Updated September 2007 How Cool Is That? Maui for Active Families Excursions that pack a Hawaiian punch Courtesy, Maui Eco Tours Want to guarantee that your kids will remember your next family vacation in 10 years? or 20? or 50? Pull out all the stops and give them experiences they can’t get at home. Challenge them—and yourself—to do things never done before, in a spectacular setting that resonates with all five senses. Joanne and Tom DeMarchi wanted to give their two teenagers, Jacki and Patrick, a vacation in Maui like they’d never forget. Mission accomplished, thanks to these four heart-thumping, adrenaline-pumping, mind-blowing adventures. Sea Kayaking & Snorkeling with Turtles Outfitter: Maui Eco Tours Excursion: Xperience, Introductory Sea Kayaking and Snorkeling Location: Scenic cove on the Makena coastline, South Maui. Departures: Daily at 7:45am. Duration: Three hours, including 30-minute orientation. Cost: $69/adult, $35/child 5 to 11, plus tip. (“An incredible bargain.”) Minimum age: 5, but use your judgment. Younger children may get nervous if the water is rough. The two DeMarchi kids were the only non-adults out of 10 people in the group. (“The best age is 12 and up.”) About the Outfitter: Small groups and an expert staff make Maui Eco Tours a stand-out for ocean kayaking excursions that get up close and personal with marine life. The outfitter provides everything you need—kayaks, life vests, flippers, and snorkels—plus a light, healthy lunch. (“Ours was tasty skewered chicken with fresh pineapple chunks and cucumber slices.”) The DeMarchis’ guide was a marine naturalist with eight years of experience as a guide. (“The eco slant of the excursion was a bonus and made the trip unique.”) Prep Work: To prepare for the outing, the group spends 30 minutes reviewing the basics of ocean kayaking, including how to paddle and get in and out of the kayak. The easy part is learning how to snorkel. The Real Fun: Once the basics are covered, the group paddles out to the first of two snorkeling stops for 30 to 40 minutes. The sheer abundance and variety of marine life is awe-inspiring. (“Over the course of the morning we spotted 15 or 20 enormous sea turtles, plus blue starfish, sea urchins, and tropical fish in every shape and size imaginable. Our guide often did a deep dive to about 20 feet to drive the fish closer to us, even though the water was so clear that we could easily see the marine life from the surface.”) Wow Factor: This outfitter promises tons of encounters with the great shelled ones, and it delivers. (“We were hopeful that we would see even one sea turtle, but we were lucky enough to see many more. This was an ideal spot for snorkeling. At one point, there was less than 10 feet of crystal-clear water between my family and a huge Hawaiian green sea turtle, creating an incredible family memory.”) Need to Know: If you wear eyeglasses, alert the outfitter before your trip that you’d like vision-correcting goggles. Don’t Forget: Your underwater camera. And if you’re prone to seasickness, take anti-nausea medicine before the excursion begins. Verdict: A great-value, easy, and fun outing. (“We all really enjoyed this.”) Touring Maui’s High Country By ATV Outfitter: Haleakala ATV Tours Excursion: The 3-Hour Tour Location: Haleakala Ranch, a 30,000-acre cattle ranch. Departures: Daily at 8:30am and 12:30pm. Duration: Three hours, including orientation. Cost: $145/person (save $10/person if you book directly). Minimum age: 16 About the Outfitter: Haleakala ATV Tours provides each rider with a top-of-the-line 350cc 4WD quad, plus three items to keep heads safe and clean: A head sock (very attractive, covering everything but the eyes), a helmet, and a pair of goggles. On the three-hour tour, riders stop to enjoy a pre-ordered box lunch that includes a sandwich, chips, and a drink. (Note: The shorter, two-hour tour doesn’t include lunch.) The DeMarchis’ group was made up of 12 riders and two friendly and knowledgeable guides. Prep Work: Figure on 30 minutes getting the group outfitted and educated in the basics of ATV operation. The Real Fun: The guides lead the group across the varied terrain of the dormant Haleakala ("House of the Sun"), including lava beds, rolling hills, and mountain forests. The tour takes two-and-a-half hours to complete and covers 10 to 14 miles, with two stops along the way to learn about island history, local wildlife and vegetation. (“Going 5 to 12 mph on an ATV feels faster than you’d think. We were never bored, which always makes for a great day. Even though it rained part of the time, it still was a blast.”) Wow Factor: Ah, those glorious views! When the convoy arrives at 4,200 feet, the group is rewarded with a soul-lifting, panoramic view that spans the island’s north and south shores. (“Being able to see the shape of the island from that vantage point was awesome.”) Need to Know: You’ll get dirty. Very dirty. Okay, make that filthy. On dry days the ATVs kick up red clay dust, and on wet days it’s red clay mud. (Trust us. Neither will ever completely wash out of your clothes.) The DeMarchis recommend renting sweatshirts from the outfitter ($5 each). Don’t Forget: Wear old clothes. Bring your camera, a pair of binoculars, bottled water, and sunscreen. Each ATV is equipped with a zippered pouch that will keep your belongings clean and dry. Verdict: Highly recommended soft-adventure excursion on moderately challenging and rough terrain. (“I loved participating in an activity with my teenagers that we all enjoyed. The three-hour ride was the right choice for us because we were much more proficient ATV operators on the second half of the trip, which amplified our fun.”) Diving Into Maui’s