Hawaii with Kids

Become a real-life cowboy at the Mendes Ranch on family-centric guided horseback tours along the beautiful Hawaiian coastline. Based on the working 3,000-acre Mendes Ranch, which is home to 300 head of cattle and 80 horses, two trail rides are offered for riders of all ages and skill levels – a morning ride or an afternoon ride which follows the breathtaking coastline to the edge of a valley with stops along with way to soak up the magnificent scenery. Guide trail rides begin at the Blacksmith Shop on the ranch, through rolling hills and past historical sites such as Red Track where famous Parker Ranch Thoroughbreds were trained. The ride lasts around 90 minutes, and safety equipment such as riding hats are provided.

Cowboys of Hawaii Mendes Ranch , 3530 Kahekili Hwy, Wailuku, HI 96793, Phone: 808-885-5006

The Dole Plantation is a historic pineapple plantation that began as a humble fruit stand in 1950 and grew into one of the world’s most famous pineapple producers. Today, Dole Plantation offers a quintessential Hawaiian pineapple experience with a range of enjoyable activities for the entire family, including the Pineapple Express Train Tour, the Plantation Garden Tour, and the Pineapple Garden Maze. The plantation also features a variety of informational displays and presentations about the history of the farm and Hawaii’s pineapple industry, and a large plantation country store that sells a wealth of Dole Plantation items, gifts, and refreshments, including the world-famous DoleWhip®. Dole Plantation is open daily, year-round.

64-1550 Kamehameha Hwy, Wahiawa, HI 96786, Phone: 808-621-8408

Dolphin Quest offers visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact and swim with dolphins. Committed to the conservation and preservation of the planet, Dolphin Quest provides inspirational, interactive experiences to inspire the next generation of visitors to respect, value, and work to conserve the living oceans. Dolphin Quest also offers a variety of educational programs and supports critical marine scientific studies aimed at conservation and preservation of the sea and its residents. Dolphin Quest offers a range of unforgettable experiences ranging from Dolphin Dips and Sea Quests to Trainer for a Day and Dolphin Quest camps.

69-425 Waikoloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, Phone: 808-886-2268

Grove Farm Homestead Museum is a beautifully preserved 100-acre homestead and historic agricultural site on the island of Kauai that offers an in-depth look at Kauai’s sugar cane heritage, which was the chief agricultural industry on the island for over 150 years. Owned by George N. Wilcox, the plantation was a developing center in the industry in the 19th century, and today offers a fascinating look into the island's past. Located in the center of Lihue, the farm features the original plantation main house, the owner’s and guest cottages, and the plantation workers’ housing camp and still operates as it did in the 1870s with the same cleaning and agricultural schedules and practices. Guided tours of the farm are available twice a day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

4050 Nawiliwili Rd, Lihue, HI 96766, Phone: 808-245-3202

Situated on the island of Maui, Haleakala National Park is a 47-square-mile national park that is named after the dormant volcano that lies within it known as Haleakala (“House of the Sun” in Hawaiian). One of the world’s largest volcanic craters, Haleakala last erupted around 1790 and has a 7.5-mile-long and 2.5-mile-wide crater with a circumference of approximately 20 miles. The Haleakala National Park is home to the dormant volcano, the Kipahulu Valley, and the pools of the ‘Ohe‘o Gulch area, which rests on the eastern slope, and the Haleakala Visitor Center which can be found at 9,740 feet on the rim of the dormant volcano. The biological reserve of the Kipahulu Valley in the park is home to a broad and diverse variety of fauna and flora, ranging from the ohia and lobelia to goats and mongooses.

Haleakala National Park, Maui, HI 96768

Designed for movie-buffs and film-lovers, Roberts Hawaii Movie Tours takes visitors on guided tours of the iconic locations and backdrops of Kauai that were made famous in several notable Hollywood films. Tours are conducted on climate-controlled minibusses and explore the spectacular natural scenery and lush tropical landscapes that have appeared in movies like Six Days and Seven Nights, Gilligan’s Island, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jurassic Park, and The Amazing Race. Knowledgeable and passionate tour guides share their love of the movies and explain how filmmakers made the landscapes of the island translate onto the silver screen.

Lihue, HI 96766, Phone: 808-539-9400

Located on Hawaii Island, also known as the Big Island, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to two active volcanoes - Kilauea and Mauna Loa and offers some of the best volcano viewing in the world. One of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kilauea has been erupting since 1983 and stands at more than 4,000 feet high and is still growing. The much older and larger Mauna Loa has been active for some 700,000 years, and stands at 31,700 feet from the seafloor, making it the largest mountain on the planet. In addition to the two volcanoes, the park is also home to awe-inspiring landscapes of cinder cones, gaping pits, rough lava trails, and other volcanic wonders.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718, Phone: 808-985-6000

The Hawaiian Railway Society is an educational organization that was established to protect, preserve, and encourage an interest in the rich history of railroading in Hawaii. Based on the island of Oahu, the society manages a three-foot narrow-gauge heritage railroad on the trackbed of the defunct Oahu Railway and Land Company and a fascinating railroad museum in Ewa. Here, visitors can learn all about the history of railroading in Hawaii, how sugar cane trains were used on the sugar plantations, and enjoy fully narrated train rides that pass sites of historical interest such as the historic Fort Barrette, an old sisal plantation, and the "ghost town" of Gilbert. Train rides are 90-minutes long, round-trip, and run year-round, and there is a picnic area for families to enjoy.

3402, 91-1001 Renton Rd, Ewa Beach, HI 96706, Phone: 808-681-5461

The Honolulu Zoo is an animal sanctuary in Queen Kapi?olani Park in Honolulu that is built on the part of the 300-acre royal Queen Kapi?olani Park. The zoo was established as part of 1876 Monarch of Hawaii, King David Kalakaua’s grant of royal lands to the people to honor his queen, Julia Kapi?olani. The 42-acre park is home to over 1,230 animals in specially designed habitats, including several endangered species such as black rhino, golden lion tamarins, Siamang gibbons, and Sumatran tigers. The zoo runs several essential conservation programs that aim to protect, conserve and maintain populations of endangered species both in captivity and the wild and is also home to animal welfare centers and a breeding facility.

151 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815