A Submarine Ride -- Atlantis Adventures (tel. 800/548-6262) takes you down into the shallow coastal waters off Lahaina in a real sub. The kids will love seeing all the fish -- maybe even a shark -- and you'll stay dry the entire time.
The Sugar Cane Train -- This ride will appeal to small kids as well as train buffs of all ages. A steam engine pulls open passenger cars of the Lahaina/Kaanapali & Pacific Railroad on a 30-minute, 12-mile round-trip through sugar-cane fields between Lahaina and Kaanapali. The conductor sings and calls out the landmarks, and along the way you can see Molokai, Lanai, and the backside of Kaanapali. Tickets are $20 for adults, $14 for kids 3 to 12. Call tel. 808/661-0089 or go to www.sugarcanetrain.com for details.
Star Searches -- The stars over Kaanapali shine big and bright because the tropical sky is almost entirely free of pollutants and the interference of big-city lights. Amateur astronomers can probe the Milky Way, see Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons, and scan the Sea of Tranquillity in a 60-minute star search on the world's first recreational computer-driven telescope. This cosmic adventure takes place every night at the Hyatt Regency Maui, 200 Nohea Kai Dr. (tel. 808/661-1234), at 8, 9, and 10pm. If you are staying at the hotel, it's $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12; for nonguests it's $25 for adults and $15 for children.
Sharks, Stingrays & Starfish -- Hawaii's largest aquarium, the Maui Ocean Center (tel. 808/875-1962), has a range of sea critters -- from tiger sharks to tiny starfish -- that are sure to fascinate kids of all ages. At this 5-acre facility in Maalaea, visitors can take a virtual walk from the beach down to the ocean depths via the three dozen tanks, countless exhibits, and 100-foot-long main oceanarium.
A Dragonfly's View -- Kids will think this is too much fun to be educational. Don a face mask and get the dizzying perspective of what a dragonfly sees as it flies over a mountain stream, or watch the tiny oopu fish climb up a stream at the Hawaii Nature Center (tel. 808/244-6500) in beautiful Iao Valley, where you'll find some 30 hands-on, interactive exhibits and displays of Hawaii's natural history.
