shallow water, an introduction to Hawaiian reef fish and other aquatic life, fun and educational games and activities and some great photo opportunities. Dolphin Quest also operate family activities if mum and dad want to join in, and all sorts of other encounters for older kids and adults.
Luau
Attending a traditional Hawaiian Luau is a fun, exciting and entertaining way for kids to learn about Hawaiian culture and history. Kids will be able to experience traditional Hawaiian cuisine prepared by age-old methods, like meat cooked in an imu (an underground oven).
There are traditional songs and musical performances, hula dancing displays, poi shows and fire juggling, with lots of information about the history and culture of Hawaii. Many luaus will even encourage kids to get up and learn dance moves and songs. A night at a luau will be both dazzling and educational for guests of any age.
Pearl Harbour
Unless your child is a budding history buff, you may question the appeal of a visit to an historical war museum, but even the shortest of attention spans can be captivated at Pearl Harbour as kids are free to explore old relics and interactive displays.
Visitors are welcomed about the famed USS Missouri where the Japanese surrendered and the WWII Submarine the USS Bowfin, an exciting experience for young adventurers with plenty of educational material provided throughout. They can also marvel at the stunning aircraft displays at the Pacific Aviation Museum, filled with refurbished warbirds.
With plenty of activities to occupy the kids, Hawaii is a perfect destination for Aussie families. Hawaiian Airlines partner with Virgin Australia’s awards program, “Velocity” and offer direct flights from Sydney, meaning many Aussie travelers are heading Hawaii-bound in 2013 and making the most of its accessibility. It’s never been easier to take the hop, skip and jump across the ocean and experience the natural beauty of this family-friendly island state.
Guest Post Written by Jasmine Poole
Jasmine has traveled across 30 countries in the last 18 months. She is currently in Darwin, Australia.
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