Hawaii Volcanoes National park
Hawaii's diverse islands offer plenty of vacation activities geared toward children. Take your kids to the zoo, which includes an area that allows them interaction with animals, then visit one of the state's beaches for a swim. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will also give children an adventure to remember.
Volcanoes
Children will enjoy Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Near Hilo, Hawaii, the park is home to Kilauea Volcano, which is one of the world's most active volcanoes. A second volcano, Mauna Loa, is also located in the park. The park includes 333,000 acres stretching from Mauna Loa's summit to the ocean. The park has 150 miles of hiking trails that will take you through deserts, volcanic craters and rainforests. Take the approximately 10-mile Crater Rim Drive that will steer you by all of the park's largest attractions: Kilauea, the Jagger Museum, the Thurston Lava Tube and Halemaumau Crater. The Jagger Museum features geologic displays, maps and videos about studying volcanoes. The Halemaumau Crater is home of Pele, the goddess of volcanoes.
Arts and culture
The Honolulu Zoo entertains more than half a million visitors every year. It's the only U.S. zoo established from a king's grant of royal lands. King David Kalakaua, Hawaii's monarch from 1874 to 1891, made the land available in 1876. The zoo has much to see and includes an area specifically for children where contact is allowed with animals. Animals in this area include a goats, pot-bellied pigs, turkeys, sheep, llamas, donkeys and red-footed tortoises.
The Honolulu Academy of Arts is the island's top art museum and the only general fine arts museum in the state. It serves as home to more than 50,000 art works, specializing in Asian art. Guided and audio tours are available. Works also include European and American paintings. On Oahu, the Polynesian Cultural Center is the state's No. 1 attraction, featuring villages and exhibits that represent the eight cultures of Aotearoa, Fiji, Hawaii, Marquesas, Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga and Easter Island. The center's lagoon offers canoe tours while Hawaii's only IMAX theater shows coral reef adventures. Visitors can also learn about Hawaii's royalty.
Beaches
There are beaches in Hawaii that cater to children. Ala Moana Beach Park is one to visit if you have children. The beach has lifeguards on duty as well as concessions, picnic tables and restrooms. Located in downtown Honolulu, the water is great for swimming or bodyboarding.
Visit Kapalua Beach Park in Maui, which offers a view of Molokai and is one of Maui's safest beaches. It offers swimming inside a bay that is protected from big waves by offshore reefs and lava outcrops, which makes it a wonderful spot for children who like to swim. It's also a good spot for whale watching. Also on Maui, Kaanapali Beach draws swimmers, snorkelers and surfers. The beach has soft brown sand and extends nearly three miles--bordered by beaches on both sides.
Tags: Hawaii Volcanoes, Hawaii Volcanoes National, Volcanoes National, Beach Park, Halemaumau Crater, includes area
