Children

While one could not say that all roads lead to this museum, it could certainly seem that way to Maui drivers. Located at one of the largest intersections on Maui, it is adjacent to Maui's main sugar factory. The pungent aroma of sugar cane permeates the air for miles. The museum provides visitors with extensive information on the history of the sugar industry, as well as details about its cultivation and production. Many exhibits are interactive, making use of modern effects. There is a gift shop onsite. Admission is USD5 for adults and USD2 children ages 6-17. Children 5 and under are free.

If you have two left feet or an unreasonable fear of the ocean, do not worry about it; this surf and kayak company prides itself on "catering to the cowardly or uncoordinated." Located just across from Kihei Cove, the Big Kahuna store is perfectly located for visitors to South Maui. Several different kayaking adventure tours are available, and the company also specializes in surf lessons and scuba trips and operates a rental/retail store. Stop by or call for more information.

This is one of the few snorkel charters that guarantees a turtle sighting. So if you want to see a sea turtle up close and personal, do not miss the boat. Actually, the "boat" is a 20-foot raft with twin outboard motors. A total of 13 passengers and two crew members can fit, but the company never books more than 10 passengers per excursion. This is one of the most entertaining ways to tour offshore Maui waters. "Noodles" (long, rubber floating toys) and underwater cameras are available. Three daytime snorkel excursions and one sunset cruise are offered daily. Call for pricing or more information.

The town of Lahaina was a prominent port for Pacific Ocean whaling for 50 years. This unique floating museum, which is actually a 90-foot replica of a square-rigged 19th-century merchant ship, contains historical artifacts and details about whaling in Lahaina. Featured exhibits include recordings of whale songs and an original Alaskan whaling boat. Films about whaling and humpbacks are presented throughout the day. This is a fun outing for anyone interested in marine history.

If you're looking for a knowledgeable tour company with plenty of island spirit, contact this one. See the sun rise over Haleakala or take a half-day to tour Kahakuloa Valley. The Hana tour is a smart way to avoid driving the terrifying Hana Highway. The package includes continental breakfast and lunch. It hits all the major stops on the Hana Highway, including a black sand beach, lava flows, Upcountry Maui and more. Tours are offered daily. Call for more information.

Looking for a place to take the kids for some good, old-fashioned, no-brains-required fun? On a rainy day, there is no place better than here. This arcade seems to attract a bit younger of a crowd than its sister location at Ka'ahumanu. Indeed, many of the customers are under parental supervision, making for a much more pleasant atmosphere. The games reflect the age of the customers. Flintstones, Flip-n-Win, and an activity called Hightop (that takes place in a giant shoe) are a few of the featured attractions.

Located just past Mile Marker 10 on the road to Hana (Highway 36) are the verdant tropical gardens where the opening sequence of "Jurassic Park" was filmed. The 26-acre park, designed by Alan Bradbury with the aim of restoring the area's natural ecosystem, contains 500+ trees, plants and flowers native to the Pacific islands. Stroll along Maui's best nature trails and enjoy a leisurely lunch in a lush picnic area. This is a great activity for nature lovers and families with children. Admission: $3 per person.

Sponsored by the Pacific Whale Foundation, the Great Maui Whale Festival is an annual festival all Hawaiians look forward to. The return of the humpback whale is celebrated with excitement and joy especially in Maui. The return of about 3500 whales that come to give birth to their calves just off the coast of Maui is much anticipated. Visitors can take part in a range of activities like whale watching, lectures and the fun run. The joyous parade, music and other live entertainment keep the kids even more entertained. Let the various activities, talks and lectures teach you about the conservation of these magnificent creatures. See website for further details.

Dedicated to preserving the history of Hana, this non-profit cultural center includes a museum and a replica of an early Hawaiian village. The Hale Waiwai O Hana (House of Treasures) museum contains more than 5,000 photographs as well as several hundred artifacts, documents and books. Relics include traditional tools and utensils, sacred stones, quilts and koa statues. The Kauhale O Hana (village) consists of four traditional thatched-roof buildings. There is also a gift shop worth checking out.

Established in 1952, this park is dedicated to preserving Maui's ethnic heritage, including Hawaiian, Portuguese, Japanese, Caucasian and Filipino cultures. As you stroll the lush tropical gardens, you'll see several thatched-roof Hawaiian huts, a Portuguese villa, a New England "saltbox" and a Japanese garden with a stone pagoda. This is a wonderful location for a family picnic or a "getting-to-know-you" date. It's located just next to the Nature Center in Iao Valley.

Although the beach and jungle may never cease to entertain adults, children sometimes tire of natural wonders. If you are wondering what to do to entertain the kids, here is a solution: Take them to these go-karts and let them...well, go... for a few hours. They will enjoy puttering around the track and you will enjoy one of 16 flavors of shave ice. When go-karts begin to lose their appeal, adventurous kids may want to go for a ride on the "Gyro" machine. After one last round of shave ices, everyone can leave happy.

Guide Randy shares a wealth of natural history, geological and botanical lore, and island folklore while leading hikers through Maui's magnificent wilderness. Several half-day and full-day hikes are offered, many to areas not usually visited by tourists. The "easy" three-mile Haleakala Waterfall Hike is appropriate for children. Several treks in the West Maui Mountains explore more remote, rugged, rainforest terrain. Snacks and minimal gear is included in tour prices. Discounts are offered for children 13 and younger, groups of six or more, or parties who book two weeks in advance.