Underworld Outfitter: Maui Ultra Dive Excursion: Scuba Lesson for Beginners Location: Renaissance Wailea Beach Hotel Departures: Daily at 10:30am and 2pm. Duration: Three to four hours. Cost: $89/person, plus tax and tip. Minimum age: 10 (Children under 12 may require additional time and attention from instructor). About the Outfitter: Maui Ultra Dive is a full-service PADI, SDI, and IANTD dive center with scuba courses for all skill levels. (“The equipment functioned and fit well for all shapes and sizes of students. Everything was clean and looked reasonably new.”) Prep Work: This intro-to-scuba course begins in the pool. The group gets fitted and familiarized with the equipment, then moves on to learning basic safety instructions and underwater hand signals. During the DeMarchis’ training session, there was just one instructor for eight students. (“Since the instructor needed to go through the training and safety exercises with each student, it made for a chopped-up session. It would have been better if more instructors had been available for a group of this size.”) Another bummer: (“The hotel’s practice pool was very dirty.”) The Real Fun: For the ocean dive, the group splits into two and gets another instructor, bringing the ratio down to one instructor for every four divers. The dive lasts about 45 minutes, is well-paced, and keeps everyone engaged as the group swims to depths of about 35 feet and explores a spectacular reef that lies just offshore. Wow Factor: Octopus and needlefish and sea turtles, oh my! The reef is blanketed with marine life, so there’s forever a colorful and everchanging show going on underwater. (“Everywhere we looked, there was coral and fish and octopus. It was fantastic! Surprisingly, the ocean dive was all entertainment and surprisingly little work.”) Need to Know: Access to the hotel’s beach makes it easy for the family to split up. One or two family members can take the class, while the rest of the clan has a beach day. Don’t Forget: Your sense of wonder and a bit of patience. (“Break times interrupted the flow of the morning and could be boring for younger students.”) Verdict: Recommendable, despite some niggling kinks. (Patrick enthuses, “Anyone who enjoys the water and is ready to move beyond simple snorkeling will love this. It was my favorite activity during our trip to Maui. I want to become a certified scuba diver now.”) Ziplining Through The Rainforest Outfitter: Skyline Eco-Adventures Excursion: Haleakala Skyline Tour Location: Rainforest on lower Haleakala Crater. Departures: Six to eight tours daily from 8:30am to 3pm. Duration: Two hours. Cost: $79/person, plus tax (discounted to $71.10 if booked online). Minimum age: 10 (Must weigh between 80 and 260 pounds). About the Outfitter: In 2004, Skyline was voted Hawaii Ecotour Operator of the Year by the Hawaii Ecotourism Association. The company donates 10% of its profits into local conservation. The DeMarchis’ group consisted of 12 “zippers” and two friendly, laid-back, 20-something guides. (“Everything was very well-organized.”) Prep Work: It’s a short hike into the forest to get to the first zipline. For the first 15 minutes, participants are fitted with helmets and harnesses. (“We were told that the cables could support over 14,000 pounds, so not to worry!”) After a quick demo by one of the guides, it’s time to line up and take that first leap of faith. The Real Fun: Nothing gets the heart racing like flying through the rainforest that blankets a centuries-dormant volcano. In a few short hours, you make five picturesque zipline crossings, traverse an “Indiana Jones”-style swinging supension bridge, and soak up the beautiful surroundings of lush vegetation and seasonal waterfalls. With each trip, the zipline gets longer and faster, over gorges and that get increasingly larger and deeper. Wow Factor: The last zipline stretches 750 feet (Yesiree, folks, that’s two-and-a-half football fields!) across an enormous gorge with a 150-foot drop. (“Moving 40 mph in a simple harness was an experience unlike any other we’d ever had. Exhilarating and fun for the kids but terrifying for me.”) Would Be Even Better If: The DeMarchi teens wanted more! They would have liked to have been able to repeat the two longer rides. (“The first three ziplines are relatively short. The last rides provide the thrill everyone hopes to experience when they try ziplining.”) Need to Know: Don’t even think about ziplining if you have a fear of heights. These tours sell out weeks in advance, so book before you leave home. Don’t Forget: Your superhero cape. (“Running off a platform into a wide open valley that’s 150 feet deep takes courage, but my teens thought it was pure fun. It took all of my inner strength to complete the last zip.”) Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. Verdict: A thrilling, one-of-a-kind experience. (Patrick says, “If you like roller coasters, you’ll love ziplining. I really liked this because it’s something we could never do at home.”) A note about tipping: All the outfitters on Maui encourage tips. If you enjoyed your outing, consider leaving a gratuity of 10 percent. Reviewed in August 2006 by: Joanne and Tom DeMarchi, with Jacki (18) and Patrick (16). More Ideas for Older Kids & Teens: Columbia River Gorgeous Dolphin Encounters in Miami Volunteering in New Orleans More Hawaii with Kids: Hawaii: Readers’ Comments What’s your family’s favorite active excursion on Maui? Tell us. Note: Prices were accurate when this article was published. Because prices can change due to special promotions or seasonal fluctuations, please be sure to confirm all details directly with the appropriate companies before planning your trip.