I do not know much about Hawaii at all and need help from Disers!
Which would be the best island to go to in Hawaii with kids-pre to early teens?
Is there one particular island that stands out more than the other islands in the way of fun stuff for kids to do? Thinking along the lines of ocean activities such as snorkelling and land activities such as golf--is there any water or amusement parks? Great/recommended tours, etc?
Do you just go to one island or do you like to "island hop" with kids?
The Hawaiian islands are smack dab in the middle of one of the largest water parks; the Pacific Ocean. All six of us went to Hawaii for the first time when our DSs were 9, 12, 15, and 18. We have been four times with the family all together. On the first visited we went to three islands in about 17 days. O'ahu, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii. They all offer something very different and frankly it wouldn't have occurred to me to look for an amusement park in Hawaii. Its not necessary. The hightlights for them and us on O'ahu was of course Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial. The Polynesian Cultural Center, the Honolulu Zoo, The Bishop Museum and of course the beach.
Maui is wonderful as well. We snorkeled at Black Rock in Ka'anapali. Took a sailing snorkeling tour on the Scotch Mist, a monohull sail boat. Snorkeled Molokini. We have driven the Hana Highway four times, the last time, all of the way around. Swam in Oheo Gulch. Visited the Io needle. Driven up Haleakala twice, the first time at sun rise. Visited the Tedeshi Winery and the Maui Ocean Center, and of course Lahaina town.
The Big Island is wonderful too! We have stayed in Volcano National Park at the Kilauea Military Camp. If you aren't eliglble to stay there, there are other accommodations. We hiked across Kilauea Iki, through the lava tubes, drove multiple times down Chain of Craters Road, visited the Park's visitors center, took hikes with the park rangers, hiked across the lava at sunset so we could see the flowing lava at night as it poured into the ocean. Saw a moonbow. We visited the Pacific Tsunami Museum, Akaka Falls, Enjoyed the beautiful Hamakua Coast, drove up through Waimea and the Parker Ranch. Stayed on the Kohala Coast. Horseback rode in Waipio Valley. Visited the Place of Refuge. Enjoyed the Kailua-Kona town. Kayaked and snorkeled across Kealakekua Bay to Captain Cook's monument in kayaks we rented. Enjoyed a zodiac tour through the sea caves and if you really wanted an amusement park experience, you could try flumin da ditch. Tubing through old irrigation canals or the zip line on Maui or Kaua'i.
Then of course there is Kaua'i. The garden Isle. We have hiked on the north shore on the Kalalau trail. We have done a sunset cruise of the Na Pali Coast. Visited the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon. Driven around the island, seen the tree tunnel, spouting horn, visited the various heiaus, sacred places for the Hawaiian people. All of the islands have places where you can easily snorkel from the shore. The boys have taken surfing lessons too.
On one of our trips DH and I took a small plane to Moloka'i and took a mule down 28 switch backs from the top of a pali (cliff) that is about 2000 ft high. We visited the Leper Colony of Kaulapapa. You must be over 16 to visit. It was an incredible experience on so many levels. But that is an entire other post.
The bottom line is, there is so much to see and do in Hawaiii that evolves around the culture and the natural resources of the islands, that you really don't need to look any further than what was always there. The "boys" are all young adults now but if we asked them if they wanted to go to Hawaii, they would be packed in a "Honolulu minute".
