Hawaii Family Holiday to Oahu and Kauai: Your Guide for Kids Under 10 Years
- Shelley Hasson
- Jun 25
- 10 min read
When people hear you're taking your family to Hawaii in January, the first thing they ask is whether you'll be cold. The short answer: No! We swam every single day in the warm water, boogie boarding until the kids' fingers turned pruney, and discovered that January is a wonderful time for a family trip to the Hawaiian Islands.
We spent just under three weeks island-hopping between Oahu and Kauai with our two kids (6 and 9), and here's what we learned.
Getting There and That First Sleep
We flew from Perth to Sydney, then Sydney to Honolulu. Once we arrived at the Aston Waikiki Banyan - a great apartment-style option with far more space than a standard hotel room - we did something unconventional that changed the entire feel of our trip: we all slept for three to four hours.
This went against the grain of conventional advice to stay awake until sunset at your new destination. Our kids were exhausted from the flight, in that irritable, over-tired phase where nothing is fun. We set an alarm, rested properly, then went out for an easy beach walk and dinner once we were all human again. The next morning we were ready for our first full day without anyone being a complete grouch.
Oahu
The Beach and Water Time
Here's the most honest thing we can tell you: one of the kids' favourite part of the entire trip wasn't the famous lookouts or the planned activities. It was simply being in the water on their boogie boards at Waikiki - splashing around, playing, happy and simple. Not the fancy experiences.
We brought from home, fold-up scooters with helmets, which proved invaluable. When the kids got tired of walking everywhere, we'd put them on the scooters. When we left Hawaii, we left the scooters behind (they were cheap second-hand ones). If you're travelling with kids who fatigue easily, this is genuinely useful.
Driving the Coast
We drove along the windward coast, stopping at blowholes and lookouts. A man was selling fresh coconuts, and we bought some and sat drinking our coconuts watching paragliders and whales.
The kids started getting a little impatient looking at the water and just kept asking to go swimming, as they knew we packed their bathers and towel. We found a beautiful-looking beach, but it had what I'd call a dumper wave - but just past that wave, it looked so flat and calm. Well, I was wrong, within moments of getting past the breakers, the water got deep and we realised we were in a strong undertow. I couldn't reach the bottom. My stomach dropped as the kids started to panic. Thankfully we got everyone back safely, but the lesson was clear: not every beautiful beach is a safe one.
A few hundred metres further along, we found another beach that was genuinely calm. The kids played there for hours with no issues.
Later that afternoon, we drove to Makapuu Lighthouse. The walk is beautiful, and we timed it for sunset. We were returning to our car as the Park Ranger was locking up the gate. We got through just in time, but there were many others behind us who had their cars locked in overnight. Don't cut it close to closing time at Makapuu. Your car will be locked in until morning.
Activities Worth Your Time
This was our third visit to Kualoa Ranch, and we wanted to share it with our kids. We love the place. We hired ATVs (Kawasaki four-wheelers) and drove through the valley with our group, visiting the famous sites where so many movies have been filmed. It's breathtaking.
What made the day unforgettable was a guide with a dinosaur puppet. He set up a scenario where the dinosaur was "chasing" us on your phone screen. Our son was completely entranced. The guide let him play with the puppet for the rest of the tour, and that single thing kept him occupied and happy for hours. Sometimes the small moments matter more than the big ones.
We also stopped at Chinaman's Hat and Byodo-in Temple. The kids fed fish at the temple, which helped when their energy was fading. The temple itself is stunning, set in serene surroundings.
We visited Pearl Harbor one morning, which was the right timing - before the afternoon tiredness hits. Our kids were genuinely engaged, respectful, and interested in the history. It's a moving place.
If your considering visiting Diamond Head, you must book your timed entry 30 days in advance, and you must arrive within 30 minutes of your booked time slot.
We left nearly an hour before sunrise and hiked up in the dark. A man on the trail saw our kids and gave them both torches so they could see their way up. They talked about "the kind man" for the rest of the trip. We arrived at the summit about an hour before sunrise, and it was colder than expected - the kids were rather chilly. By sunrise, the summit was completely packed with others all wanting to catch a glimpse of the start of the day. Still worth doing, even with the crowds.
