Aulani ~ top "outings" to do with children

[DisSarahK]

One week from today we will be at Aulani and we are beyond excited! I have done a lot of research and have a lengthy list of possible activities. Friends also have given me ideas…but I would love to hear YOUR ideas.

Outside of enjoying the resort (because I plan to do plenty of that!) what do you recommend as activities or things to do with children on Oahu? Not paid excursions, but local sites or things of that sort. I have a second grader and a fifth grader.

 

[amym2]

One of the highlights for our kids (DS11 and DD9 at the time) was our stop at the beach to see turtles on the North Shore. There were tons of them and one swam right up onto the beach and hung out for awhile.

Otherwise surfing lessons were the highlight for DD and eating at the Makahiki buffet was the highlight for DS... lol.

We also did the Dole Plantation maze (ok but hot), the PCC, and DS did Pearl Harbor with DH and FIL.

 

[kkmcan]

Yup, we seemed to do the same things as the previous poster. Dole maze, turtle beach, and Pearl harbor. We also snorkeled at Hanauma Bay, checked out Lanikai beach (gorgeous!), went next door to the Marriott to see their shark and ray tanks. They are right next to the pool and you can just walk in from the beach.

 

[DisSarahK]

This is GREAT--you are helping me zero in on things that are rising to the top of people's lists. And, I didn't know about the shark and ray tanks.

 

[gjl]

Deleted

 

[georgiasmom]

We are here now. I highlight for my 11 and 15 year olds was surfing with Hawaiian Fire. If you will have a car it's much cheaper to book directly through them and not with Disney. We did the Paradise Cove Luau last night. Food was just ok but the show was really fun.


A

 

[wutnik]

You can book on your own with Hawaiian Fire, it is cheaper than Disney and they will still pick you up at the resort as transportation is included in the lesson fee.

 

[DisSarahK]

Thanks! We do have surf lessons booked with Hawaiian Fire (booked directly) as well as ticket reservations for my older child and my husband to go to Pearl Harbor. Beyond that, our days are wide open. I don't want to over schedule us, but I do want to have some options.

 

[Sur]

We have the same plan as you (not overplan) so are subbing for the same info you'll be receiving.

I need to come up with a map to plan out just where things are.... I do like to plan!

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

My kids liked hiking diamond head. The hikers were 8, 6 and 4yo. They thought it was cools to be inside an old volcano. It's 5 per car to park.

They also like the waves at other beaches- the lagoons don't really have them. They dot really swim in them, but can spend hours running towards them and away from them as the waves come on shore.

Turtle beach is a little harder to get to now because they put up barriers at the "parking lot" but it's pretty cool. You can also walk past the Marriott where the sharks an rays are and follow a path to a more rocky beach that sometimes has turtles and also little tide pools in the rocks to see crabs and other small fish.

Enjoy

Did your 4-year-old do ok hiking Diamond Head? We are hoping to go next year, and that is on the top of my list! My youngest will be 4.

 

[luv2sleep]

Did your 4-year-old do ok hiking Diamond Head? We are hoping to go next year, and that is on the top of my list! My youngest will be 4.

How steep is this hike?

 

[georgiasmom]

We just got back from an AWESOME tour through Ko Olina OCean Adventures. A short walk or shuttle ride to the Marina. 4 hour tour we swam/snorkeled with spinner dolphins, and sea turtles and saw whales! HIGHLY recommend!!!!

 

[luv2sleep]

Great page on the diamond head trail hike.
http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/hikediamondhead.html

 

[gjl]

Deleted

 

[jabberwock1]

My kids liked hiking diamond head. The hikers were 8, 6 and 4yo. They thought it was cools to be inside an old volcano. It's 5 per car to park.

They also like the waves at other beaches- the lagoons don't really have them. They dot really swim in them, but can spend hours running towards them and away from them as the waves come on shore.

