Anini Beach Park. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Robert Coello.
Kaua‘i is a great place for families to visit. Keiki (Hawaiian word for kids) will love to frolic in the gentle surf, build castles in the sand and warm their happy, little souls in the sun.
1) Beach
You can’t go wrong taking the kids to the beach. This is by-far the most popular of all activities for kids, and the best part about it is that it doesn’t cost a dime. Caution is to be taken, however, when selecting the best beach to bring your family to. Kaua‘i waters can get rough so it’s wise to pick a lifeguarded beach; one that is protected against tempestuous currents like Lydgate Beach Park. This eastside beach has a small enclosed swimming area that’s even great for the kids to test out their snorkeling skills.
2) Ziplining
There are many guided adventures that your kids can have a blast on like ziplining. Imagine flitting from tree to tree atop a rainforest canopy. This is exactly what you’ll do when you book a trip with a company like Kipu Ranch Adventures in Lihue that offer a leisure kayak, wagon ride, ziplining, and dip in a luscious fresh water pool.
3) ATV
Photo: Kipu Ranch Adventures.
Another guided adventure consists of hopping in an ATV and traversing uncharted territory with your family. By booking one of these trips with a company like Kipu Ranch Adventures you’ll have fun bumping and bopping around in an all-terrain vehicle while catching glimpses of views on private land that even kama‘aina (Hawai‘i residents) don’t get to see.
4) Sailing
Sailing the Na Pali coast. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson.
Maybe your kids have sea legs. If so, then a sailing adventure around the Na Pali Coast is the way to go. Make a game of spotting dolphins, turtles and flying fish while you journey to these inaccessible parts of the island.
5) Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson.
If you want to show your kids some of the native wildlife, then a stop at the Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge is the perfect opportunity. Here, children can delight in the hundreds of sea birds that float among the cliff edges and dance in the sky only a few feet above visitors’ heads. This is also a great location to whale watch. Your kids will be amused observing the animals while learning about the island’s fauna at the same time.
