Maui is one of the best Hawaiian Islands for adventurous families. If each island has its own defining feature, Maui’s would be that it has the best parts of all the others all on one island; or at least an ample taste. Its compact layout means that a single vacation can include epic landscape (like Kauai), resort life (like Oahu) and the expansiveness (like the Big Island). Putting it all together, though, can be tricky.
Our last trip to Maui was Augustine’s first Hawaiian getaway. I thought a lot about how to best introduce her to the many sides of the island and decided to highlight the two sides that were most accessible to her: The naturalistic Hana side and the upscale Wailea resort side. After even more discussion, we put everything together and came up with what we think is the best way to experience Maui as a family. And let’s be honest, ANY trip to Maui is going to be amazing; this is just our favorite way to combine a lot of experiences into one trip (because we know that flight is long from the East Coast).
Start with Hana:
For us, heading down the Road to Hana on our first day meant that we got to dive into Maui’s wild side immediately. Wading under a waterfall didn’t just remind us we were on vacation, it made us feel like we were on adventure. After a day spent hiking – and ten years of wishing – we pulled into Travaasa. Laid out like a summer camp, the resort is not only a completely unique getaway, it’s also the best way to break up the Road to Hana. Its quiet, natural setting brought on a kind of deep relaxation even while traveling with a kid who decided this trip was the perfect time to fall in love with rock climbing.
End with Wailea:
Everyone knows a vacation needs to leave you feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and adventurous, so you have plenty of stories to tell back at home. That’s where the Fairmont Kea Lani comes in. The ‘natural’ experience of Hana was replaced with more cultural experiences in Wailea (plus a waterslide, sea turtles and mouthwatering dinners). The Fairmont’s abundance of onsite amenities and activities effortlessly filled each day. We made our own leis, took ukulele lessons and even hunted ghost crabs by flashlight. Especially traveling as a family, the activities gave all of us something to enjoy (tranquility is still lost on Augustine). Also, not to be discounted, ending in Wailea meant that when departure day came, we were only twenty minutes from the airport, which gave us time for an entire morning swim session with the friendly turtles swimming right offshore.
It really takes the two sides of Maui to make a complete Hawaiian vacation. While Hana has the lush landscape and serenity, Wailea has the largest array of amenities, including best beaches of snorkeling, family pools and lots of dining options. To plan your own Maui vacation, check out our new article, “11 Activities to Explore the Many Sides of Maui” over on Alamo’s Scenic Route blog.
