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Olympia, Washington
United States
9 
1
1$$$
ITINERARY (1/2 Day)
Maui Ocean Center
Iao Valley
nugget’s Advice
Prepare in advance
Check the weather; both activities involve a significant amount of time outside.
Good to know
Iao Valley State Park has several areas with stairs and is not stroller-friendly at all.
Recommended day/time
If you’re interested in a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium, make sure to check the days and times that they’re offered.
Recommended time of the year
Maui has beautiful weather all year long and this adventure would be great any time of the year.
Save Money
The aquarium offers a family pass for 2 adults and 2 children that is 15% cheaper than regular tickets. This offer is only online.
About This Day
Looking for a great family outing on Maui that offers just the right amount of adventure for kids? Look no farther than this mini-adventure in Iao Valley. First, start your kid-friendly activities at the Maui Ocean Center. Here, the kids can happily experience all the marine life that Hawaii has to offer without ever getting wet. Then, head over to Iao Valley State Park for a hike. Be sure to capture some beautiful photos while enjoying the stunning views. Parents and their kids will all enjoy these wonderful things to do in Maui.
Maui Ocean Center
192 Maalaea Road, Wailuku
$$$
The Maui Ocean Center is a great place for your visit to Maui with kids. Our girls are too young to snorkel, so the aquarium offered great activities for them to experience the beautiful and unique Hawaiian sea life. Our girls loved the free children’s booklet and enjoyed watching several presentations, including watching a scuba diver feed sharks and stingrays.
DIRECTIONS From the Maui airport, take HI-380 to HI-30 all the way to the aquarium. It’s about a 20-minute drive with no traffic.
TIP There are two restaurants on site, one is more of a snack shack with sandwiches, while the other is an actual sit-down restaurant. At the time, we didn’t realize there was a sit-down option, but it would have been really nice, what with how windy it was on the day of our visit.
Iao Valley
634B Waiehu Beach Road, Wailuku
$$$
Iao Valley State Park offers a beautiful, short hike that has gorgeous views at the top of the lookout. There are two paths, one that leads up to the lookout and a second one at the bottom that goes down into a botanical garden. An amazing way to get the kids out in nature on your trip to Maui. Our nuggets loved being able to run around outside and my husband and I enjoyed the gorgeous scenery. We got many beautiful photos during this activity.
DIRECTIONS From the Maui Ocean Center, get back on the HI-30 and take it all the way to Main Street and then turn onto Iao Valley Road.
TIP There are stairs, so it’s not very stroller-friendly, but it’s also really short. There are also restrooms at the beginning of the hike, but none at the top, so make sure to plan accordingly. Iao Valley State Park is also one of the wettest places on Maui, so make sure to check the weather before heading over.
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We love love love the Maui ocean center and have the family annual pass. perfect for the rainy day or just when passing Maalaea.