Traveling to Hawaii first week in June. Any suggestions on hotels great for kids (with kids programs.) The Four Seasons and Grand have kids programs but are a little pricey. Any other suggestions? Which island has more age appropriate excursions for a 5 year old. Hyatt in Kuaui didn't seem to get very good ratings. Help! What excursions did your kids enjoy?

Thank!

What?! The Hyatt Kauai was named favorite Kauai resort by the authors of The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook ("the blue Bible"). I've heard primarily wonderful things about it.

We took our seven year old to Maui a few years ago and stayed at the Embassy Suites Resort. - Great pool and we loved it! The waterslide was perfect for her and fun for all three of us. This year we're trying out the Grand Wailea, but you're right. - It's pricey! I would highly recommend Maui, and especially the Kaanapali area, for a visit to Hawaii with children. People seem to report getting very good deals at the Sheraton and the Westin there.

Oh, and from experience "the hard way" after booking helicopter tours, catamaran snorkeling trips, etc.; I've found that my daughter would rather just hang out and play things by ear than have a lot of planned activities. Snorkeling offshore is every bit as much fun, or more, than taking one of those long, nauseating, snorkel/sailing trips with a little one! Going to see the Iao Valley, Haleakala, and the Maui Ocean Center all received high marks from our daughter!

Astorga, don't worry crazy4HI ain't so crazy, Hyatt Kauai ranked #4 throughout all of Hawaii in 2003 by Travel Channel

In Hawaii, most kids are happy simply at the beach, covered in sand, seawater and sunscreen. Look for the little sand crabs that run from hole to hole, my daughter spent hours trying to catch them.

I had a friend who used to work at the Hyatt Camp. Last weekend I didn't see any kids in there though. Most of the time I don't see kids in there. I'm personally against leaving kids with strangers because of the safety issue though. Both islands have lots to do as a family.

Our 6 year old twin girls enjoyed the swimming pool and reruns of Bewitched best. Maui: they enjoyed the Old Lahaina Luau, or at least gathering coconuts at the sea wall, though it's pricey, around $50/child (though all drinks included).
You might try the pineapple train in Lahaina. Pacific Whale Foundation (www.pacificwhale.org) pays special attention to its child guests on its excursions, and, often allows them to accompany their parents without charge on those outings. We took ours snorkeling to Lana'i, and they enjoyed it. They did not care for snorkeling from the shore at the Wailea beaches, though the variety of sea life was better from the shore. More interested in gathering rocks and shells and climbing over lava rocks. They also highly recommend the ladies room at Mama's.

LOL hmmm. Isn't that just like a kid? Took my kids to Maui when they were 3 & 7 thinking they were so big :0 We stayed at the Hyatt and had a great tiem just hanging around. They never cared to leave the pool or beach to do other activities.

Took them again when they were 8 & 12 and they loved it again though we stayed at the Marriott Ocean Resort. They didn't mind leaving to go on the snorkeling trip on the Four Winds to Molokini. It was great. They also enjoyed also snorkeling at Ulua beach. Thye love Maui and there's tons to do for kids especially along the hotel walk in Kaanapali.

The Hyatt in Kauai is fab for kids too.

I appreciate JohnD's vote of confidence in my sanity! His glowing descriptions of the Grand Wailea cause me to suspect we're two of a kind. I second hmmm's recommendation for Old Lahaina Luau. I have a great picture of my daughter socializing with other little girls - all decked out in their leis... She found it all highly entertaining and so did we!

Hyatt Kauai was teh most amazing hotel I have ever been to. Plus they have a kids camp during the day.

On Maui, the Sheraton had a lot of kids there. Not sure if they were with a group but there were a ton of kids in the pool.

We have stayed at both the Maui Hyatt and the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui with two small boys. (3 and 8 this trip) Have been in Kuaui and love it too but that was before the kids. Weather more reliable for beach on Maui and more activities. The pool at the Hyatt a bit better for kids but can be very
crowded. We walked through the Grand to check it out and it looked like a slightly more upscale version of the Hyatt but same comment as to the crowds. The beach and the overall resort at Fairmont much
better. We like South Maui better than West Maui. The Four Seasons is wonderful but a bit more "stuffy" than Hyatt or Kea Lani. Four Seasons would be my first choice if not traveling with kids. We thought the Kea Lani was a perfect resort for families, having a suite with small kitchen area and separate bedroom was so very nice, the suites are huge (over 800 sq ft) Kea Lani does have a nice kids program- the kids seemed to be having a great time when I checked it out although we did not choseto use it on this trip. They will also arrange babysitting but we took our boys to Nick's and Sarento's where the staff was wonderful with them.
Our kids loved playing on beach, snorkeling, sailing with Paragon, hiking the lava fields, exploring the little upcountry towns and watching the wind surfers and surfers on the North beaches and most of all just hanging by the pool with Mom and Dad.