Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
Phone: (808) 926-3191
Home to 1,211 mammals, birds & reptiles; a great place to visit with the family.

Waikiki Aquarium
2777 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
Phone: (808) 923-9741
The Waikiki Aquarium, founded in 1904, is the third oldest public aquarium in the United States. A part of the University of Hawaii since 1919, the Aquarium is located next to a living reef on the Waikiki shoreline. Exhibits, programs, and research focus on the aquatic life of Hawaii and the tropical Pacific. Over 2,500 organisms in the exhibits represent more than 420 species of aquatic animals and plants.

Sea Life Park Hawaii
41-202 Kalanianaole Hwy Ste 7
Waimanalo, Hawaii 96795
Phone: (808) 259-7933
Get up close and personal with a fantastic array of marine life and make amazing discoveries about the inhabitants of our aquatic world. You can watch the performances or wade right in with the wildlife, play like a pirate or just kick back and watch the thrilling performances.

Maui Ocean Center
192 Maalaea Road
Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii 96793
Phone: (808) 270-7000
The Maui Ocean Center is a state-of-the-art aquarium that brings this intriguing underwater world within easy reach of Maui's visitors and residents. Visitors to the Maui Ocean Center enjoy a combination of indoor and outdoor displays with emphasis on exploring and discovering the ocean and its complexity. Dozens of innovative exhibits and habitat galleries welcome you in Hawaii's underwater world. Meet eye-to-eye curious garden eels, unusual frog fish and the shy octopus. Marvel as a giant stingray glides by, or feel the smooth spines of a bright orange slate pencil urchin in the Touch Pool. The Whale Discovery Center pays tribute to the wonder, majesty and mystery of the humpback whale - Hawaii's State Marine Mammal. Descend into the deep blue and gain a spectacular glimpse of the open ocean. Translucent and delicate jellyfish dance in front of you. Awesome sharks, and colorful schools of jack and spotted eagle rays pass above and below as you stroll through an acrylic tunnel.

National Parks

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii National Park, Hawaii
Phone: (808) 985-6000
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, displays the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution. The park encompasses diverse environments that range from sea level to the summit of the earth's most massive volcano, Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet. Kilauea, the world's most active volcano, offers scientists insights on the birth of the Hawaiian Islands and visitors views of dramatic volcanic landscapes. Over half of the park is designated wilderness and provides unusual hiking and camping opportunities, auto touring, backpacking, bird watching, nature walks, stargazing and wildlife viewing.

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
Honaunau, Hawaii
Phone: (808) 328-2288
The self-guided trail takes about 30 minutes and takes you through the royal grounds and place of refuge (pu’uhonua). For those who enjoy nature, you can often spot green sea turtles or humpback whales during the winter months. Handouts on the local plants and birds are also available. Picnickers can take the gravel road adjacent to the visitor center. This leads to a picnic area located near the shore and shaded by coconut trees. Barbecue pits and tables are available. Interested in hiking? You can follow the historic 1871 trail that takes you along the coast for about a mile to the park boundary. Along the trail, you can see many archeological sites including temple sites (heiau), some sledding tracks (holua), and old house sites. In addition, an open lava tube ends at the face of a sea cliff. Watch your head as the ceiling is low and flashlights are recommended. Ask at the visitor center for a backcountry trail guide.

USS Arizona Memorial
Honolulu, Hawaii
Phone: (808) 422-0561
The Memorial straddles the sunken hull of the battleship USS Arizona and commemorates the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The interpretive program, for which visitors are given free tickets at the visitor center, consists of a brief talk by a National Park Service ranger or a Pearl Harbor Survivor, followed by a 23-minute documentary film on the Pearl Harbor attack. Immediately after the film, visitors depart the theater for the boat landing, where they will board a Navy shuttle boat and begin their trip to the USS Arizona Memorial. All visitors disembark on the Memorial and will return to the visitor center a short time later on another shuttle boat.

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Phone: (808) 329-6881 (ext 1)
Visitors can hike along the coast through the park and enjoy other activities such as: picnicking, fishing, snorkeling, swimming, bird-watching, and surfing. NOTE: Park is still relatively undeveloped.

Kalaupapa National Historic Park
Kalaupapa, Hawaii
Phone: (808) 567-6802
To read about the history of this park, get information on touring the park and what you can do at the park, click on the link above.

Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site
Kawaihae, Hawaii
Phone: (808) 882-7218 x23
In addition to visiting the heiau built by Kamehameha I and the site of John Young's homestead, you can sight see, hike, bird watch, fish, snorkel, swim and view wildlife. In winter and spring you can enjoy whale watching and shark sightings.

Haleakala National Park
Makawao, Hawaii
Phone: (808) 572-4400
The Park preserves the outstanding volcanic landscape of the upper slopes of Haleakala on the island of Maui and protects the unique and fragile ecosystems of Kipahulu Valley, the scenic pools along Oheo Gulch, and many rare and endangered species.

Museums

Hawaii Maritime Center
Pier 7, Honolulu Harbor
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone: (808) 536-6373
Great exhibits covering several aspects of Hawaii's history.

USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
11 Arizona Memorial Drive
Honolulu, Hawaii 96818
Phone: (808) 423-1341
Visitors are given a walkman-style cassette player that narrates their tour as they explore this historic WWII submarine to imagine what life on board must have been like for her 80-man crew. Explore the intriguing world of submarines, both past and present. Our 10,000 square foot Museum exhibits an impressive collection of submarine-related artifacts such as submarine weapon systems, photographs, paintings, battleflags, original recruiting posters, and detailed submarine models, all illustrating the history of the U.S. Submarine Service. Exhibits include a Poseidon C-3 missile that allows visitors to examine its inner workings. It is the only one of its kind to be on public display.

Whale Center of the Pacific
Located at the Whalers Village Shopping Complex
Ka'anapali, Hawaii
Phone: (808) 661-9918
Whalers Village Museum - combines exhibits and educational displays on Lahaina's whaling history, and houses Hawaii's most extensive collection of scrimshawed artifacts and maritime antiques. Step back in time to the mid 1800's and experience the rigorous, yet exciting life that faced the whaler.
Hale Kohola (House of the Whale) - takes an in-depth look at the biology and physiology of the great whales, focusing primarily on the humpback whale. Many important specimens, including a baby humpback skeleton and the skull of one of the largest humpbacks recorded are displayed, delighting visitors of all ages.

Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center
Located at the Kona International Airport
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
The Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center is a not-for-profit Educational Facility established to commemorate Col. Ellison S. Onizuka, U.S. Air Force, who lost his life aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986 along with six other American Astronauts. The Center is dedicated to reaching out to children and adults to further their understanding of Science and Space through interactive displays and experiences.

Kauai Children's Discovery Museum
is located under the Whale Tower at Kauai Village (Safeway) Shopping Center
Kapaa, Hawaii
Phone: (808) 823-8222
Kauai Children's Discovery Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing and perpetuating a permanent science, art, and cultural exploratory museum - a hands on, touch, see, feel, and learn, museum of experience - for the children and adults of Kauai and island visitors.

Koke'e Natural History Museum
Kekaha, Kaua'i, Hawaii 96752
Phone: (808) 335-9975
Koke'e Natural History Museum is a little museum with heart open 365 days a year. Koke'e Museum provides interpretive programs and exhibitions about Kaua'i' s ecology, geology and climatology. Kokee's Museum also provides basic information on trail conditions in Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Parks.

Theme Parks, Amusement Parks & Water Parks

Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park
400 Farrington Highway
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707
Phone: (808) 674-9283
Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park is 25-acres of safe, clean family fun, excitement and great water rides for the whole family. Located 30 minutes west of Waikiki. It's Hawaii's only waterpark. Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park is in Oahu's second city of Kapolei. Kapolei is the driest and warmest side of the island. You'll rarely find a rainy day at Hawaiian Waters. The park is conveniently located just off the H-1 Highway.

Family Activities

If you know of a family activity in Hawaii, let us know and we will add it here.

Summer - Family Vacation Hot Spots (Beaches, Lakes, etc.)

Hawaii (Big Island) - Beaches, golfing, scuba, fishing, hiking, camping, boating, helicopter volcano tours, diving, surfing, snorkeling, horseback riding, and much more.

Kauai - Beaches, golfing, scuba, fishing, hiking, camping, boating, helicopter volcano tours, diving, surfing, snorkeling, horseback riding, and much more.

Maui - There are miles of beaches and shoreline, water activities of all sorts, such as snorkeling, diving, kayaking, boating, parasailing, surfing, fishing and touring, just to name a few.

Molokai - An island where there is so little automobile traffic, there's not a single traffic light. There's no mall, no elevators and no neon. No burger wars here. Shopping is done in small, friendly businesses in Kaunakakai, the largest town, and in the villages of Kualapu'u and Maunaloa. Life here is slow and relaxed. It's rural and peaceful. It's like stepping back in time 50 years. It's a place like no other. Beaches, golfing, scuba, fishing, hiking, camping, boating, helicopter volcano tours, diving, surfing, snorkeling, horseback riding, and much more.

Oahu - Beaches, golfing, scuba, fishing, hiking, camping, boating, helicopter volcano tours, diving, surfing, snorkeling, horseback riding, and much more.

Mauna Kea Observatory
Mauna Kea, Hawaii
The world's largest observatory for optical, infrared, and submillimeter astronomy. There are currently eleven working telescopes near the summit of Mauna Kea. Nine of them are for optical and infrared astronomy, and two of them are for submillimeter wavelength astronomy. They include the largest optical/infrared telescopes in the world (the Keck telescopes) and the largest submillimeter telescope in the world (the JCMT). The Submillimeter Array is currently under construction, while the westernmost antenna of the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) is situated at a lower altitude two miles from the summit. NOTE: There are specific rules and things to be cautious about when visiting the observatory, click here to read about visiting the observatory.

Zoos, Museums, National Parks, Theme, Amusement and Water Parks listed above.

Winter - Family Vacation Hot Spots (Ski Resorts, etc.)

Some of the National Parks listed above are great places to view whales and other wild life during the winter.

If you know of a fun winter family vacation spot in Hawaii, let us know and we will add it here.

Helpful websites and services

If you know of a website or company that is helpful to families traveling to Hawaii, let us know and we will add it here.

Travel Specials & Vacation Packages

(specials are updated weekly)
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