If you’re searching for a lovely getaway as a family, Waikiki is the place to go.
Gorgeous parks and forests, pristine beaches, and breathtaking scenery will take your breath away.
Waikiki provides big adventures around every corner, from the many family-friendly displays and activities to the hidden world beneath the clear turquoise waters.
Let’s say you’re planning the perfect family trip and want to find the best attractions, the most authentic experience, and the like. If that’s the case, we can get your plan rolling immediately!
If you’re looking for a way to quench your wanderlust, check out our guide to the best family-friendly activities in Waikiki.
- Waikiki Beach
Waikiki, a prominent district of Honolulu along the coast, was initially built as a resort for the Hawaiian aristocracy.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Waikiki Beach, with its gorgeous white sands and clear blue waves, is one of the island’s most popular and must-see sights and is an excellent example of the kinds of things families can enjoy together in Waikiki.
Waikiki’s tranquil waters are ideal for families looking for a relaxing swim or those who wish to enjoy a truly authentic Hawaii experience by taking surfing lessons.
Recommended Ages
Waikiki Beach is great for families with children of all ages, as the waves are gentle, and plenty of shallow areas to swim in.
- Dolphin Quest Oahu
Plunge beyond the sparkling waters and get up close and personal with the majestic and clever species inhabiting its clean and clear expanse if you’re still stumped for things to do in Waikiki with kids.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Dolphin Quest Oahu, located at the world-famous Kahala Hotel & Resort, provides a fascinating encounter with the dolphins that will prepare you for a fantastic vacation by showing you how they interact and entertain humans.
Dolphin Quest Oahu’s overarching mission is to promote awareness and education about dolphins to ensure their continued survival; to this end, a portion of the proceeds from each of its many programs goes toward funding initiatives in marine education, conservation, and scientific research.
Recommended Ages
The beautiful dolphins of Waikiki’s seas make for a great family outing for kids over 5.
- St. Augustine by the Sea
The Roman Catholic parish of Saint Augustine by the Sea in Hawaii meets in a less formal church building.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Visiting this church could be the perfect opportunity for a family seeking some of the top free kid-friendly things to do in Waikiki.
St. Augustine by the Sea, which has stood for over two centuries, is an excellent place to learn about the history of the Catholic Church in Hawaii, dress like a local, and attend mass with other believers.
Recommended Ages
All groups, even young children, are welcome to visit the infamous St. Augustine by the Sea construction.
- Queen Kapiʻolani Regional Park
Waikiki’s Queen Kapi’olani Park is a fantastic place to take young children. Its many attractions and activities are designed to keep them occupied and entertained while you get some much-needed rest.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Queen Kapiolani Park is a beautiful, tranquil oasis located in the heart of Waikiki.
Amazing banyan trees that have survived for over a century make this park worth a visit and have contributed to its inclusion in state historic registries.
The park’s 300 acres are ideal for various activities, from picnicking on the grass to running on the concrete trails or playing tennis on the grass courts.
Recommended Ages
Queen Kapi’olani Regional Park is a beautiful place for kids of all ages to have fun in a safe environment.
- Waikiki Aquarium
The Waikiki Aquarium has been open to the public since 1904, making it the second-oldest public aquarium in the United States.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Every tourist to Waikiki should stop at the Waikiki Aquarium to learn more about the bizarre marine creatures found in Hawaiian seas.
Discover over 3,500 species of aquatic life in the exhibits and magnificent native gardens.
The zoo has 13 distinct exhibit areas where visitors can see animals in their natural habitats.
Recommended Ages
The Waikiki Aquarium is excellent for families with children over three to marvel at the fascinating displays.
- Bishop Museum
The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, often known as the Bishop Museum, is a fantastic site to take kids interested in Hawaiian history and science.
The Bishop Museum may be found on the island of Oahu, in the Kalihi neighborhood of Honolulu.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Bishop Museum in Honolulu is Hawaii’s largest museum, and it’s all about the colorful history of Hawaii and the Pacific.
Everything from actual relics to carefully crafted fictional depictions of historical figures and events.
Visit the halls of this museum and its many displays that introduce you to the world of history through the objects it displays.
A planetarium is also available so young people can learn about the cosmos while experiencing its wonders firsthand.
Recommended Ages
Visiting Bishop Museum is like stepping into a time capsule for families with children aged three and above.
- Foster Botanical Gardens
Do you want to find exciting but inexpensive activities to spend time with your family?
Then it would be best if you took a chance on the Foster Botanical Gardens, a beautiful oasis in the middle of Waikiki’s bustling tourist district.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Foster Botanical Garden spans about 13.5 acres of open space. There are five public botanical gardens on Oahu, and this one is one of the best places to see the island’s beautiful flowers and healthy plants.
