Hawaiʻi’s Best Family Friendly Hotels

Hilton Waikoloa Village, Kohala, Big Island

Hilton Waikoloa features three waterfall-enhanced swimming pools, a giant 175-foot waterslide and a lazy river. The four-acre ocean-fed lagoon is its own private beach that is protected from waves and safe for beginning swimmers. The resort’s Dolphin Quest allows guests to touch, feed and swim with the dolphins. Boats and trams can transport guests throughout the 62-acre resort. Kids 5 and under eat free breakfast and lunch with the purchase of an adult entrée. The hotel also has two championship golf courses, Legends of Hawaii Luau, eight restaurants and six bars. T+L ranked Hilton Waikoloa among the “World’s Best Hotels for Families in America” in 2015.

Sheraton Waikiki, Oahu

The Sheraton Waikiki is a big playground for all ages that features an adult only infinity pool, and the Helumoa pool complex for kids, with two freshwater pools, water slide and an interactive fountain area. Both pools have kid-friendly hotel restaurants like Hapas Pizza that does keiki sized dishes and kids ages 6-12 eat half price at Kai Market (kids 5 and under eat free). The resort’s Poppins kids’ club offers full-day programs that include trips to the Honolulu Zoo and aquarium.

Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi Resort and Spa, Poipu, Kauaʻi 

Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi sits on 50 acres on Kauai’s south shore. The property includes freshwater pools, a 150-foot waterslide, a lava-rock lined lazy river pool and grottos. The saltwater lagoon is ideal for scuba lessons, kayaking, or swimming, and has direct access to Poipu Beach and Shipwreck’s Beach. The Camp Hyatt kids’ club, for keiki ages 3-12, integrates play with culture, teaching Hawaiian stories through art and activities. Kids can hold a parrot during the Grand Hyatt’s complimentary “parrot talk” series, and the resort partners with the humane society, allowing guests to borrow dogs for a day-long outing. Other activities at the resort include ukulele lessons, lei making, hula dancing and koi fish feeding, to name a few.

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, Kaanapali, Maui

This resort sits on 40 acres and features award-winning restaurants, Drums of the Pacific Luau, a water playground with pools, slides, waterfalls and a rope bridge, tennis and basketball courts, Camp Hyatt for children, a 24-hour gym, daily fitness classes, cultural activities, wildlife tours, resort shops and stargazing from the hotel’s rooftop. The pet-friendly hotel has 806 guestrooms with private lanais. The two pools are connected by the Grotto Bar, which is nestled between two waterfalls. Guests can enjoy the 150-foot, enclosed, lava tube waterslide, hot tub/whirlpool and swinging rope bridge while the keiki lagoon features a 25-foot waterslide, sandy beach play area, leaping water fountains and floating dolphins and turtles. There are four additional pools next door at Hyatt Residence Club, including a zero-entry Wailele lagoon pool and an adults-only infinity relaxation pool. Keiki ages 5 to 12 can enjoy Camp Hyatt where every day of the week is packed with kid friendly activities that entertain and educate. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa was ranked in the “Top 25 Hawaiʻi Resorts” in 2015 by Conde Nast Traveler.

Hilton Hawaiian Village, Waikīkī, Oʻahu

Hawaiʻi’s largest resort sits on 22 acres and is packed with amenities and many kid-friendly activities. The hotel boasts six pools – including one with the longest slide in Waikīkī, a Super 10,000-square-foot pool, keiki pool and infinity pool. The hotel features 20 on-site restaurants and bars and the only outdoor Luau in Waikiki. The hotel’s Camp Penguin plans field trips to the aquarium and zoo at half the price. The hotel also has outdoor movies on Wednesdays and Saturdays at sundown and outdoor morning exercise classes. The hotel was ranked No. 3 “Top Family Resort” by Gayot in 2016 and “Top 10 Best Family-Friendly Resorts in Hawaiʻi” by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine in 2015.

Grand Wailea, Wailea, Maui

The Grand Wailea sits on 40 lush acres with endless activities to choose from. Each room, suite and villa has its own private balcony. The hotel sits on one of the nicest beaches on Maui, Wailea Beach which is perfect for snorkeling, standup paddleboarding, and swimming. The focal point of the hotel is the massive pool(s). Nine pools are connected by a lazy river, four waterslides, a rope swing, and the world’s first water elevator. The pools also feature six waterfalls, caves, three Jacuzzis, an infant pool and swim-up bar. The hotel offers complimentary scuba lessons, beach yoga and world-class golf at the three Wailea golf courses. Grand Wailea has a 20,000 square-foot kid’s camp that features a video arcade, pingpong, air hockey, foosball tables, a PlayStation room, movie theater and activity room for kids ages 5-12. The Spot for teens ages 17 and younger is exclusively for teens. All seven on-site restaurants offer menus for kids and keiki five and under eat free breakfast at the Grand Dining Room. Grand Wailea was ranked by Hawaiʻi Magazine as “Best Hotel or Resort for Families on Maui” from 2013-2017, “World’s Best Family Hotels” by T+L in 2014 and 2015.

Disney Aulani, Ko Olina, Oʻahu

This family-centric 21-acre Disney resort offers luxurious, Hawaiian-themed rooms, suites, and villas; some even have kid-sized Murphy beds built into the TV stands. The pool area has two water slides, a lazy river, an aquatic playground, and a private snorkeling lagoon. Keiki can enjoy the Disney character breakfasts and Aunty’s Beach House, a 5,200 square-foot paradise for kids ages 3-12, that features a cinema, arts and crafts room, video games and outdoor play area. For kids 12 and older, there’s the Painted Sky Teen Spa which offers massages, facials, manicures and a body scrub mixology bar. The resort keeps kids busy with the Menehune Adventure Trail, a high-tech scavenger hunt throughout the resort. The Ko Olina Golf Club is nearby where kids can play for free after 3 p.m. The resort offers pool parties for all ages including the Ka Maka Grotto which has an after-dark experience with thousands of glittering lights. Kids can play at the keiki cove and mom can enjoy the outdoor hydrotherapy garden and vitality baths. There is also fire-pit storytelling and Ohana Disney Movie Nights. The hotel was voted No. 1 “Best Hotel or Resort for Families” in 2016 by Hawaiʻi Magazine, “Best Family-Friendly Resorts for Summer Vacations” by Fodor’s in 2016, No. 1 “Family Travel in Hawaiʻi” by T+L in 2015, “Best Family Beach Hotels” 2016 by T+L and ranked in the Top 25 for “Best-Ever Family Adventures” by Redbook in 2015.