Half-Day Adventures with Kids in Hawaii
We pulled these 43 half-day adventures out of our full catalog of kid-friendly spots in Hawaii. Every listing has the ages it suits, what it costs, how long to budget, parking notes, and what to pack.
43 adventures found
Waimea Valley
Haleiwa, HI
HikingPaved botanical garden walk to a swimmable 45-foot waterfall. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A …
Road to Hana Bamboo Forest (Pipiwai Trail)
Hana, HI
HikingMagical bamboo forest hike to a 400-foot waterfall at the end of the Road to Hana. Paid entry. Best …
Imiloa Astronomy Center
Hilo, HI
ScienceHilo center pairing Mauna Kea astronomy with Polynesian wayfinding, plus a full-dome planetarium …
Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station
Hilo, HI
NatureWorld-class stargazing at 9,200 feet with free evening telescope programs. Free. Best from about age …
Battleship Missouri Memorial
Honolulu, HI
MuseumWalk the deck and interior of the battleship where WWII ended, from the surrender plaque to the …
Bishop Museum
Honolulu, HI
MuseumHonolulu's state museum of Hawaiian history with a walk-through erupting volcano, planetarium, and …
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
Honolulu, HI
SwimmingSnorkel with colorful fish in a volcanic crater bay with protected reef. Paid entry. Best from about …
Hawaii Children's Discovery Center
Honolulu, HI
Indoor-PlayOahu children's museum in Kakaako with a mini TV studio, a pretend supermarket and a walk-through …
Kailua Beach Park
Kailua, HI
SwimmingAward-winning white sand beach with turquoise water and gentle waves. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Lydgate Beach Park
Kapaa, HI
SwimmingProtected rock pools for safe snorkeling and a massive playground on Kauai east side. Free. Works …
Poipu Beach Park
Koloa, HI
SwimmingAmerica's Best Beach with a protected keiki pool, monk seals, and sunny south shore weather. Free. …
Haleakala National Park Sunrise
Kula, HI
NatureSunrise from 10,023 feet above a volcanic crater that looks like Mars. Paid entry. Best from about …
Waimea Canyon State Park
Waimea (Kauai), HI
HikingGrand Canyon of the Pacific with 3,600-foot colorful canyon views and rim trails. Paid entry. Best …
Aiea Loop Trail
Aiea, HI
HikingShaded forest loop with Pearl Harbor views and WWII airplane wreckage. Free. Best from about age 5. …
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
Captain Cook, HI
KayakingKayak across a marine sanctuary to world-class snorkeling with dolphins and turtles. Paid entry. …
Halawa Valley Cultural Hike
Halawa, HI
HikingGuided cultural hike through an ancient valley to a 250-foot double waterfall. Paid entry. Better …
North Shore Shark Cove
Haleiwa, HI
SwimmingExcellent tide pools and snorkeling in a rocky cove on the North Shore. Free. Best from about age 5. …
Kalalau Trail (First 2 Miles to Hanakapi ai Beach)
Hanalei, HI
HikingDramatic cliff-hugging trail to a wild Na Pali Coast beach. Paid entry. Better for ages 8 and up. A …
Tunnels Beach (Makua)
Hanalei, HI
SwimmingPremier snorkeling through reef tunnels with Bali Hai mountain backdrop. Free. Best from about age …
Kilauea Iki Trail
Hawaii National Park, HI
HikingWalk across the floor of a volcanic crater through hardened lava in Volcanoes National Park. Paid …
Richardson Ocean Park
Hilo, HI
SwimmingProtected tide pools and black sand beach where sea turtles feed in calm water. Free. Best from …
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Honolulu, HI
MuseumRestored seaplane hangars on Ford Island still bullet-scarred from 1941, holding a Japanese Zero, a …
Waikiki Beach
Honolulu, HI
SwimmingIconic Hawaiian beach with calm water, surf lessons, and endless activities. Free. Works from …
Maunawili Falls Trail
Kailua, HI
HikingJungle hike to a swimmable waterfall pool through lush windward forest. Free. Better for ages 6 and …
Kahalu'u Beach Park
Kailua-Kona, HI
SwimmingBest beginner snorkeling on the Kona Coast with shallow reef and sea turtles. Free. Best from about …
Ko Olina Lagoons
Kapolei, HI
SwimmingCalm man-made lagoons with protected swimming perfect for young children. Free. Works from toddler …
Anini Beach Park
Kilauea, HI
SwimmingCalm protected lagoon beach with the longest reef on Kauai, perfect for young kids. Free. Works from …
Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail
Koloa, HI
HikingCoastal trail along lithified dunes, sea cliffs, and ancient petroglyph caves. Free. Best from about …
Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area
Kula, HI
HikingCool mountain forest of redwoods and pines on Haleakala that feels like the Pacific Northwest. Free. …
Sliding Sands Trail (Haleakala)
Kula, HI
HikingHike into a volcanic crater through a Mars-like landscape of cinder cones. Paid entry. Better for …
Ka'anapali Beach
Lahaina, HI
SwimmingWorld-class 3-mile beach with snorkeling at Black Rock and nightly cliff diving. Free. Works from …
Hulopo'e Beach Park
Lanai City, HI
SwimmingPristine marine preserve beach with dolphins, snorkeling, and amazing tide pools. Free. Works from …
Kauai Tubing Adventure
Lihue, HI
TubingFloat through century-old plantation tunnels on inner tubes with headlamps. Paid entry. Best from …
Papohaku Beach
Maunaloa, HI
SwimmingNearly 3-mile-long white sand beach that you will likely have all to yourself. Free. Best from about …
South Point Green Sand Beach (Papakolea)
Naalehu, HI
HikingHike to one of only four green sand beaches in the world at the US southernmost point. Free. Better …
Keawa'ula (Yokohama Bay)
Waianae, HI
SwimmingRemote end-of-the-road beach with mountain backdrop and access to Ka ena Point trail. Free. Best …
Leeward Coast Dolphin Watching
Waianae, HI
NatureBoat tours to see wild spinner dolphins and sea turtles along the leeward coast. Paid entry. Best …
Big Beach (Makena State Park)
Wailea, HI
SwimmingMassive golden sand beach with turquoise water and dramatic cinder cone backdrop. Free. Best from …
La Perouse Bay
Wailea, HI
HikingCoastal hike across Maui last lava flow with dolphins, petroglyphs, and tide pools. Free. Best from …
Maui Ocean Center
Wailuku, HI
NatureWorld-class aquarium with underwater tunnel, touch pools, and turtle lagoon. Paid entry. Works from …
Waimanalo Beach
Waimanalo, HI
SwimmingLong uncrowded stretch of soft white sand with turquoise water and mountain views. Free. Works from …
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
Waimea (Big Island), HI
SwimmingBig Island's best white sand beach with crystal-clear water on the sunny Kohala Coast. Paid entry. …
Koke'e State Park
Waimea (Kauai), HI
HikingHighland trails and Na Pali Coast cliff-top lookouts in a mountain forest park. Paid entry. Best …