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 Have a swingin' good time on Maui. But that was before a recent trip to Wailea in Maui, one of the most popular Hawaiian destinations for Southern Californians with kids. Because that’s just what I’ll soon be – a SoCal dad with a new son, but still hoping to maintain some semblance of my former globetrotting self. As my pregnant wife and I enjoyed a late honeymoon, visiting the three most popular Wailea Resorts – the Grand Wailea, Four Seasons and Fairmont Kea Lani – I found myself suddenly fascinated by kid-friendly features. And I was constantly on the lookout for well-behaved children, hoping to pick up some pointers from their parents. The Grand Wailea (grandwailea.com) is ground zero for moms and groms, with what seems like miles of X Games-worthy water slides. Wailea Canyon has nine separate pools, a baby beach, seven water slides, waterfalls, caves, rapids, rope swings, grottos and more. And if the kids get tired of all that wet and wild action, there’s a little thing called the Pacific Ocean right nearby. Who needs Silly Bandz when in-the-club kids wear dozens of daily admittance wristbands in all the colors of the rainbow? For younger kids, Camp Grande offers supervised play for children 5 to 12, with a separate area for those under 4 when accompanied by a parent. And here’s a little secret: Ho’olei at Grand Wailea (hooleiatgrandwailea) are new multi-bedroom condos just behind the resort. Each condo has a laundry, full kitchen and barbecue, plus the complex has a private pool. For large families, being able to cook and clean over a week or longer stay is a money- and time-saver. And a condo stay includes complete access to the rest of the resort. For some, the Grand Wailea can get a tad frenetic. At the Fairmont Kea Lani (fairmont.com/kealani) just down the road, kids also ride a water slide. It’s a good deal smaller, but we watched one little guy about 4 or 5 take 30 or more rides, non-stop. Travel magazine readers voted the Fairmont Kea Lani the top hotel for families in Hawaii. And we can see why. Kids under 5 eat free at most of the resort’s restaurants; there’s a children’s program with activities such as feeding koi, painting coconuts, exploring tide pools, and learning Hawaiian words and phrases; and for the more adventurous there’s some of the best snorkeling in the world and an outstanding outrigger canoe experience, complete with a jump in the sea to look for green turtles. And this just in: While the Fairmont undergoes a pool and room renovation, most rooms are 50 percent off, through Oct. 28. In between the Grand Wailea and Fairmont Kea Lanai sits Maui’s most luxurious resort hotel, the Four Seasons, Hawaii’s only AAA Five Diamond and Mobil Five-Star resort (fourseasons.com/maui). And while one might not think of the Four Seasons as particularly kid-friendly, it is – and what great kids they are! Somehow, the Four Seasons draws the most well-behaved young people around. Perhaps it’s the way the grounds are laid out, with the baby pool located up on a knoll and plenty of cabanas spread throughout the grounds with room to roam that keep kids so calm. Whatever it is, I approve. I’m also quite taken with the kid-sized food stations set up in a colorful corner of the resort’s Duo restaurant. While parents enjoy an extravagantly stocked breakfast buffet, their culinary-minded kids can enjoy pancakes, bacon, powdered donuts (we snuck one every morning) and other treats, along with coloring book and games. And if the kids get luxury resort fever, take them to some of nearby public beaches such as Big Beach and Little Beach. But even if your kids are Southern California-beach savvy, don’t underestimate the Hawaiian waves and currents. On the drive back, stop at one of the food trucks that sit along the winding road, offering Hawaiian treats like shaved ice, as well as corn dogs, burritos and tacos. And when that inevitable pizza urge hits, go to Matteo’s Pizzeria (matteospizzeria.com), an unassuming and inexpensive spot – especially by resort standards – on a golf course just across from the Shops at Wailea. The next time I go to Maui, I’ll be booking a room for three, not two. But we hope to return as soon as possible after our baby is born. On our trip we saw a Hawaiian couple walking into the warm, calm water, cradling their naked baby, who giggled as the waves lapped at his tiny feet. They looked at my wife’s belly and smiled. “Soon enough for you,” they said with a laugh. “Bring him back, teach him to swim Hawaiian-style.” Sounds like a plan to me. |
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