It’s time for the whole family to take a vacation to a tropical island, and there’s no islands quite like the Hawaiian Islands. Going on a family vacation shouldn’t mean that you have to break the bank, however. Luckily for you, Maui is full of exciting and FREE activities to enjoy with the whole family. Whether it is taking a trail to some incredible sights, hitting up the beach, or finding tours that you can take together — Maui never disappoints when it comes to family fun trips. So, don’t empty your wallet just yet.
Here are 12 Free Family Fun Activities to Enjoy Together in Maui:
Road to Hana
Off the coastline of Maui, the world-famous Hana Highway/Road to Hana awaits. This scenic route is free, although you might have to pay for gas, and offers up a wide array of stops. Driving to Hana and back will take up the whole day (roughly 12 hours) so keep that in mind when you’re planning out your itinerary. See the Wailua Iki Falls, Ho’okipa Beach Park, Twin Falls, and so much more! Stop along the fruit stands along the way or trail through the bamboo forest to reach one of the top 10 waterfalls of Hawaii.
Lahaina Banyan Court
In Lahaina, you’ll become smitten with the Banyan Trees at Banyan Court Park. Home to the oldest living Banyan Tree on Maui, have a picnic and sit on a bench while being completely immersed in the beauty of these unique trees. The Lahaina Banyan Court Park is also right by the Old Lahaina Courthouse and the Lahaina Harbor. Giving you and the family a wide range of things to see in Old Lahaina Town. There’s also plenty of shopping nearby, so if you do want to end up spending some money, you cannot go wrong with the local shops.
Acid War Zone Trail/Nakalele Blowhole
To see some crazy water action, head to the Nakalele Blowhole via the Acid War Zone Trail. A short 1.3-mile hike, this moderately difficult trail is perfect for a family outing. Try to spot some wildlife as you trek your way along the path until you reach a blowhole that is large enough to accommodate a manhole cover. You will have to be especially careful when visiting this blowhole, however, because it can be quite dangerous if you get too close.
Kaanapali Beach
Kaanapali Beach is a family-friendly beach with plenty of swimming opportunities as well as cliff diving adventures. Stroll along the soft white sand or swim inside the calm waters, your safety is covered with the lifeguards on duty. Need to use the restroom? There are plenty of facilities along the beach at your disposal — including outdoor showers. Enjoy the cliff diving ceremony held on Black Rock/Puu Kekaa!
Napili Bay Beach
Ideal for swimming and snorkeling, Napili Bay Beach is a great beach for families to enjoy! Off the far right of the beach, you’ll be able to enjoy some of the best snorkeling on the island of Maui. Although this beach tends to be crowded, you’ll still find ways to take in its pristine beauty through the crowds. This beach also retains its cleanliness, with plenty of facilities along the shore like restrooms.
Kamaole Beach Park III
Known to be one of the best family-oriented beaches, Kamaole Beach Park III is the smaller of the 3 Kamaole beaches but definitely worth the stop. With plenty of parking, lifeguards on duty, restrooms, and picnic benches — you’ll find that it’s quite easy to spend all day here. Try your luck in snorkeling here, you’ll be surprised at the tropical fish that you can spot underwater with the little ones! If you’re willing to spend a little money and want to see even more fish, check out the Maui Ocean Center!
Kapalua Coastal Trail
This easy 2-mile walk comes with some incredible views of the ocean and palm trees! Kapalua Coastal Trail is good for all skill levels, so don’t be afraid to stroll along the coast with your kids after your morning cup of coffee. This trail is also wonderful for viewing sunsets and sunrises with the colors lighting up the sky. Along the way, you’ll see plenty of seabirds and wildlife — so stop by and try to see what you can find.
West Maui Forest Reserve
If you want to get some hiking done with the family, you can never go wrong with the West Maui Forest Reserve. Spot the West Maui Mountains and learn about the Maui volcanoes and how these mountains came to be. With the West Maui Volcano reaching at 1.7 million years old, this is definitely a spot where you and the family can learn about Maui’s major volcanic eruptions as well as catch great sights of nature.
Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge is a salt marsh and bird sanctuary. If your family is into bird watching, then this Wildlife Refuge is a great place to start. This is a serene stroll along the sanctuary, with plenty of opportunities to catch glimpse of water birds like Hawaiian Stilts! Definitely interesting for any nature and animal lover that wants to see more of Hawaii’s animals.
Maui Honey Bee Sanctuary
Could the kids bee any more excited to learn about honey bees?! While although there are some paid experiences at this Honey Bee Sanctuary, visiting it is actually no cost at all! This sanctuary offers a free honey tasting as well as self-guided tour of the gardens. If you’re willing to pay a little extra, they offer experiences like educational tours, craft workshops, and more. Don’t miss out on this buzzing experience.
Kapalua Village Walking Trail
Different from the Kapalua Coastal Trail, the Kapalua Village Walking Trail Lake Loop is 4.2 miles of moderately challenging trailway. You’ll find plenty of wildflowers along this path, as well as a gorgeous lake and several birds. The only reason why it’s labeled as moderate is because of the steep hills in certain areas but is still an overall easy trail with paved asphalt. Fun fact, this area intersects an old and abandoned golf course, and the paved roads used to be for old golf carts.
Venus Pool/Waioka Pond Trail
Along the rugged coastline, you’ll stumble upon Venus Pool – also known as Waioka Pond. While swimming here you will have to take extreme precaution, viewing the contrast of the rocks against the shore is worth the visit alone. This pool is also a little hard to find, making it feel like a hidden gem that most people don’t know about. Want some fruit? Head to the nearby fruit stand and catch a taste of what the local fruit has to offer!
Honorable Mentions:
While there are plenty of free things to enjoy on the island, it might help to notice the cheaper activities that you all can do there as well!
Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm
General admission at the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm ranges from about $1-3. If that’s not a steal, we don’t know what is. Between guided tours, picnic lunches, and usual treasure hunts — this lavender farm is the ideal spot to spend the day with your loved ones. Relax in a field of calming aromas as you get to experience this farm that is truly one of a kind.
Surfing Dairy Goat Farm
With a daily casual tour starting at $12 and the more expensive ultimate dairy tour starting at $39, this farm is great for those family members that want to see some animals during their visit! A daily casual tour is roughly 30 minutes, so it won’t take up your entire day, and is offered every Saturday from 10 AM – 3 PM. Learn about the farm and get to meet the goats as you fill up with knowledge on how the dairy gets made on the Surfing Goat Dairy Farm.
Wai’anapanapa State Park
Along the road to Hana, Waianapanapa State Park is a small entrance fee of $5 for non-residents with another small parking fee of around $10. Catch a glimpse of the black sand and volcanic coastline as you walk through forests and beaches in this state park. Plenty of natural architecture can be spotted throughout — leaving you truly in awe of what nature can do. Don’t forget to make reservations to this spot for when you go, for it tends to get quite busy!
Iao Valley State Monument
The only fees you have to worry about to get to the Iao Valley State Monument are parking fees and a small entrance fee. Parking ranges from about $10 or more and entrance fees are stated at $5 for non-residents. These small fees are completely worth the incredible view as you stare out into a valley of green. The Iao Valley Needle is an iconic spot to visit and offers an abundance of hikes, sightseeing, and nature.
Cheap choices and completely free choices will leave you reeling from the absolutely magnetic fun that you’ll gain from doing any of these activities. Bring the family and work with a reasonable budget for some unforgettable memories and sights!
