Background: Trip is for me, husband, two daughters 5 and 9. Kids' first time to Hawaii.
Day 1: Relax at hotel (4S)
Day 2: Pacific Whale Foundation whale watching tour in the AM and surf lessons in the PM
Day 3: Haleakala Crater, but not for sunrise (done that before). Try to hike a ways down inside the crater
Day 4:Go to Kaanapali to snorkel at Black Rock (best in the early AM?), sugar cane train (5 year old really wants to do this! How much time should I plan for this?), shop and eat at Whaler's Village, and then drive around the west side of Kapalua (love this area!).
Day 5: Christmas Eve so I am leaving open for any holiday activities or just relax with special dinner
Day 6: Christmas: Same as day 5
Day 7: Maui Ocean center in the AM with luau in the PM
Day 8: Leave in AM for Kauai
(See post for Kauai itinerary)

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Thanks (Mahalo!)

If I were paying the big bucks to stay at the 4S I might not plan so many activities on other parts of the island ; your itinerary has you away from Wailea on days 2,3,4. You may want to do a lot more lounging around than driving around once you get there. You might want to combine the trip to the Maui Ocean Center with the whale watch trip as they are located in the same place.

When our kids were 5 and 6 we went to Maui for a week with all sorts of activity plans. We stayed at Embassy Suites and ended up doing absolutley no sightseeing, LOL. The kids were happy to play in the pool, the ocean, visit the snack bar, and run amok with all their new friends. It was one of the most relaxing vacations I ever had!

I agree with vivi. Our girls always prefer playing in the pool and ocean as opposed to sight seeing and traveling in the car. They absolutely did not want to go to the crater on our recent trip there. Whalers Village is new and very nice but my girls preferred Lahania because the shops were less expensive and there were more choices for eating. Their favorite place to eat was Cheese Burger in Paradise.
After a couple of activity pack vacations we have found that the most enjoyable ones were when we spend most of the time swimming and snorkeling. We usually pick one or two activities that everyone will enjoy. In the evening we go to town for dinner and maybe a little shopping. We always come back home feeling relaxed and rested.

There is a wonderful small cove perfect for snorkeling south of the 4S. I would go there before making the hike to Black Rock. (We just returned from ten days in Maui and my 3 kids hated the car trips too!)

Carole

I think you have a good balance of activities. My kids really enjoyed the whale watching ride with Pacific Ocean Foundation. Save the aquarium (Maui Ocean Center) for a rainy day, it's nice but not essential.

In 2002 stayed with our two kids 8 and 10 (then) at the Sheraton. They were happy in the pool or on the beach too!! Save the long car trips for older kids. Kaanapali has lots of fun stuff for the kids and you can walk to all the activities, shoping and eats. We did do a AM whale watch from Lahina and Bubba Gummps after. Only drive we took the kids on was to Kapalua Bay and alittle futher west. Shopped at Whalers and eat dinner, listen to musice at Hula Grill. We did go to the Ocean Center on last day - since we had to drive past it to go back to the airport. As young as your kids are you will have a hard time getting them out of the water or to stay up much after sunset also.

Should we not visit Haleakala then?? Husband and I have both been there before. He wanted to do some hiking but could probably do it without us. He has a hard time relaxing in Hawaii...he likes to go out and do hikes, snorkeling, etc. but I have no trouble doing both...love to read and sit by the water too (while enjoying a delicious drink, of course!)

Just read this thread. Two thoughts: we had a wonderful experience at the Maui Ocean Center when we hooked up with a young docent from Kihei Middle School. She was so cute and knew all of the ins and outs of the ocean center. She had little stories for more kids about different creatures in the tanks. They were enthralled to have this "big girl" sharing all of this info with them. You might ask at the desk if any of the middle school docents are working. Also, last summer my then 4-yr-old really wanted to go on the Sugar Cane Train. Her big sister was pretty excited to. We drove up to Lahaina and I'll tell ya, that was a long, hot train ride. My then 8-yr-old who is up for any adventure was incredibly bored and noticed that there was not a lick of sugar cane to be found. My little one however was enthralled. If I were ever to do it again, I would send the young kids on the train with one parent and have the other parent drive up and meet you rather than taking a round trip. I think that it is really only exciting or even fun for the very young. Did it once, never again. Also, one of my favorite things to do in Wailea is get up early and do the ocean front walk by myself. Heaven!