Maui has long been a sought-after destination for family trips, and rightfully so. This second largest Hawaiian island has the best of everything, from awe-inspiring scenery to top-notch resorts.
From the famous Road to Hana on the Eastern coast to the sandy beaches of the South and West, the Maui has plenty of places to visit for adults and kids. The renowned beaches of Ka'anapali and Wailea are breathtaking, with golden sand and calm waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. This is also where you'll find some of Maui's best luxury resorts.
A family-vacation in Maui means venturing through rainforests, swimming with sea turtles, enjoying luaus and fire dancing, and relaxing around a hotel pool. Find great places to stay with our list of the best family resorts in Maui.
1. Grand Wailea - A Waldorf Astoria Resort, Wailea
Photo Source: Grand Wailea - A Waldorf Astoria Resort |
Accommodation: Grand Wailea - A Waldorf Astoria Resort
The luxurious Grand Wailea lives up to its name, with a picture-perfect grand setting on 40 acres on the Southwest side of Maui. The fun is endless at the resort's elaborate water park, which boasts nine pools, four waterslides, a rapid river, lazy river pool, rope swings, caves, and even a "water elevator" inside a man-made volcano. Parents can enjoy the hot tubs and the adults-only pool.
The 20,000-square-foot kids' club has a video arcade, small movie theater, Playstation, and lots of cultural activities. Enhanced with tropical Hawaiian gardens, the property is like a small village, with Spa Grande, a shopping center, and a variety of dining options.
The newly renovated rooms come with balconies to take in the gorgeous Maui landscape.
2. The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
Photo Source: The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua |
Accommodation: The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
Located on Maui's northwest coast overlooking Molokai, the Ritz-Carlton is an elegant oasis with a laid-back vibe and wonderful educational programs for children.
Their Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment program provides excursions for adults and children led by naturalists, including whale-watching onboard a 12-person private boat, where passengers can listen to the song of the humpback whales via an underwater hydrophone.
Kids can also take part in Koi-fish feeding and learn to snorkel. Adults can enjoy stand up paddleboarding, surfing, hiking through the rainforest, and spa treatments at the luxurious The Ritz-Carlton Spa.
The Ritz Carlton has 463 fully renovated guest rooms, including 107 suites, all of them featuring wood floors, flat-screen televisions, and island-inspired decor. The six on-site restaurants serve delicious food made from local ingredients and the resort's organic garden.
3. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Photo Source: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea |
Accommodation: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Fans of the hit series White Lotus might recognize the scenery upon checking into the Four Seasons Resort Maui. The first season of the HBO series was filmed at the family-friendly resort overlooking Wailea Beach. Set on 15-acres, the five-star property is contemporary chic throughout.
The complimentary kids' club runs daily activity programs for children aged 5 to 12-years. Camp Manitou, for tweens and teens between 9 and 17, has a daily fee but includes professional counsellors that lead day camp adventures in age-appropriate groups. The concierge can also arrange all sorts of family itineraries, from island picnics to snorkeling excursions.
There are 383 rooms and suites in an eight-story, U-shaped building. Rooms are ultra- spacious, and all come with a private lanai or terrace.
One of the best parts about staying here are the complimentary activities offered. From yoga classes to intro scuba to poolside cabanas, you won't pay extra for any.
There are several on-site restaurants, including a modern steakhouse DUO and an outpost of Wolfgang Puck's Spago. Live entertainment and hula dancing each evening is another perk.
The spa here has also received numerous awards and offers treatments in 16 indoor rooms and three outdoor "hales" with thatched-roofs and ocean views.
4. Montage Kapalua Bay
Photo Source: Montage Kapalua Bay |
Accommodation: Montage Kapalua Bay
Families looking for a luxe Maui stay in expansive residential-style suites should check out the Montage Kapalua Bay. The resort sits on a prime section of Ka'anapali Beach and offers two-, three-, and four-bedroom residential-style suites that work great for families - the Montage is really popular for multi-generational vacations thanks to its expansive room choices. These all come with fully equipped kitchens, posh master bedrooms, large living rooms and private lanais.
Amenities are plentiful. There is a kids' club on-site and activities like ziplining appeal to older children. Other perks include a number of different restaurants including a grab-and-go market option for stocking up on in room supplies. There are also two championship golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, a fitness center, and direct beach access with sun loungers and umbrellas reserved for guests. If you need to get knots worked out of sore muscles, book a treatment at the full-service spa.
5. Fairmont Kea Lani, Wailea
Photo Source: Fairmont Kea Lani |
Accommodation: Fairmont Kea Lani
With spaces ranging from 840 to 1,000 square feet, the all-suite Fairmont Kea Lani offers plenty of room for families to enjoy a comfortable stay. Situated on 22 acres on the gorgeous Wailea Beach, this luxury property has one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites and a kids' club with a plethora of programs.
Young children will enjoy building sandcastles, constructing erupting volcanoes, and exploring the nearby tide pools. The property has three pools, including a twisting 140-foot water slide that goes between two pools and a separate shallow pool for little ones. Championship golf and tennis courts are located minutes from the resort.
The new Luxe Villa Adventure package gets you a five-night stay at the two- or three-bedroom oceanfront or ocean-view villa, which comes with a signature villa barbecue prepared by a chef, two 60-minute Willow Stream Spa experiences, and a two-hour yacht charter.
6. The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Lahaina
Photo Source: The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas |
Accommodation: The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas
Located on 26 acres along the uncrowded stretch of North Ka'anapali Beach overlooking the West Maui mountains, the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas is a peaceful island retreat with condo-style units. The villa-style condos come equipped with kitchen amenities, making it easier to prepare your own meals, as well as washers and dryers, and large living and dining areas for a comfortable stay. A studio and one-bedroom villa can be combined to make a two-bedroom villa.
