Heading to Maui and the Big Island

We stay at the Ritz Carlton,Kapalua. Over the years, they have become kid friendly, with a play structure, menus, activities, etc. While there we just play in the water of the four pools, build sand castles on the beach,and relax.
The main restaurant, The Terrace Restaurant, has a breakfast buffet where kids eat free, but has two parts, American and Japanese. Quite yummy. The pools also have cabanas for rent (pricey), but they are great with a toddler. Our daughter napped in the shade each day, several times a day.

Sometimes we go over to Lanai, which is my favorite place to stay. Four Seasons Manele Bay Hotel and play at Koele. Both have great kid programs, kid friendly menus, beaches, and island exploration (rent a jeep and tour around the outer edges, hike the coast,etc.). Breakfast at Ihilani...best muscli I've every had! And the views... the dolphins swim in the ocean each morning and you can watch them leap from your balcony table. I like this place because blackberries, cell phones, etc. don't work well and we actually get vacation time...time together w/out work interrupting.

What can I say, vacation is about relaxing for me and I want comfort and pampering. I get that at both places.

Steph

Hi K., wow how fun. Maui is one of our favorite places to go. We have been there several times. We prefer the Kanapali side of the island. We have stayed at the Papekea and the Embassy Suites. Lahina is a great place for shopping and lot of restaraunts. We like Cheeseburger in Paradise, also we like Moose Migelicuties (spelling). There are so many beaches, and each one is differnt. There is an area called Walleia. There are incredible hotels one after another...it is a great walking experience. When you go to Maui, whatever place you stay at, would probably have a map of the best beaches. Also there is a book that you can purcahse for like $10. The top 10 things to do in Maui. There is the road to Hana...it is a very long windy drive, rainforests and lots of hiking along the way. If you get a chance, you should go see the seven pools. It is at the end of the drive to Hana. It is just an incredible trip. I haven't been to the Big Island in 20 years, so I really couldn't give any suggestions. Have a great trip.

absolutly positivly make sure you see waipio vally, and south point on the big island, and there is a grat little cafe/diner right on the beach in kailua-kona, its just to the right of the king kahmea mea hotel if you're looking out onto the beach, i can't for the life of me recall the name, but breakfast is wonderful, food and setting...also cooks bay is pretty great too!
enjoy & have fun,
aline

sorry for the spelling :)

On Maui, we liked watching the windsurfers in Paia and the town itself was enjoyable as well. A highlight was watching the sunrise at Haleakala and then hiking down into the crater. The landscape is like nothing else I had seen before. We felt like we were on the moon. If you do that, take lots of water (though it won't be as hot this time of year).

We stayed at a condo hotel, the Mahana, and it was great. Gorgeous, right on the water near Kaanapali, and not too expensive. Plus, it had a full kitchen and the grocery store is across the street. We enjoyed breakfast and some lunches every day on the balcony overlooking the ocean. The beach is not great for swimming in that area so it was perfectly uncrowded and serene.

Hi K.. Sounds like a wonderful trip! On Maui, please make sure to go the the Maui Ocean Aquarium. It's a small aquarium compared to Monterey Bay, but it's wonderful for children. Nice close up views of the fish, turtles, etc. Beautiful glass tunnel so you can see all around as if you were underwater. Very nice restaurant right on the ocean with meals children will enjoy too. One year we were there in March, and while we ate lunch there were whales splashing nearby. Very exciting. The aquarium has a website: just Google
Maui Ocean Aquarium. They have special events, etc., which they advertise on their site.
It's centrally located between Lahaina and Kihei. Have fun !!

Hi K.,

On Maui there is the famous road to Hana as well as the Haleakala national park (if you drive 10 miles past the road to Hana on Maui's eastern side you can hike the Kipahulu area)and Iao Valley (state park) where you can hike as well. My dad grew up there so my grandma used to take us to these places every year when we would visit so these places definitely remind me of Maui! Sorry I can't help with lodging, but hope you have a great time!

My favorite Hawaii books are written by a local. Called "Maui Revealed" and "The Big Island Revealed". We loved the hike to the green sand beach on the Big Island. Have fun!