The North Shore
In January, on the North Shore, the ocean is rough. After our scare earlier in our stay, we didnt even consider swimming on that side, but we watched surfers and bodyboarders getting absolutely smashed by the waves. The power of the ocean that time of year is incredible - you could see how far up the beach the waves reached. We spotted several turtles, which felt like a bonus. If you've got young kids, stick to sheltered beaches or the south side of the island.
Cultural Experiences
The Royal Hawaiian Center offered free hula lessons, and the class we did was for keiki (kids), but I decided to join in, as my two kids were the only ones there. Within minutes, another five ladies had spontaneously joined our little group. What started as a kids' class turned into this lovely, impromptu thing - a bunch of people having a laugh learning to hula together.
We also watched a free hula show one evening. They have quite a few free events here: 'ukulele lessons, hula lessons, weaving classes, lei making, plus performances and even star gazing nights.
Snorkelling and Water Activities
The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a pristine marine park worth visiting. We snorkelled here and although we didn't see turtles (unlike other spots), it was a really nice place to spend an afternoon. We took heaps of photos and just enjoyed being at the beach before closing time.
Be aware that Hanauma Bay is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and requires advance booking (2 days prior). Upon arrival there is extremely limited parking, and you are required to watch a marine conservation video before being allowed onto the beach.
A sunset catamaran cruise along Waikiki beach was a wonderful way to end our time there. When we first pulled out into the waves, we got absolutely soaked from water coming through the netting. Thankfully it wasn't cold, and the kids thought it was fantastic fun. The rest of the cruise was smooth sailing.
Food
Leonard's Bakery makes malasadas that everyone raves about in special flavours, but get the original. It's the best.
Dole Plantation is worth a stop for their Dole Whip.
Giovanni's Shrimp Truck was decent, but not quite the life-changing experience the hype suggested.
Matsumoto Shave Ice lived up to its reputation. We tried a lot of shave ice during our trip, and Matsumoto was by far our favourite. Buy it and eat it on the beach—it's the perfect way to enjoy it.
Coming from Australia where it's hard to find a bad coffee, we found standard US coffee wasn't great. Kona Coffee Purveyors was the best place we found.
We stayed in a self-contained apartment, so we predominantly cooked our own meals to save money where we could, putting those savings towards activities and additional holidays later in the year
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
After Kaui we flew back to Honolulu for our final night before heading home. I'd wanted to stay at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, but the maths didn't work. With an early morning flight, we'd have had maybe an afternoon and a very early start. I couldn't justify the cost for that.
Instead, we went for dinner and explored the resort. The kids loved their dessert and wandering the pools and grounds, and it felt special without committing to a full stay. It was our most expensive meal of the trip, but it gave us a taste of the resort and a nice way to end our time in Hawaii.
If you're considering Aulani, weigh whether you have enough time to enjoy it properly. It's beautiful, but you want to be there long enough to actually experience it.
Kauai
We took a short 45-minute flight from Honolulu to Kauai. Our accommodation was in the Makahuena area near Poipu, and from our accommodation we could see whales passing by. I strongly recommend car for the duration of your time in Kauai.
The Nā Pali Coast
The Nā Pali coastline is stunning, and there are only three ways to see it properly: by boat, by helicopter, or a difficult multi-day hike. We chose a Nā Pali Coast cruise and absolutely loved it.
We saw humpback whales breaching and their tails slapping the water. There were hundreds of spinner dolphins leaping out of the water and swimming alongside our boat. It was one of those moments where you don't know where to look—one direction it's dolphins and whales, then you turn and you're looking at towering sea cliffs.
The return trip was rough for about an hour, but the rest was comfortable. Cruising the Nā Pali coastline is absolute a must-do if you go to Kauai.
