The Big Island of Hawaii is family-friendly with lots of great activities for families with children. Here are some of the best family activities on the Big Island.
Swim With Dolphins
Dolphin Quest on the Big Island offers programs for children ages five to twelve, allowing them to interact with dolphins. Advanced reservations are necessary as space is limited. Children are allowed to participate in touching, feeding, and play activities guided and supervised by expert trainers in a large ocean lagoon environment. Call (808) 886-2875 for more information.
Stay nearby, check out our Waikoloa condos.
Take a Wagon Tour of Waipio Valley
One of Hawaii’s most revered ancient valleys is the steep-walled Waipio, the valley of Hawaiian royalty. Now graced with taro fields set beneath the waterfalls, you can take a wagon tour of the area and also see lots of fruit trees and lush vegetation surrounding the Waipio River. Waipio Valley wagon tours are suitable for young children, and older kids can enjoy a trail ride on horseback. Call (808) 775-0419 for more information.
Visit a National Historical Park
Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park is located in Honaunau south of Kona and offers a glimpse into Hawaii’s ancient past. The park encompasses 182 acres along the south Kona coastline and includes several important archaeological sites such as royal fishponds, temple platforms, and the site of an ancient coastal village. Some structures have been reconstructed to show how they looked hundreds of years ago. Call (808) 328-2288 for more information.
Stay on the sunny side of the island in one of our Kona vacation rentals.
Enjoy a Hawaiian Beach
Two kid-friendly Big Island beaches are Hapuna Beach and Punaluu Beach. Hapuna is located on the Kohala Coast near the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and has great snorkeling as well as body boarding. Punaluu is a black sand beach in the Kau district not far from Volcanoes National Park, and is a great place to see Hawaiian green sea turtles, and also great for swimming and snorkeling.
Visit an Active Volcano
About 30 miles from Hilo is Kilauea Volcano which offers great hikes for kids and some of the most spectacular scenery in the world including red hot lava! The summit crater has a visitor center as well as a museum. One short hike suitable for young kids is the Thurston Lava Tube that goes right through a fascinating lava tube.
Planning to stay on the eastern side of the Big Island? Please consider our Kapoho vacation rentals.
Visit the Zoo
The Panaewa Rainforest Zoo is about four miles south of Hilo and is the country’s only tropical rainforest zoo. Lush landscaping houses more than 80 species including a white Bengal tire as well as spider monkeys, lemurs, and anteaters. Also at the zoo are some endangered Hawaiian species such as the nene goose which is Hawaii’s state bird.
Go Horseback Riding at Parker Ranch
The Big Island’s Parker Ranch is one of the oldest ranches in the United States, having been originally founded in 1847. The historic Parker Ranch is also one of the country’s largest ranches. With more than 250 horses the ranch offers cattle country tours, and there are plenty of cattle on the ranch – more than 35,000 of them! Also offered at the ranch are ATV rides as well as historic home tours. Call (808) 885-7655 for more information.