The Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Maui, Hawaii Welcomes Tiny Travelers

For authentic Hawaiian fun in addition to the usual beach activities, this beachfront hotel in Maui provides something for everyone in your family.

Ka'anapali Beach Hotel (800/262-8450, 808/661-0011) has all the requirements for the quintessential Hawai'ian vacation, like sun, sand, surf, and sports, plus some extra bonuses like all-you-can-eat buffets for breakfast and close proximity to an enormous amount of shopping.

Located on Ka'anapali Beach, the hotel has 432 rooms with views consisting of garden, pool or ocean. The independently owned hotel is decorated with traditional Hawai'ian style, something you may not see at chain-hotels. Guests staying 3 nights or more are offered a daily (except Sundays) welcome breakfast introducing them to the hotel. Here guests will receive a Mission Statement about the value of po'okela, or excellence in every aspect of the hotel's operation.

The resort is very committed to preserving Hawai'ian traditions and to insure that your kids get some authentic aloha culture along with their noshing and shopping, there are Hawai'ian activities such as hula lessons, lei making, grass skirt design, and the complimentary nightly hula shows and twice-weekly Hawai'ian music shows. 

For a treat the whole family will love make a reservation for the hotel's magic/dance show. Ka'anapali Beach Hotel's Kupanaha: Magic for All Ages puts you and your family in front of performers who create a tale of history, myths and magic. A flashy dinner along with sleight of hand entertainment is a must try. Also, children 5 and under are complimentary.

There's a beautiful sandy beach right out back, plus superlative snorkeling at Black Rock just steps from the hotel - you can rent a boogie board or snorkel and mask when you pick up your beach towel. For the tiniest travelers, the nearby town of Lahaina is home to "Baby Beach," a perfect spot for little ones to splash in, where the water is warm and shallow. A "resort course" in scuba diving is offered to anyone over the age of 12. Surfing lessons are a couple of minutes' walk down the beach, jet-skiing is available May through December, whale watching December through May, and parasailing is available from June through November. 

This hotel's "Aloha Passport for Kids" entitles children 12-years and younger to free souvenirs and cool logo items like insulated water bottles, sunglasses, ballcaps, and sand toys, as well as free meals for kids 5 and under and a special children's menu for kids 6 to 12-years-old.  Children of all ages are encouraged to participate with parents in many activities focused on local culture, such as lau printing, lei making, and pineapple cutting -- all free of charge. KBH doesn’t forget babies and toddlers who also get a passport, inscribed with their name in Hawaiian, and a beach bucket full of toys, just for being cute. Your youngest ones can be left in the care of private babysitters, assuring you time with elder children, or a night out.

The Ka'anapali Beach Hotel was picked by one of T&L's agents for "What's the Best Family Resort?" in 2005.  With family-friendly services including a coin-operated laundry, buffet restaurant and poolside grill, a cute trolley that takes guests on a short jaunt to Lahaina town, which is filled with more shopping, restaurants, cafes and the traditional lu'au celebration with its own float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade we can see why.