Tubing Through the Plantation
Kauai Backcountry Adventures offers tubing through the old Lihue Plantation irrigation system. This is a unique experience - you float down hand-dug channels from the 1800s with some dark, narrow tunnels (you wear a headlamp and helmet), and it's more like a lazy river than an adventure activity. It's gentle, beautiful, and the kids loved it. They also loved meeting other people on the tour and chatting with them.
Beaches and Turtles
We spent a few days at Poipu Beach. Every time we visited, there were Honu - Hawaiian green sea turtles. Dozens of them, sometimes twenty or thirty just resting on the beach. Volunteers were always around, making sure people gave the turtles space when they were coming in and out of the ocean. We didn't see monk seals (apparently they're there sometimes), but the turtles alone made it worth visiting repeatedly.
Scenic Drives and Lookouts
We drove up to Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and you can absolutely see why. There are quite a few lookout stops you can make with lovely views along the canyon. You are required to pay for a vehicle pass (about $10USD) which allows you access to all the parking areas with the one ticket. Watching helicopters fly through the canyon helps give a sense of the sheer size of it - the helicopters are tiny!
At the end of the road is Pu'u O'Keele Lookout with views over the Kalalau Valley. I couldn't imagine that there is a more beautiful lookout on our planet - it's incredible. When we arrived at Pu'u O'Keele there was a small, single wispy cloud in the valley and we could see out to the ocean and through the cliffs. It was truly beautiful. Then we kept walking along the cliff line, and as we walked, clouds started rolling in. Within an hour of arriving, the valley was completely filled with clouds. You couldn't see the ocean. You couldn't see down into the valley. It happened so fast it was almost unreal.
I felt a bit sorry for the people who arrived after us and only saw it full of clouds, because it's genuinely a spectacular place. If you go, and get cloud coverage, you might want to plan to go back again just to see it in all its glory.
We visited the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge and the Spouting Horn blowholes. The blowholes were quite impressive. As soon as we pulled up in the car park we could hear the deep whooshing and thumping before we could see it. The blowholes were impressive, consistent and quite big.
We also visited Wailua Falls which is easy to drive to and access from the road and spent evenings at Poipu Beach just watching the turtles come in and out of the water.
Hawaii Family Travel Guide: What to Book and Know
Diamond Head: Book your timed entry 30 days in advance. You must arrive within 30 minutes of your booked time slot. This isn't flexible.
Hanauma Bay: Requires advance booking. Has extremely limited parking. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Book well in advance.
Pearl Harbour: A must-see for many visitors to Hawaii. Book in advance.
Kualoa Ranch: This is a popular place and books out. Book early (around 4 weeks prior) to make sure you get the activity you'd like.
Luau & Helicopter Tours: Very popular and book out. If this is a must for you, book in advance.
Nā Pali Coast cruise or helicopter tours: Book in advance.
Accommodation Tips
Consider staying in apartment-style accommodation (like the Aston Waikiki Banyan) rather than hotel rooms. More space for families, and usually a kitchenette which helps with flexibility and bringing food costs down.
Bonus tip for Young kids
Consider packing cheap fold-up scooters and helmets - we purchased secondhand ones from Facebook marketplace. When kids get tired of walking, these keep them mobile and happy. You can even leave them behind for others to use when you head home.
What Actually Mattered
Three weeks might sound like a long time, but it goes fast in Hawaii. What struck us most wasn't the famous lookouts or the activities we'd planned - it was watching our kids just play in the water on their boogie boards, completely happy and simple. That's what they'll remember.
January is a wonderful time to visit Hawaii. The water is warm enough to swim every day, and it's whale season. Hire a car - you'll need it to explore properly. Book ahead for the popular spots and once you arrive, be flexible. The best moments often come from the unplanned bits - a man with a torch on a dark trail, a dinosaur puppet, a spontaneous hula lesson with strangers who become friends for an afternoon.
We'd go back tomorrow!
About the Author
Shelley Hasson is a Perth-based family travel specialist and founder of The Family Travel Studio, specialising in bucket list holidays for Australian families. Certified specialist in Japan, Hawaii, USA, Cook Islands, Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Disney Cruises and Princess Cruises.
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