Fairmont Kea Lani

Ohana Island Vacation
No matter what language you speak, it is only a matter of time before you begin to understand Hawaiian. The keiki (children) love the islands. And so it is in the spirit of ohana that we share some great luxury family experiences from two of the most popular islands.

While award-winning Spa Grande at the Grande Wailea offers a great escape for mom and dad in the largest spa in Hawaii, there is also a great option for even the keiki to get a little pampering. The Malama ka Ohana Package includes two Lomi Lomi massages for the adults and two Chocolate-Coconut massages for the kids, all in the unique family spa suite.

Camp Grande is a resort within the resort, just for kids ages 5-12. In addition to a children’s restaurant, game room, theater, and craft room, there are activities such as lei making, hikes, ukulele lessons, and T-shirt dyeing. There is a special area with tunnels, slides, blocks, a play kitchen, and a puppet theatre for those four and under when accompanied by an adult. Teens are invited to relax at Spa Grande for a co-ed Teen Spa Night, dance the night away at Tsunami Teen Dance, compete in the X-box Teen Challenge, or join the Counselors in Training program and help instructors lead activities, competitions, and games. (www.grandwailea.com)

Located on the pristine Polo Beach of Wailea, Maui, the Fairmont Kea Lani is Hawaii’s only luxury oceanfront resort featuring all suites and villas. There is plenty of room for a family of four in even the smallest one-bedroom suite, which boasts a comfortable 840 square feet.

The pace is relaxed, the service refined. Swimming at the sandy beach is a short walk away from the resort’s three swimming pools (including an adult-only pool), two whirlpools, and a 140-foot water slide.

Parents can check the kids into the Keiki Lani children’s program and escape for a poolside massage or day of relaxation at Spa Kea Lani. Serenity is abundant at the Fairmont Kea Lani. (www.fairmont.com/kealani)

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on the Kona-Kohala coast of the Big Island of Hawaii is the perfect luxury family destination. Many of the bungalow-style guest rooms feature ocean views, outdoor gardens, and lava rock showers. The children are treated to their own bath goodies, including mini letter sponges spelling out their names, waiting by the expansive soaking tub.

Parents and teens ages 14 and older can take advantage of the Hualalai Sports Club and Spa. The lap pool, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms and cold plunges are all set amidst tropical gardens. Exotic spa treatments or massage can be enjoyed in the open air, secluded behind bamboo screens.

For the keiki, Kids For All Seasons is a complimentary program full of fun activities for kids ages 5-12. Designed to take advantage of the resort’s tropical environment, a typical day is filled with adventures such as treasure hunts, canoe lessons, sand sculpting, swimming, or even volcano building. And yes, true to the volcano goddess Pele, the volcano actually erupts.

Carved out of the natural lava rock, King’s Pond is filled with a combination of fresh mountain water and ocean water. Stocked with over 3,500 fish, including spotted eagle rays, King’s Pond offers snorkeling from 10am-4pm, with two hours of complimentary snorkeling gear daily. Sign up early in the day to feed the eagle rays.

At almost any given time, sea turtles can be found basking on the beach. While state law prohibits touching the animals, watching them soak up the sun will become a daily ritual. (www.fourseasons.com/hualalai)

The Kilauea Lodge in Hilo (the Big Island) is more like staying with friends than checking into a hotel. The quaint bed and breakfast is close to Volcanoes National Park and the botanical gardens, so it is the perfect home base. Kids will love exploring the grounds. Parents will love the serenity. (www.kilauealodge.com)

Volcanoes National Park is home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes, and is a must-visit with the kids. For the best experience, reserve a day with native guide Warren Costa. A native Hawaiian, naturalist, and former teacher, Costa is a wealth of information and trivia. He captivates the kids’ attention with anecdotes while making sure to point out all the highlights. While the caldera may be the biggest attraction, making it to the end of a 500-year-old lava tube will be an accomplishment your kids won’t soon forget. (www.nps.gov/havo, (www.nativeguidehawaii.com)

The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens is home to over 2,000 species on 40 acres along the Onomea Bay in Hilo on the Big Island. Some of the garden’s mango and coconut palm trees are over 100 years old. Rivaling Quail Gardens in Encinitas, this nature preserve boasts huge specimens of some of the rarest plants in the world. In this garden valley, nature trails meander through a true tropical rain forest, crossing bubbling streams, passing several beautiful waterfalls and the exciting ocean vistas along the rugged Pacific coast. The garden displays a vast variety of palms, heliconias, gingers, bromeliads, and hundreds of other rare and exotic plants. (www.hawaiigarden.com) — Ann Radcliffe

The Surf, Sand, and Stars bonfire buffet on the beach at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
is complete with stargazing and s’mores.

Hawaii’s Five Oh! Adventures
These experiences left me speechless at times, mumbling "omigod" at others, and positively joyful overall.

Kilauea Volcano, The "Big Island"
Hiking trails offer only limited views, but a helicopter can fly right over the middle of the caldera. Cars that had failed to outrun the advancing molten flow looked like abandoned toys. When the pilot flew out over the water, we had a breathtaking view of huge clouds of steam where the hot lava poured into the ocean. (www.nps.gov.havo)

Haleakala Crater, Maui
Before sunrise, I joined throngs of others wrapped in purloined hotel blankets waiting in the dark at the rim of the Haleakala Crater. Then, right on schedule, the first rays of light illuminated the bands of vivid color in the crater of the enormous volcano. The show continued, and the awestruck audience remained silent until we were completely enveloped in daylight. (www.haleakala.national-park.com)

Mule Rides, Molokai
My "I’d Rather Be Riding A Mule On Molokai" bumper sticker is a badge of honor — earned by surviving the trek down a steep cliff on a strong-willed mule. The ocean views are fantastic. (www.muleride.com)

Sea Turtles, Oahu
I saw my first green sea turtle in Hana’uma Bay. I was looking for tropical fish when one floated right past my mask at a depth of about 45 feet. I’ve since become a big fan of Hawaiian sea turtles and go out of my way to find them. Laniakea, on Oahu’s North Shore, is one of the best spots.

Waimea Canyon, Kauai
A helicopter is the best way to view the Na Pali Coast. Known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, the 14-mile-long Waimea Canyon offers an amazing show from dawn to dusk, as its vivid palette of colors changes with the time of day. (www.gohawaii.com/kauai) — Elizabeth Hansen