Maui for the holidays—what could be better? Especially coming from a very snowy Boston. It was just what our family needed the week after Christmas. It took us only a few minutes after we landed to forget about the long flight from Boston. The warm air, sunshine and palm trees made us feel a world away.
This was our biennial family trip with my father, siblings and children, all in, there were seventeen of us. We rented a beautiful home right on Kaanapali Beach and were set to relax. What I love about beach vacations is that there are no intense itineraries to worry about. Your decisions are simple: beach or pool. However, I couldn’t help myself and I did plan a few special activities for the week.
Spa: Let’s be clear, the day after Christmas, forget entertaining the kids, the moms needed a break! All the ladies headed to the Grand Wailea Spa. Wow! Hydrotherapy with multiple aromatic baths, followed by massage therapy—that took care of the damage done during holiday retail therapy.
Luau: We wanted some cultural exposure, however, with little kids, we knew that the length of a formal luau would not work for our group. So we booked CJ Catering to do a private luau—one of the best decisions of the week. Not only was the food outstanding, but so was the entertainment. CJ hired a hysterical entertainer who led a talented ensemble that included hula dancers, singers, and a fire dancer. The crew engaged the kids from the beginning with lei making and continued on with dancing, drumming and, of course, a hula lesson. This was the night that marked the trip and it will always be remember with a chuckle.
Under the Sea: Whales, whales and more whales. They were everywhere. Hands down, being so close to the Humpback whales, hearing them breathe and sing was awe-inspiring. We were able to get near them on both the fishing and snorkel trip we booked. I had heard great things about the Captain Steve’s snorkel trips and booked a trip for our family. Because we rented the whole boat (remember there was 17 of us), we were able to bring the 2 year-olds; otherwise, the kids would have to have been 5 and up to participate. Everyone also enjoyed the snorkeling both on the boat and off the beach. We also visited tide poolswhile waiting for delicious breakfast at the Gazebo.
Land Adventures: From beautiful birds to volcanoes, Maui can keep any naturalist busy. My kids loved the trip up to Haleakala, Maui’s famous volcano. This is not for anyone prone to carsickness. At 10,000 feet, the view is beautiful.
We were lucky enough to have a blue moon on New Year’s Eve and watched the moon set over the ocean early in the morning while drinking our coffee on the deck.
Relevant Links:
Daily Candy Kids article about Maui
My pre-trip book list
Ciao Bambino recommended Hawaii family hotel
Maui with kids—favorite kids activities on Maui
Written for CiaoBambino by Nancy Solomon. Photo courtesy of CiaoBambino