Touted as the largest tropical aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, this impressive oceanfront aquarium has quickly become one of most popular attractions of Maui . With more than 50 marine habitats, a massive ocean exhibit and a Whale Discovery Center, this is a must-see for anyone interested in the undersea world. Guided tours and audio guides are available, and there is an entertaining Keiki Program for the little ones. Check out the Marine Mammal Discovery Center here—it is educational and fun too!

'Save the Humpback Whale' is the mantra of this day's celebrations. Whale Day, part of the Whale Festival, attracts more than 8,000 visitors and residents with its all-day live entertainment and activities. In addition to the craft fair, environmental displays and food booths by popular Maui restaurants, Whale Day includes a Keiki carnival parade, Wild and Wonderful Whale Regatta, silent auction and educational activities for kids. Whale Day is a benefit for marine education programs for Maui's schoolchildren.

Operating marine charters for nearly 30 years, this company offers several daily excursions aboard two 65-foot power catamarans. The full-day Molokini snorkel cruise (leaving from Ma'alaea Harbor) serves meals and refreshments, provides all snorkeling gear and instruction, and features a live marine specimen presentation. Whale-watching charters are conducted from December to April. Last but not least, the company offers full-day fishing charters (private or shared).

View magnificent mountain scenery while your trusty steed ambles through the largest ranch in Maui. Daily Haleakala Ranch rides include one-hour rides, two-hour rides and picnic rides, ranging from $55-95. Two longer rides depart Monday through Saturday at 9:30am from the Haleakala Visitor Center parking lot. The 7.5-mile Junction Ride lasts four hours and includes a picnic lunch at the crater floor ($145). The Cabin Ride is 12-mile ride ($180) allows for an extensive exploration of the volcano.

This 65-foot catamaran features two observation decks, a spacious cabin, water slide, a glass-bottom port and hot fresh water showers! The five-hour Molokini & Turtle Town excursion includes two meals, beverages, snorkeling gear and boogie boards. The crew are also onhand to provide instruction when necessary. The romantically inclined will enjoy the sunset cocktail cruise with open bar, pupus (appetizers), live music and dancing. The boat departs from the Ma'alaea Harbor loading dock.

Unlike many of the snorkel and cruise tours offered on Maui, Rainbow Chasers limits groups to 24 people or less, which provides guests with more room to relax and more personal attention if necessary. On the morning cruise out to Lana'i, enjoy the sundeck and the island music and food. The snorkeling at Lana'i is spectacular; you will see all sorts of marine life. This is a great trip for couples or small groups. Call for pricing information or reservations.

This boat cruises out to the coral reefs, where passengers can move to the glass-enclosed viewing portal below deck. As the vessel moves from one prime viewing spot to another, scuba divers steer octopi, exotic tropical fish and rays closer to the viewing portals. The shorter narrated tour lasts 60 minutes and costs USD32.95 for adults, USD18.95 for children ages 6-12. The 2:15pm tour visits the sea turtles, lasts 90 minutes, provides refreshments, and costs USD44.95 for adults and USD24.95 for children.

Since 1988, owner/instructor Ron Bass has offered kayaking excursions to people of all ages and fitness levels, including the physically disabled, children, and senior citizens. Ron, who wears many hats (teacher, nurse, community activist and overall nice guy), leads half-day kayak tours at various places around the island. Extreme sports enthusiasts will want to try kayak surfing with exotic toys like wave skis and "sit-on-top" surfing kayaks. People who enjoy a slower pace can listen to whale songs through special hydrophones. Each kayak tour or surf adventure begins with a lesson. Special excursions can be arranged.

In the early days of Hawaii's Western colonization, trains were used to haul sugar cane from one spot to the other. Eventually, more modern forms of transportation became popular, and today almost nothing can be seen of the original Hawaiian railroads. However, the tracks between Lahaina and Ka'anapali are still functional, and the cherry-red Sugar Cane Train still travels them regularly. A dinner ride is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Chinese, who first arrived in Maui in 1788, worked on the island's plantations and as laborers building tunnels in the West Maui Mountains. This temple, which was built in 1912 and restored in 1984, was originally a meeting hall of the ancient Chee Kung Tong society. Now it is a museum of Chinese-Hawaiian history and culture. Exhibits include hundreds of artifacts, antiques, a shrine room and a cookhouse. Guests can view films of Hawaii made by Thomas Edison in the early 1900s. There is no charge to enter, but donations are gladly accepted.

Indiana Jones would feel right at home on this specialty tour. Adventurous Maui visitors should make their way to Haleakala National Park for a thrilling close-up of one of the world's largest volcanoes via zipline crossings. You'll fly through the air with the greatest of ease, suspended in space while strapped safely to a harness and cables, "zipping" from one heart-racing ledge to the next. Check out breathtaking views of Hawaii's unique landscape while sailing over gulches and breezing past trees throughout the rugged woods of upcountry Maui. Guided tours include short hikes and five zipline crossings that increase in length, speed and excitement. A great adventure for families and anyone over the age of 10. The Skyline tour includes a customized harness and safety equipment. Tour prices start at $67 and can be booked online. 10 percent of company profits are donated to the protection of Hawaii's land and culture. Check website for complete details.