KidTripster Teen: Top 5 must-dos for teens visiting the Hawaiian island of Maui
When you think of Maui, what comes to mind? For me, it’s clear blue waters, palm trees, hula dancing, and surfers. The island of Maui has all that and more! My family and I spent two weeks on the “Valley Isle” and fell in love with the island, its people, and its endless list of fun activities.
1. Dance at a luau
In my opinion, there is no better way to immerse yourself in true Hawaiian culture than going to an authentic luau. During our trip, we went to the Drums of Pacific Luau hosted at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort. By far, it was my favorite part of the trip! Not only does the luau serve the best food that you’ll have on the island, but the show exposes you to true Hawaiian traditions. The show features both female hula dancers and male fire dancers and tells the story of how the island of Maui became what it is today. It was so mesmerizing, that it was hard to take your eyes away to focus on the yummy food in front of you. The luau offers a full dinner buffet and a dessert table; trust me, you won’t leave hungry. Yes, it’s pricey, but our family felt that it was worth the expense. Cost: Youth (6-12) $69.99; Adult $114.99.
KidTripster Tip: Make your luau reservation at least a couple days in advance to make sure you get a good table for the show. Be brave and when the dancers call for volunteers, raise your hand and learn how to hula in front of the crowd. It’s a great memory!
2. Parasail over the ocean
If you’re not afraid of heights, I highly recommend trying out parasailing! West Maui Parasail offers discounts for going early in the morning or around noon. It’s located at Lahaina Harbor and sails with a giant yellow smiley face parachute. Parasailing is fun for anyone (6 and older). You get an incredible view of the island. During your turn in the air, the staff will bring you close and dip your feet in the water for a complete splash! Cost: Single $80; Tandem $160; Triple $230; Observer in boat $35.
KidTripster Tip: After you’re done parasailing, stick around Lahaina Harbor for the shops and restaurants. There’s even a garden in the harbor, home to a giant and very old Banyan Tree.
3. Dive at Black Rock
Located in front of the Sheraton Maui Hotel, this large rock formation starts at the shore and extends all the way into the water. During the day, you usually can find a line of people standing on the rock, all waiting their turn to jump off and land in the clear blue water below. And every night at dusk, a hotel employee walks along the rock and lights a path of torches. Now, if you’re scared of jumping off rocks like I am, you can snorkel instead, as this is one of the best spots on Maui. Even though the water is crowded with people, you’re still able to see a lot of bright and colorful fish, like the Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, Hawaii’s state fish. (And you thought “Mississippi” was hard to spell!) If you’re lucky, you may see sea turtles, as well. We did!
KidTripster Tip: After you’ve worked up an appetite from rock jumping or snorkeling, take advantage of the hotel’s restaurants along the shore.
4. Drive the Road to Hana
The Road to Hana is an all-day adventure in Maui. Before beginning the drive, stop at the Shell gas station on Route 380 to pick up snacks and an audio tour guide, the R2H CD Guide that educates you about the history of the highway. The CD narrates the scenery as you drive along the highway. The Hana Highway consists of over 600 turns and over 50 picturesque bridges with nearby waterfalls. As someone who gets carsick fairly easily, I was happily distracted by the gorgeous scenery along the road. Every five minutes, there was another waterfall, bamboo forest or beautiful view. At the end of the drive, you come to Hana, a spot known as one of the most popular attractions in Maui. Here you’ll find numerous waterfalls with swimming holes and fun rocks to climb. We brought a packed lunch and enjoyed the afternoon swimming under the waterfalls and exploring the paths along the black sand beaches.
KidTripster Tip: The road is quite narrow with very few shoulders, so make sure your driver is skilled and not distracted by stunning scenery.
5. Learn a new water sport
Hawaii is the perfect place to learn different water sports, including surfing, body surfing, boogie boarding, and even scuba diving. During our visit, we stayed at the Aston Ka’anapali Shores. We were excited to find out that the staff gives complimentary scuba diving lessons daily in the resort’s pool to guests. The instructor teaches you how to use the equipment and allows you to test it out in the deep end. After the lesson, you can pay an extra fee to join the instructor out in the ocean, exploring the marine life that lives on the seabed. Both of my parents took lessons and went out into the ocean and loved the experience. The instructor brings along a camera and takes pictures of all the divers and the marine life, as well; that way, you can show everyone on land what you saw during your dive. Cost: Dive $98.
While my parents loved scuba diving, my brother and I really enjoyed taking surfing lessons with Ka’anapali Surf Club at The Westin Resort (The Surf Club has six locations in Maui.). We learned the basics of body position on land and then practiced our new skills in the water. It was thrilling to actually stand up on the board and ride the waves. The instructors are very friendly and helpful. For example, while in the water, they wait for the right moment before pushing each surfer onto the wave and give you feedback after your ride. Cost: Group lesson $75/person; 10 years old and younger must be booked as a private class $175.
On our last day in Hawaii, we rented a couple of boogie boards from Aston Ka’anapali Shores and took them over to the beach along the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort. The waves here are big and create great wakes to ride. Since boogie boarding is very easy to pick up, it was really fun to be out on the waves with the whole family. Cost: Day $12.99; Week $29.99.
KidTripster Tip: Every hotel offers different amenities, so make sure to check the hotels closest to you and see what they have to offer the public.
Maggie Vanoni is a college sophomore from Portland, Oregon. She’s currently attending the University of Oregon, where she’s majoring in journalism with hopes of becoming a professional magazine writer. Maggie loves spending time with her family and exploring, especially along the Oregon Coast.
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