Foster Botanical Gardens is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy nature.
A guide can take you to the ideal spots to see and learn about Hawaii’s flora, and they’ll be able to point out the most exciting features along the way.
Recommended Ages
Foster Botanical Gardens is a relaxing day trip that welcomes visitors of all ages, so feel free to bring your infant along.
- Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park
The Puu Ualakaa park is the perfect area to take the kids for a relaxing game of volleyball or just to go for a stroll and enjoy some time together.
You will find everything you need at Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Relax and take in this park’s breathtaking view of the entire Waikiki neighborhood.
There is no obvious route to the summit, so the climb is challenging and rewarding because of the unexpected turns and twists it forces you to take.
Recommended Ages
Overlooking Tantalus Puu All children are welcome at Ualakaa State Park, both unpretentious and peaceful.
Seeing some of the local creatures at the Honolulu Zoo is an excellent activity in Waikiki with kids.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Located within Queen Kapi’olani Park, the Honolulu Zoo spans an impressive 42 acres. The endowments granted by a sovereign monarch helped build this zoo, making it the only one of its kind in the United States.
Each turn and corner of the zoo will reveal a new adorable creature that will captivate your interest and that of your child.
Recommended Ages
Tribes with kids above five will enjoy a trip to the Honolulu Zoo.
- Mānoa Falls Trail
Want to spend a weekend in nature but have no idea where to go?
The Manoa Falls Trail leads to a paradisiacal destination.
Why We Recommend This Activity
One of the most well-known movie locations, Waikiki, is also home to Manoa Falls, one of the island’s most stunning and huge waterfalls, and an excellent spot for a relaxing trek.
Most of the flora and wildlife at Manoa Falls and along the trail are endemic to the island of Oahu. Hence it is highly recommended that visitors hire a tour guide if they get the chance to see it.
Recommended Ages
Due to its remote location, the Manoa Falls Trail is perfect for families with children of all ages seeking some time away from the city.
- Polynesian Cultural Center
With all of Waikiki’s best family attractions in one convenient location, the Polynesian Cultural Center is the best spot to go on an unforgettable trip with your friends and family.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Polynesian Cultural Center in Waikiki is a park with a Polynesian theme and a fascinating museum that brings to life the vibrant cultural traditions of the indigenous people of Hawaii.
Interested in attending a luau but never knew how?
This cultural site offers all that and more, allowing visitors to experience the splendor of Native American life via music, dance, and interactive displays and activities designed for the whole family.
Recommended Ages
Elementary school-aged children and up will have a blast at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
- Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay
Diving into the transparent surface waters of Waikiki and witnessing all the different fishes, large and small, is an experience unlike any other.
Why We Recommend This Activity
After years of use by the millions of visitors that visit and love to swim in Hanauma Bay, the “curved bay” has to be restored to provide a pristine and fascinating marine ecology in Honolulu.
Explore the depths with the kids and the whole family and get up close and personal with the many corals and other living invertebrates that call the water their home.
Recommended Ages
Snorkeling in one of Hawaii’s most well-known spots is an exciting and memorable experience, perfect for teenagers and youngsters aged seven and up.
- Children’s Discovery Center
The Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center is a pleasant and educational museum for kids in the middle of Honolulu.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Visit the Children’s Discovery Center for a fun day out that will keep the kids occupied for hours on end with various interactive exhibits and games.
To aid in forming a healthy sense of identity and an appreciation for the diversity that characterizes Hawaii’s population and to broaden the horizons of Hawaii’s youth by exposing them to the world beyond their backyard.
Recommended Ages
A trip to the Children’s Discovery Center is strongly recommended for families aged three to eleven.
- Pacific Aviation Museum
The non-profit Pearl Harbor Aircraft Museum has been working on creating an aviation museum in Hawaii since 1999.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Most of the museum’s aircraft displays have direct connections to the attack on Pearl Harbor and World War II and are presented in an interactive and immersive setting.
Here, you can learn about and reflect on the past in various ways, thanks to the museum’s extensive collection of antiques, numerous historical relics, and fascinating stories.
Recommended Ages
If you have kids over five, they will enjoy the Pacific Aviation Museum tour.
- Atlantis Submarine
It’s not often that you get to take a trip to new depths in the Atlantis Submarine.
Why We Recommend This Activity
If you’re looking for something truly unforgettable to do in Waikiki with kids, go no further than a ride on the Atlantis Submarine, which will transport you to the ocean’s most profound and darkest depths for an unforgettable adventure.
The world’s most modern passenger submarine, Atlantis Submarines, allows you to travel 100 feet below Hawaii’s ocean waters and float amid various schools of beautiful fish.
Recommended Ages
Those ten years of age and up will enjoy a ride in the Atlantis Submarines to explore a new world beneath the surface.
