I am travelling this July to Maui with my two children, ages 11 & 9. We will be saying on the west coast area. I have also rented a car and want to drive the road to Hana, maybe stay a night or two and drive up the summit to see the sunrise. I also have booked a Luau and want to book a snorkelling trip to lanai.

Any advice? Is there a must do or a must see? What about restaurants?

I think you've got the main "must do and must sees" covered with: Haleakala, road to Hana, luau, and snorkeling trip.

Visiting Lahaina (town) is fun to walk around. Aloha Mixed Plate is a good, inexpensive outdoor restaurant there.

With kids the ages of yours, I'd think twice about the road to Hana and sunrise at Haleakala. Both require lots of time in the car, and have little appeal to most kids. Yes to the snorkeling trip, and maybe they'd also like surfing and/or SUP lessons.

For restaurants, Aloha Mixed Plate is usually a winner, as are Hula Grill and Kimo's. You should all find things on those menus that you'll enjoy.

Is Cheeseburger in Paradise still there? that might be fun. It's nice to sit out on the deck as the sun is setting. Also, it's been awhile since we were in Maui, but we got an audio tour for the trip to Hana which was interesting and might help pass the time with the kiddo's.

We are doing a trip to Oahu with all 4 of our kids in the early fall, so I know where you are coming from One other thing we are doing that your kids and yourself may enjoy is zip lining.

Have a great trip!

We went to a Bubba Gumps in Lahaina that was fun.

I think I agree about the Road to Hana, but there isn't all so much driving required to get up Haleakala. My family didn't go for sunrise because no one wanted to get up in the middle of the night to do so. We just went after a nice breakfast, and it was a wonderful day. It's still freezing up top, even later in the day, so dress warm.

"....but there isn't all so much driving required to get up Haleakala."

Yeah, but you gotta drag those kids outta bed so friggin' early. I don't know which is worse.

Great age to take kids to Maui! Our son was 10 for one trip and 12 for the other. His favorite places on the island were the beaches of Kihei/ Wailea, and walking around Lahaina. He also liked Oheo Gulch (past Hana).

Thank you! This was very helpful! Does anyone have any recommendations on a place to stay in Hana?
I'm still wanting to do the drive with the kids...we've done a couple of road trips in the past, one in Costa Rica, and I found the kids really loved the traveling and exploring along the way!

Thanks for the tips on Lahaina, Kihei, Waikea.

Has anyone ever done excursions with Trilogy? Lanai/Molokai crater??

My friends (very picky) rave about Trilogy (they did the Lanai full-day trip)

We did Trilogy's sail-snorkel excursion to Lanai a couple weeks ago. Loved it!! The Trilogy crew is great, and there's lots to do besides just snorkeling.

Yes to Trilogy. Yes to Lanai. No to Molokini unless you go out on the very first early morning tour. (Later means more boats and people than fish.) Blue Water Rafting is another fun trip.

You need to reserve the snorkeling trip NOW.

Road to Hana is a 12-hour day in the car, on twisting roads. Some adults get carsick, let alone kids. (You can always start and turn around if it's just not working.) Hiking the bamboo forest is a favorite. (Don't swim in the pools -- icky bacteria and people going under waterfalls risk falling debris.) I don't know what might still be available to rent in Hana starting this late. Do Not Drive around the 'backside' of Haleakala; retrace the road back to Paia.

I would do RTH and Haleakala on separate days. Roads to each begin just outside Kahului.

Surfing lessons? SUP lessons? Visit Maui Ocean Center in Maalaea? Drive up to Kapalua and down to where the black lava meets the blue ocean past Makena? Hen around in Lahaina Town? Check out the posh hotels in Wailea? (Good snorkeling in front of the Makena Beach Resort.) Stop at Shops At Wailea (several restaurant choices)?

Haleakala and Upcountry are great. Paia is interesting -- aging hippy/surfer dude sort of town.

A couple items that others haven't mentioned:
(1) Farmer's Market in Honokowai (you can buy fresh fruit, including Maui pineapple which is sweeter than typical pineapple).
(2) Lahaina Art Festival. Typically over the weekends, offers a lot of crafts and art, situated under a giant banyan tree.
(3) Biking down Haleakala. There are a number of tour companies that offer sunset viewing and then biking down the volcano.
(4) Sunset and dinner at Whaler's Village. They have three main beach-side restaurants there, all of which are family friendly and fancy, but reasonably priced.
(5) If you are looking for a splurge dinner, Mama's Fish House is amazing.

A few "to avoids" IMO --- snorkling between Lahaina to Kaanapali. The water tends to be pretty murky there, which can be disorienting if you haven't snorkled before.

Also, be careful of leaving possessions in plain site in your rental car, especially if you venture over to the public beaches. Maui doesn't have high criminal activity, by any stretch, but theft of items from cars does happen.

I can't offer anything on places to stay in Hana, and, I'm really not certain there are many options there, unfortunately. The drive is a tough one, but the views are fantastic on the way there. I would try to go during the week, though. Also, be sure to fuel up before you go and bring food and water. Hana, itself, is pretty spartan and there aren't gas stations along the way.

Oops, that's supposed to be sunrise, not sunset on the biking down Haleakala.

<but you gotta drag those kids outta bed so friggin' early>

That's why I always mention that my family waited and went later on in the morning!

I'd skip the paid 'activity' and danger of *braking* down the volcano. Much more interesting to get to the top and hike into the crater -- at any time of day. This is not a safe activity, which is one reason the US Parks made the companies start the biking off park property.