If you are planning a trip to Hawaii with your kids, there are a lot of things to see and do in the island. Whether you are looking for a fun family activity or want to explore the island’s history, you can do so at many attractions in Honolulu. Some places to visit include the Pacific Aviation Museum, USS Arizona, and Pearl Harbor. Also, this city is known for being the happiest city in the world.
Ala Moana Beach
Ala Moana Beach Park is a 100-acre public beach that’s free for visitors. It’s situated between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. The wide gold sand beach is perfect for families with young children. The area also has a playground and a barbecue area.
While visiting Honolulu, take the kids to Ala Moana Beach Park. This free public park sits between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu and is a great place to play with kids. Unlike Waikiki, Ala Moana Beach has calm water all year round and hardly any waves near the shore. Still, the waters are big enough for beginners to learn to surf.
A half mile of sandy shoreline at Ala Moana Beach Park makes it a great place for kids to play and picnic. You can also play ball games or tennis here. There are also lifeguards on duty and there are plenty of food concessions. There’s even a stand-up paddleboard rental and lesson available. There’s also free parking available.
There are plenty of other activities for families to do together. Kids can swim with dolphins, go on stand-up paddleboards, ride a water slide, and watch a hula show. There’s also a zoo, where you can visit many animals and tropical plants.
Kuhio Beach
Kuhio Beach is located near Waikiki Beach (Main / Center) in Honolulu, Hawaii. This beach offers many of the same benefits as Waikiki, but is less crowded. Kuhio is a great place to take your kids for a day of sun, sand, and surf.
The Kuhio area has a large banyan tree and a free hula show. Each evening, a conch shell signals the beginning of the performance—many other attractions and events on the beach, including the USS Arizona memorial.
The Ko’Olina lagoons, sacred to the Hawaiian culture, offer splash pools for little ones. Older children can rent snorkels or paddleboards to explore the lagoon. Kids can also visit Paradise Cove, popular with tourists and locals for its nightly Luau. The cove is protected by a raised coral reef that keeps the water calm.
Another great beach for families is Pu’uloa Beach Park. It is the perfect place for relaxing and taking in the view of Diamond Head. Though the waves can get a little rough, this beach is still a great place to take your kids for a fun day. It also has a nice sandy bottom for novice swimmers and is home to an old Hawaiian temple.
For snorkeling and swimming, a lagoon is an excellent place for families. This area has 400 species of fish, including green sea turtles and parrotfish. It is a great place for families to take their kids for a day, but keep a safe distance to avoid disturbing the turtles.
Hanauma Bay
Native Hawaiians have flocked to Hanauma Bay for thousands of years to relax and take in the island’s beauty. The bay has also served as a favorite spot for fishing and entertainment for Hawaiian royalty. Its scenic beauty and rich marine life have been immortalized in various films, including Blue Hawaii and Donovan’s Reef.
For the best snorkeling and scuba diving experiences in Oahu, Hanauma Bay is the place to go. Here, you can get up close to sharks and stingrays and learn about Oahu’s diverse ecosystem. The park also offers up-close encounters with dolphins, Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, walruses, and otters. You can also watch a dolphin show, “Ai’ai Kakou,” and enjoy other family-friendly shows.
The attraction is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 6:45 am to 1:30 pm. Visitors should note that parking is limited and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Shuttles are available from the parking lot to the visitor center. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and allow extra time for parking.
Snorkeling is popular throughout the Hawaiian Islands, but most excursions require boating to remote reefs. Some of these excursions take several hours or even a whole day. If you don’t want to take your children to the open ocean, Hanauma Bay is the perfect place to snorkel with your family.
Manoa Falls
If you’re looking for something to do with kids on the island of Oahu, consider hiking the Manoa Falls trail. The hike is about 1.6 miles long and takes you through a forest of native plants and bamboo. At the end, you’ll reach a waterfall that drops 150 feet.
Located near Waikiki, the Manoa Falls trail is an easy and popular hike in the area. Hiking the trail will bring you through lush, tropical bamboo and rainforest. Kids can also explore Magic Island Beach in Ala Moana Beach Park, which is located in between downtown Honolulu and Waikiki.
There are also plenty of educational activities for kids at the Hawaiian Garden, where they can learn about the island’s tropical plants and animals. Picnic areas, a preserved Hawaiian village, and a waterfall. The garden is a great place to spend a day with children; you can even take them snorkeling.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is another popular location for families with children. While you’re there, you can also snorkel or swim in the blue waters. The snorkeling site is also very popular, with plenty of coral reefs and tropical fish. It’s also a perfect spot for families to take pictures.
Another great outdoor activity is hiking the Manoa Valley trail. Located right across from the Ala Moana Center, it’s a pleasant and easy hike. The path is paved and stroller-friendly. It’s easy to get to and has restrooms and picnic tables.
Bishop Museum
This museum is a great place to spend time with kids. Opened 125 years ago, the Bishop Museum contains a diverse collection of Hawai’ian artifacts, including the royal family’s heirlooms. Today, the museum houses millions of artifacts and preserves Hawaiian culture and the heritage of the Pacific islands. It also hosts traveling exhibits.
The Bishop Museum has over 25 million cultural, historical, and natural treasures on display. The exhibits in the museum teach kids about Hawaiian culture and history, as well as about the environment that created it. There’s also a planetarium on the museum’s campus, Hawaii’s gateway to the stars. The museum also hosts several highlight exhibitions throughout the year.
The museum is home to the largest collection of Polynesian artifacts in the world. There are numerous hands-on activities for children. Another kid-friendly attraction is the Honolulu Zoo, which covers 42 acres and features over 1,200 animals. Throughout the day, there are feedings and interactions with the animals.
A free family activity occurs at the museum on the third Sunday of each month. It includes a free family movie, and past programs have included making pirate sock puppets and watching animated shorts from around the world. The museum also offers shuttle service to Spalding House.
Hi, my name is Charlotte and I am the author of the Sandbox Playground. I believe that play is an essential part of a child’s development and that playgrounds and sandboxes are a great way to inspire kids’ imaginations.
I have been working with children for many years, and through my work I have seen the amazing things that they can achieve when they’re given the opportunity to play. I hope to continue inspiring kids all around the world with my writing.
