Hawaii With The Kidlets

May 4, 2010

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Swimming with the dolphins via Dolphin Quest

I have a confession to make.  I hate planning trips – the time it takes, the research and all the little details. But, when it comes to Hawaii it’s my responsibility.  My husband – let’s call him Ironman Scot – has holiday ideas that always revolve around some great physical feat – climbing a mountain, running a marathon, jumping out of a helicopter. My idea of a vacation includes doing a lot of nothing; it must include suntan lotion, a good book and a cocktail.  With that in mind, I knew if I wanted to go to Hawaii it was my job to make it happen.

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Is he real?

First things first. I am a firm believer that your money likes to go on vacation.  With that said, my vacation plans were not to include a budget motel five blocks from the beach or any “all-you-can eat” buffets.   A Hawaiian vacation with the kids is no place to try and save money. This vacation needs to be packed with luxury, relaxation and fun, fun, fun. It is tough enough to try to renew your spirit while bringing the kidlets along – let’s not torture ourselves trying to save a little money.   I am not inclined to fly for 6 ½ hours to only arrive and be miserable. We can save that for climbing Kilimanjaro or some other painful pursuit disguised as a vacation.

My first task was to decide which island to go to.  This part was easy. A Google search of the best places for kids in Hawaii will take you to one Island – Oahu and Waikiki to be exact.  Waikiki has the  perfect mix of lots of things to do and beaches. Everything is in walking distance, making a rental car unnecessary  (hey- you’re saving money !) There are loads of choices for where to stay right on the beach.   

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Kids Having Fun

This task is getting easier and easier – not only is Waikiki the best place to stay but the Hilton Hawaiian Village is rated the best place to stay with kids. Planning a trip is fun!  We had a four and an eight year old with us – so I decided on a King Suite with a view. This had a separate bedroom for the adults with a full bath and plenty of closet space. The kids had the entire living room to themselves with a pull-out sofa that they shared. We had an ample dining room and bar including a small fridge and sink for preparing simple breakfasts and lunches. More importantly, there was plenty of room and coffee could be enjoyed on the ocean view balcony.  Trust me, your spouse will thank you, your kids will thank you and you can pat yourself on the back for giving yourself some space too!

Some information on the  Hilton Hawaiian Village is in order. It’s a large hotel with several towers, all with ocean view options.  It has great pools- including one with plenty of slides and tubes for the kids,  a good restaurant for breakfast on the beach, ample room to roam, several ponds and open spaces and an abundance of birds. This is paradise for a bird watcher.  The hotel takes their birds seriously and does everything it can to make their hotel a destination not only for weary travelers but anything that can fly in on wings. We saw plenty - night herons, pink flamingos, egrets, ducks of all kinds and even an exhibit of tropical penguins. The penguin trainers host the exhibit every morning and the kids will love petting them.  

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Pool by the restaurant at the Hilton Hawaiian Village

The Hilton also hosts a great Kids Club for those five and older – this includes half and full-day programs that keep your kids entertained while you relax.  A word of warning- it’s not free and you get what you pay for. A morning or afternoon without the kids is worth every penny.

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Beach time in Hawaii

What I did do while “planning “ this trip was to book one very exciting and fun event that will make the entire family happy – including ironman Scot.  That was swimming with the dolphins at Dolphin Quest. I must confess – I had done this before and it was, and still is, one of my favorite life-time experiences.  The kids were guaranteed to love it and it fit into ironman’s criteria for something new and exciting to do.  I went on-line and booked the whole experience. Dolphin Quest is located at the Kahala Hotel – a fifteen minutes taxi ride from downtown Waikiki. This hotel alone is worth seeing even if you don’t “book” Dolphin Quest. Visit the hotel and watch the trainers work with the dolphins. It’s a beautiful place to sit and have a cocktail while the kids watch the action.

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One Happy Child!!

Don’t forget to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center with the kids too – plenty of interesting things to see and lots of interactive Hawaiian culture.  Though I have not done this – I have heard over and over again to make sure to visit the Market at the Stadium. This is an open-air market and is chock full of bargains where  you will definitely save money on souvenirs.

So, take my advice – throw the budget away and give yourself a vacation to remember. Waikiki has something for everyone! Have fun.

guest blog kindly written by Liz Sanborn.

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Posted by Hike Bike Travel | Filed Under Guest Post, United States 

Comments

One Response to “Hawaii With The Kidlets”

  1. John on May 4th, 2010 3:09 pm

    Liz, style has always been your currency but we didn’t know author and humourist were in your list of your credentials as well. Entertaining and informative and if we ever have more kids(fat chance) we will book the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Are you allow to bury kids like that in Hawaii? REgards to Ironman.

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