The island of Maui has been a dream destination of mine for as long as I can remember. The hibiscus flowers, palm trees, and traditional Hawaiian music are so beautiful and emanate such peace and tranquility, not to mention the stunning beauty of Maui’s beaches and mountains. When a family vacation to Maui was suggested, I was more than happy to answer the call! This trip was the ultimate vacation destination- not only for the adults, but also for the three kids who joined (ages 10 months, 2 years, and 5 years). Maui offers activities for all different interests and age levels, making it the perfect family vacation destination.
That being said, it is quite a long distance to fly, at least from Kansas City. To give ourselves the best chance for success, we packed a mini grocery store of snacks, a couple favorite toys and a few novel toys, some books, and grandparents 🙂
Accommodations: Grand Wailea Maui, Ho’olei Villas
The resort at Grand Wailea is one of the dreamiest places I have ever stayed. The landscaping is absolutely beautiful and as you walk around the resort you cross over bridges of Koi ponds. The pool area was SO MUCH FUN – there is a massive main pool with volleyball nets and plenty of room so that it never felt overly crowded. A lazy river loops around waterfalls and mini stone slides take you from one pool area to the next. For the adventurous, there is a lava tube slide, and for the thirsty, a swim up bar. A mini grocery store stocked with the essentials, as well as several restaurants, can be found on the resort, including the upscale restaurant with a gorgeous view- Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (yes, I can now pronounce this name). And let’s not forget one of the most important aspects of Grand Wailea – it’s beach! Guests staying here are steps from the beach and have access to beach loungers so they can kick back and enjoy the view. Or, if you get antsy, go out in the sea for a dip! A sea turtle bumped into my dad while swimming, and I am still so jealous I missed seeing it!
While guests have the option to reserve traditional hotel rooms, our family decided to try out the Ho’olei Villas in order to have a more home-like ambiance where we could gather to spend quality down time. Our villa included a kitchen fully stocked with cooking supplies, a living room, an outdoor deck with a grill and dining set, 3 bedrooms each with their own bathroom, a laundry room, and a one-car garage. The villas are not directly on the Grand Wailea property, but guests still have access to all the resort amenities, in addition to their own pool (we did not run out of spaces to swim on this trip). Something unique that the Grand Wailea offers is its own “uber” service, called GW Ride. You just download their app and request a ride to the portion of the resort you desire to visit and a driver will pick you up in a resort van and deliver you to your destination! It’s nice when the kids were all tuckered out from swimming and didn’t want to trek from the beach back to the villas.
Activities
There was so much to do both on the resort and in Maui in general, we barely scratched the surface. Some of our favorite activities of the trip were:
Luau
This is one experience I highly recommend! We ate traditional food, received (temporary) tattoos, and watched talented dancers and storytellers. This is something I would definitely be sure to reserve in advance, as many places only offer Luau’s a couple times weekly.
Sunset Sail
We put the grandparents to work for this activity and had them stay with the kids. We booked our sail through Get Your Guide and we had a great experience!
The Shops at Wailea
Just a block from our resort were the shops at Wailea. Although not a far walk, the GW Ride also services this area. With shopping, dining, and entertainment activities, everyone can find something they like! There was even a grocery store, where we picked up some staples to have at the villa.
Walking the Wailea Path
This paved walking path stretches for 1.6 miles one way and follows the ocean the entire stretch. As you stroll, you pass three separate beaches as well as a multitude of resorts and accommodations. I highly recommend grabbing a coffee to go and taking a morning walk along this path!
With a baby in tow, we kept this trip pretty leisurely. If we get a chance to visit again, I hope to do the Road to Hana, go whale watching, and squeeze in some snorkeling! If you choose to take baby with you to hike or explore, I would recommend bringing your baby carrier!
Favorite Eats:
The Grand Wailea breakfast buffet:
The dining space where the breakfast buffet is located is absolutely beautiful. The views are incredible as you look over a giant outdoor pavilion, and the space is open ceiling, so you feel like you are outside. I also should not fail to mention that the fruit was ridiculously delish. Baby C crushed the papaya and pineapple!
Mama’s Fish House:
Located on Maui’s north shore is a fabulous restaurant called Mama’s Fish House. There’s a good chance you will have to wait to be seated, so as you explore the property you can walk around the back to see the most picturesque ocean view, complete with leaning palm trees. The seafood served here is freshly caught and delicious. Be sure to ask about their cocktails too!
Poolside lunches:
While not anything fancy, we enjoyed eating poolside for lunch most days. The menu had a surprising variety and a server would take our order and deliver to our seats.
Transportation:
Maui is a pretty small island, roughly 48 miles long and 26 miles wide. For this reason, Uber isn’t a great option to rely on for transportation, as you can’t count on there being someone readily available to pick you up. We tried out Turo for the first time, and we had a great experience. It’s basically the Airbnb of car rentals. You search through the app for cars available during your stay and book with an individual to rent it. Our experience was completely contactless. Once our plane landed, we picked up the van from the airport, the owner unlocked it remotely, and we were off! We returned it to the airport a week later before boarding our plane. We brought our car seat with us on this trip and it was the right decision for us. There is just enough driving required in Maui and it was great having our gear installed and ready to go whenever we wanted to get off the property!
Our length of stay in Maui was one week, but I could’ve been happier here for much longer! It was nice to enjoy time with family on a vacation where we could take it slow and relax. That being said, I can’t wait for the day when we can take C on some of the more adventurous activities Hawaii has to offer!
Help us out for our next trip! Which Hawaiian island(s) have you visited, and what were your favorite things to see and do?