Turtle beach is a little harder to get to now because they put up barriers at the "parking lot" but it's pretty cool. You can also walk past the Marriott where the sharks an rays are and follow a path to a more rocky beach that sometimes has turtles and also little tide pools in the rocks to see crabs and other small fish.

Enjoy

Where is Diamond Head relative to Aulani and is it going through a lot of traffic to get there? It also sounds like it is better to go there early. We are already doing Pearl Harbor and I don't want to schedule too many early days.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

She exceeded our expectations and didn't ask to be carried until we were in sight of the bathrooms at the end. She did not do as well with the Makapuu lighthouse hike even though it was entirely paved. It was a steeper climb all at once compared to diamond head and real windy. She did well with Manoa Falls though a few days later!

Awesome! DH and I love to hike and are hoping to fit some of these hikes in, even with our kids!

 

[gjl]

Deleted

 

[AKVFamily]

One of the highlights for our kids (DS11 and DD9 at the time) was our stop at the beach to see turtles on the North Shore. There were tons of them and one swam right up onto the beach and hung out for awhile.

Otherwise surfing lessons were the highlight for DD and eating at the Makahiki buffet was the highlight for DS... lol.

We also did the Dole Plantation maze (ok but hot), the PCC, and DS did Pearl Harbor with DH and FIL.

Re: the sea turtles on the North Shore: how long does it take to get there from Aulani? Is there a preferable time of day to go in the summer? Is it a beach for observation or is there an area nearby to enjoy beach play with young kids?

Any insight on this would be great!

 

[Cinderpamela]

Where is Diamond Head relative to Aulani and is it going through a lot of traffic to get there? It also sounds like it is better to go there early. We are already doing Pearl Harbor and I don't want to schedule too many early days.

Diamond Head is on the far eastern side of Honolulu from Aulani, so you have to get through the Honolulu traffic to get there. It is recommended to get there early to get a good parking spot and also to hike it before it gets too warm out. I like to schedule my "early days" of touring for the beginning of our trip before we have adjusted to the time change and we seem to wake up early with way more ease.

I highly recommend the Diamond Head hike.... after not doing it on our first visit to Oahu I was really glad that we were able to fit it in this time around. It was one of our highlights!

The other big highlight for us was Hawaii Fire surf lessons! They were excellent!! If you are doing Hawaii Fire dont forget to bring cash ( I think it was around $50 for the whole thumb drive of photos) to the beach to purchase the photo cd at a discount. They have a pro photographer there taking pictures, since our whole family was surfing and thus in the water, it was great to get these photos. There are some priceless shots that I never would have been able to capture with my camera.

We also really enjoyed the North Shore... went to Turtle Beach, did the shrimp trucks and shave ice. Stopped in at the Turtle Bay resort and watched all the sufers from their beach area. It was a few days after our surf lessons so our kids had a whole new appreciation for surfing. We really had wished that we would have added on a couple of nights up there. Next time!

 

[amypetecar]

Re: the sea turtles on the North Shore: how long does it take to get there from Aulani? Is there a preferable time of day to go in the summer? Is it a beach for observation or is there an area nearby to enjoy beach play with young kids? Any insight on this would be great!

The north shore is about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes from ko olina. Hawaii's north shore is the coolest place ive ever been.
Its very rural and non-commercial. Lots of cars with surf boards parked on the side of the road.

You get there by following H2 north highway
Then follow 99 and 83
Turtle beach is a great public beach!
They have public changing rooms and you can rent chairs for $8

We didnt see any turtles the day we were there, but many others say they did
Its a great beach for kids because its really a lagoon... So no huge waves or undertows

That said..... My absolute new favorite place on this planet is Sunset Beach on the North Shore (you pass it on the way to turtle beach)
If you like big waves, they are Legendary huge waves! Theres no lagoon to buffer them as on so many other beaches on the island
Im 6'2" and literally had 8 foot waves beating the heck out of me all afternoon..... It was great! My family just sat on the beach laughing and making fun of me every time i got knocked over