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Family Travel
Things to do and places to see are as
bountiful as sugar cane in Hawaii,
making it the perfect place for families traveling
with children. From kayaking and snorkeling to
adventures in hiking and wind surfing to more
contemplative activities such as lei making and
sand castle building, Hawaii is one place where you
will never hear the dreaded words, "I'm bored."
Planning your vacation will take a little
preparation, but in most cases, you'll be
pleasantly surprised to find how many hotels and
resorts have programs especially designed for
parents and kids.
Both Kona
Village on the Big
Island and The Outrigger
Reef on the Beach in Oahu
go out of their way to accommodate families,
providing both spacious rooms and family suites.
The Hyatt
Maui guarantees reservations for rooms with
adjoining doors when booking a family rate. Other
properties provide conveniences such as VCR's,
Nintendo, microwaves and laundry facilities in the
room.
Getting around most islands will be easiest with
a seven passenger mini-van even if you are
traveling with a group of four. With boogie boards
and beach equipment you will find the mini-van very
useful. Reservations must be made well in
advance.
Ask about room-and-breakfast and room-and-car
packages to suit your needs. Some larger hotel
chains conveniently extend signing privileges to
other restaurants on the same island within the
same hotel chain. Both the Outrigger
and Sheraton
on Oahu
offer such programs. Inquire about family discount
coupons and programs such as the Sheraton
Kauai, which allow children under twelve to eat
free when accompanied by an adult. Also be on the
look-out for "Keiki menus," special menus that
cater to kids' tastes with smaller servings and
favorites such as burgers and pizza. Often
available in up-scale establishments as well.
Some hotels organize supervised programs or
"camps" where kids can spend either a full or half
day. Age ranges are usually from four to twelve and
prices run between $30.00 and $60.00 per day,
depending on whether a lunch and a snack or
souvenir T-shirt are included. Full and half day
camps include different daily activities such as
swimming, lei making, sand castle competitions, and
more. Half-day camps allow time for families to go
sight seeing and visit other places of interest
together. In addition, there are a handful of
higher-end deluxe properties that offer evening
camps and teen camps such as the Grand
Wailea 's Camp Grande, with state of the art
facilities, from computers to large video screens
for movies. Extensive video libraries with films
for children and young adults are also
available.
Some programs offer sailing adventures just for
kids while other hotels offer complimentary classes
such as hula dancing, to familiarize both kids and
adults with the local culture. The "Aloha Passport
for Kids" program at the Kaanapali
Beach Hotel, located on Maui,
offers a selection of Hawaiiana classes and was
awarded with the Most Hawaiian Hotel award.
Hilton
Waikoloa on the Big
Island and the Kahala
Mandarin Oriental in Oahu
offer a one-of-a-kind encounter with dolphins for
children and adults. At both properties, children
and adults are allowed to play with dolphins in a
shallow, man-made lagoon. Both require reservations
made well in advance.
Be sure to look beyond resorts for museum trips,
local festivals,
theme parks, kayaking and canoe trips, surfing
lessons, snorkeling cruises, hiking, helicopter
rides and much, much more. Most equipment can be
rented at key locations along the beach, or
nearby.
Last but not least, grown-ups are expected to
have fun too! Baby-sitting services are always
available by a licensed and bonded company that can
be arranged through your hotel.
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