Educational

A small family-run tropical fruit farm offering guided tours through orchards growing over 60 varieties of exotic fruits. Kids get to taste fruits they have never heard of straight from the tree, including starfruit, sapodilla, rollinia, and jaboticaba. The guides are passionate and knowledgeable and make the tour interactive for kids. The farm setting on the slopes above Kealakekua Bay has lovely ocean views. A smoothie from the farm stand afterward is the perfect finish. This is an authentic, non-touristy experience that kids genuinely enjoy.

A working tropical farm with a tram tour through 60 acres of crops including pineapple, coffee, coconut, sugar cane, and macadamia nut trees. Kids love the tram ride where the guide lets them taste fruit picked right from the trees. The zipline course over the farm is a hit with older kids. The on-site store sells fresh tropical fruit and the Mill House restaurant is excellent. A coconut husking demonstration and coconut water tasting are fun interactive elements. It is a mellow, educational outing that works for all ages.

An interactive cultural park with six Pacific Island villages where families experience traditions, games, crafts, and performances from Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, and Aotearoa. Kids can learn to throw a Samoan coconut, play drums, throw spears, and paddle canoes. The evening luau and fire knife dance show are spectacular. Student guides from the nearby university bring authentic energy and make the experiences hands-on. Plan for a full day and evening. This is far more engaging than a typical tourist show.

One of the only places in Texas where families can legally dig for and keep real fossils including 300-million-year-old marine specimens. Kids are thrilled to crack open rocks and find ancient crinoids, gastropods, and brachiopods that they can take home. No tools or experience are needed as the fossils are abundant in the exposed shale. This is a free outdoor activity that keeps kids engaged for hours.