For a flat daily rate, kids under 12 of Starwood Preferred Guest® members have all-inclusive access to the on-site restaurants. The resort has basketball and tennis courts, a waterslide, and six outdoor pools, with two dedicated to kids, including a pirate ship pool next to the kids club for children aged 5-12. Craft fairs and cultural activities keep the kids entertained. Snorkeling catamarans pick up guests right from the beach, and whale watching cruises depart two miles from the resort.
7. Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, Lahaina
Photo Source: Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa |
Accommodation: Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
The family-friendly Sheraton Maui Resort sits on prime real estate on the Ka'anapali Beach in front of the legendary Pu'u Keka'a (Black Rock), one of Maui's popular snorkeling spots. A majority of the resort's 508 spacious rooms, including the "Ohana" (family) suites, offer views of the Pacific and the sister islands of Lanai and Molokai.
The resort spans 23 acres and has five restaurants, a spa, fitness center, large lagoon pool, a kid's pool, and a meandering lazy river. It's 1,600-square-foot presidential Ali'i Suite, which recently debuted a new look, is perched over Black Rock and has the most stunning view in Ka'anapali.
The Sheraton Adventure Club offers daily activities such as hula lessons, scavenger hunts, outrigger canoe tours, Hawaiian arts and crafts, and family pool races. At sunset, make time for the resort's Lele Kawa (cliff dive) ceremony, an ongoing tradition since the resort first opened in 1963.
8. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, Lahaina
Photo Source: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa |
Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Situated on 40 acres of oceanfront property on Ka'anapali Beach, the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort's pool complex rivals that of the Grand Wailea's water park, with a 150-foot waterslide, rope bridges, and a half-acre pool with cascading waterfalls. This is a more budget-friendly option with 806 guest rooms, including 31 renovated suites, providing panoramic views of the lush surroundings.
Kids will enjoy the flamingos and parrots found in the gardens, and the seven African black-footed penguins that have taken up residence in the hotel's atrium.
The resort has a 24-hour athletic club, golf course, tennis courts, water sports, and activities such as Tour of the Stars rooftop stargazing and Drums of the Pacific Lu'au.
9. Marriott's Maui Ocean Club - Molokai, Maui & Lanai Towers, Lahaina
Photo Source: Marriott's Maui Ocean Club - Molokai, Maui & Lanai Towers |
Accommodation: Marriott's Maui Ocean Club - Molokai, Maui & Lanai Towers
Marriott's Maui Ocean Club offers several accommodation options, with one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas featuring modern conveniences right on the beach. Generously large suites come equipped with a private lanai, kitchenette, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen television.
The Vacation Club offers several on-site dining options, including poolside dining. There are tennis courts and a fitness center to stay fit on vacation, and a tranquil day spa with outdoor spa cabanas to relax.
The nearby Maui Ocean Center's new exhibit on humpback whales is a great way for kids to learn about the whales' migratory patterns, behaviors, song, and cultural significance to the Hawaiian people.
10. Honua Kai Resort & Spa, Lahaina
Photo Source: Honua Kai Resort & Spa |
Accommodation: Honua Kai Resort & Spa
The gorgeous Honua Kai Resort & Spa, sitting on North Ka'anapali Beach, has some of the most beautifully furnished rooms, large lanais, in-room washers and dryers, and a kitchen with Bosch appliances to make meals for your family. Or you can make reservations at one of their restaurants.
The three-acre aquatic playground features a network of pools, five hot tubs, and a lazy river. During whale migration in the winter months, humpbacks can be seen playing within a short distance from the beach.
11. Ka'anapali Beach Hotel, Lahaina
Photo Source: Ka'anapali Beach Hotel |
Accommodation: Ka'anapali Beach Hotel
Often referred to as the "Most Hawaiian Hotel," the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel on the golden shores of the namesake beach is a relaxing escape.
Rooms, totaling 432, have balconies overlooking the clear blue waters and the tropical gardens surrounding the property.
Activities include snorkeling at the nearby tourist attraction of Black Rock, and fun in the whale-shaped pool on the premises. The new water activity center offers paddleboarding, six-person canoe tours, and surfing.
Ka'anapali Beach Hotel's cultural programming involves lei-making, hula and ukulele lessons, and Hawaiian entertainment in the evenings.
Children get a complimentary "Aloha Passport," which gets stamped with every activity they try.
Vacation packages are offered during peak whale watching season (December through May). Those in the oceanfront rooms can witness the humpback whales breaching and tail slapping in the ocean from the comfort of their rooms. The best part is there are no mandatory resort fees, and Wi-Fi is complimentary.
12. Royal Lahaina Resort, Lahaina
Photo Source: Royal Lahaina Resort |
Accommodation: Royal Lahaina Resort
Sitting on a peaceful stretch of Ka'anapali Beach, Royal Lahaina Resort has the oldest luau on the island, which takes place at the Myths of Maui Luau, where performers engage with the audience. The property has three outdoor pools, a hot tub, and fitness center. The walls of the resort are adorned with framed retro Pan Am posters and photographs of the island as it was, giving it a nice historical feel.
Guest rooms and cottages have free Wi-Fi and TV with cable channels. Guests can enjoy dining at their full-service restaurant serving island inspired gourmet dishes. Kids will love the ice-cream parlor, and flower lei and puka shell making classes.
Tennis lovers can rejoice as the Royal Lahaina Tennis Ranch is ranked among the top 100 tennis destinations in the world. You can play at either a 3,500-seat stadium court or any of the 10 surrounding courts, with five courts lit for night play. Beginners can take lessons from the professional staff.
Map of Family Resorts in Maui
Advertisement
Tags
Travel In The World