For Families

Your itinerary is going to depend on the ages of your kids. The number-one rule is don't plan too much, especially with young children, who will be fighting jet lag, trying to get adjusted to a new bed (and most likely new food), and might be very hyped up and excited to the point of exhaustion. The 7-day itinerary below is a guide to the various family-friendly activities available on Maui. Pick and choose the ones everyone in your family will enjoy.

Day 1: Arrival & Pool Time

If you have young kids who are not used to the waves, you might consider taking them to the swimming pool at your hotel. They'll be happy playing in the water, and you won't have to introduce them to ocean safety after that long plane ride. Plan an early dinner, with food your kids are used to. If you're in Lahaina, go to Cheeseburger in Paradise; if you're in Kihei, consider either Shaka Sandwich & Pizza or Stella Blues Cafe. Get to bed early.

Day 2: Up a 10,000-Foot Dormant Volcano & Down Again

Your family will likely be up early, so take advantage of it and head up to the 10,000-foot (dormant) volcano Haleakala. Depending on the age of your children, you can either hike in the crater, speed down the mountain on a bicycle, or just wander about the park. On your way back down, stop and tour the upcountry communities of Kula, Makawao, and Paia. Plan to tour the Surfing Goat Dairy, stop and look at the strange flowers at the Kula Botanical Garden, or take the 40-minute narrated tram tour of Maui Tropical Plantation. Get an early dinner -- try AK's Café in Wailuku or book a table at the Mañana Garage in Kahului.

Day 3: Sharks, Stingrays & Starfish without Getting Wet

After a lazy breakfast, wander over to the Maui Ocean Center in Maalaea so your kids can see the fabulous underwater world without having to get wet. Plan to spend the morning immersed in the 5-acre oceanarium. Eat something fishy for lunch. Then head out to Lahaina, where you can take the kids underwater in a Jules Vern-type submarine at Atlantis Adventures, or if they are too small, hop aboard the Lahaina-Kaanapali Sugar Cane Train, or rent some snorkel equipment and hit one of the terrific beaches in west Maui. Book ahead for the Old Lahaina Luau in the evening.

Day 4: Sailing to Lanai

Now that the kids have seen the underwater world, take them sailing to Lanai. Trilogy is the best sailing/snorkeling trip in Hawaii, so don't miss it. In the afternoon, wander around Lahaina and see the giant Banyan Tree, the old Lahaina Courthouse, and the old prison.

Day 5: Hana Highway: The World's Most Scenic Tropical Road

Pack a lunch and spend the entire day driving the Hana Highway for an unforgettable experience. Pull over often, get out to take photos, smell the flowers, and jump in the mountain-stream pools. Wave to everyone, move off the road for those speeding by, and breathe in Hawaii. Plan to spend at least 2 nights in Hana.

Day 6: A Day in Heavenly Hana

You have an entire day in paradise, and there's plenty to do. Take an early-morning hike along the black sands of Waianapanapa State Park, then explore the tiny town of Hana. Make sure you see the Hana Cultural Center and Museum, Hasegawa General Store, and Hana Coast Gallery. Get a picnic lunch and drive out to the Kipihulu end of Haleakala National Park at Oheo Gulch. Hike to the waterfalls, swim in the pools, take lots of photos. Splurge on dinner and eat in the dining room at the Hotel Hana-Maui. Spend another night in Hana.

Day 7: See the World from a Dragonfly's Point of View

Check to see if the road beyond Hana, toward Kaupo, is open (it was temporarily closed after the Oct 2006 earthquake), if is, continue driving around the island, past Kaupo and up to the Ulupalakua Ranch and the Tedeschi Winery. Stop at Grandma's Coffee House for a cup of java and head down the mountain, with a stop for lunch at Haliimaile General Store. Spend the afternoon at the Maui Nature Center and the Iao Valley State Park next door. If the road past Hana is closed, go back along the Hana Highway the way you came, stopping for lunch at Haliimaile, then follow the rest of the itinerary from there.