From a new beach club to scores of new activities and adventures, Travel Agent breaks down the hottest selling points to pitch to Hawaii-bound families looking to either get a head start on their summer holiday or looking to leave the cold weather behind for the Aloha State now.
A Family Stay at Lava Lava Beach Club
Newly opened in the Waikoloa Beach Resort on Hawaii Island, Lava Lava Beach Club is a great spot for clients to enjoy a worry-free, family vacation.
Lava Lava Beach Club is a fun, beachfront venue where visitors can dine, drink and celebrate in one of four contemporary Hawaiian cottages, which include all the comforts of a private home and a high-end, surf shack.
At 576 square feet, each cottage includes a king-sized bed and queen-sized Hawaiian punee, or daybed. Each cottage also has a refrigerator, coffee maker, Kona coffee, a microwave and a dinette area. Luxurious bath amenities and outdoor lava rock-walled showers enhance the beach experience.
With ten acres of beachfront property on Anaehoomalu Bay, guests are encouraged to roam from bed to breakfast to beach, or simply lounge in the shade of their private cottage lanai.
The adjacent Lava Lava Beach Club restaurant, open for lunch and dinner, is ideal for family gatherings. Customized private gatherings on the beach or on Lava Lava Beach Club’s lawn are available through Hawaii Island’s catering company, Paradise Gourmet Catering.
Visit www.lavalavabeachclub.com
Meet Hawaii Mermaid Adventures, Maui’s Newest Activity Company
Clients of all ages can now transform into real-life mermaids for a day with Hawaii Mermaid Adventures.
After practicing getting in and out of mermaid tails on land, guests practice ocean swimming as mermaids, ultimately transforming into the magical undersea creatures for a great photo opportunity.
Guides demonstrate proper water etiquette, how to identify native fish species and highlight important conservation issues.
Visit www.hawaiimermaidadventures.com
Whale Watching Outrigger Canoe Tours with Hawaiian Paddle Sports
Hawaiian Paddle Sports offers a new outrigger canoe tour in Maui just in time for whale watching season, which takes place from December through April.
With no motors, crowds, or noise, Humpback whales are spotted regularly, surfacing to play and breathe. Guests will enjoy the canoe’s stable and speedy ride, then jump into the ocean to snorkel with marine life.
Visit www.hawaiianpaddlesports.com
See Humpback Whales With Maui Kayak Adventures
This season, families can join Maui Kayak Adventures for another unique way to check out some humpback whales.
Small group or private kayaking tours are available, enabling guests to see whales up close and personal without any engine or crowd noise. Time permitting, guests will also snorkel with green sea turtles.
Visit www.mauikayakadventures.com
Take the Kids to the New Coral Crater Adventure Park
Coral Crater Adventure Park, a full-service outdoor recreation destination in Hawaii, officially opened its doors January 7 in Kalaeloa, offering a range of new family-friendly, group and individual activities just 30 minutes from Waikiki and a short drive from the Ko Olina Resort area.
This 35-acre park has transformed a former U.S. Navy coral quarry into two multi-use areas: a 10-acre crater for adventure activities and a 6,000-square-foot lawn, observation deck and landscaped picnic area that is open to the public with no entry fee.
Barbecue grills, imu pits and full-service supplies are available for private luaus and events, and are ideal for team-building meetings, celebrations and family gatherings.
The crater activity area offers a range of aerial and terrestrial forest adventures including an ATV tour on one mile of off-road terrain, an aerial adventure tower, a 50-foot free fall experience, a climbing and rappelling wall, a 50-foot giant tandem swing, a six-line adult zipline course, an electric mountain bike tour and tactical live-action laser tag with a special zombie apocalypse theme.
Visit www.coralcrater.com
Take the Kids to Ocean Sports on Hawaii Island
Treat yourselves to an Aloha Day at the beach with Ocean Sports, Hawaii Island’s full-service ocean recreation company.
There’s something fun for everyone with unlimited beach toy use (kayaks, hydro-bikes, stand-up paddleboards, snorkel gear and more), glass bottom boat rides and outrigger canoe rides.
The Aloha Day Beach Package is available every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Anaehoomalu Bay for $40 per person (keiki under age six play for free).
Also, Ocean Sports operates fun, family friendly "Snorkel, Whale Watch and Sunset Cruises" on their three catamarans.
Visit www.hawaiioceansports.com
Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui Offers Family-Friendly Activities
For clients heading to Maui, the Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui offers a number of options for families.
Following the December 24 completion of its $100 million renovation, the resort will offer a new collection of elevated amenities from three distinct pool experiences, like the two-acre NALU Adventure Pool complete with four water slides – one measuring 325 feet.
The hotel also offers an array of water activities such as paddle boarding or scuba diving and snorkeling lessons, to fully equipped game rooms, a Movie House full of bean bag seating for a playful time at the movies and healthy dining options via any of the six new dining concepts available on-property.
Visit www.marriott.com
Tell Families About KA WA‘A, a Luau at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa
KA WA‘A, a luau at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa offers guests an imaginative dining and entertainment experience.
“KA WA‘A” or “the canoe,” symbolizes the incredible journey across the ocean by the Hawaiian people—from ancient times to the present day.
Clients can enjoy world-class entertainment with Disney’s signature storytelling. In keeping with the cultural roots of Aulani Resort, KA WA‘A luau immerses guests in the world around them, recounting tales of Oahu and the resort’s surrounding Ewa plains, as well as the legends of the demigod Maui.
Noa, a local storyteller, takes guests on a journey through time: when voyagers from Tahiti arrived to settle in Hawaii, farming and fishing practices; plantation days and celebration of family traditions. Inspired by the sacred canoes that brought the ancestors of native Hawaiians to Hawaii, lively music and traditional Hawaiian dance, including hula kahiko and modern hula ‘auana, vividly brings the show’s story to life.
Visit www.disneyaulani.com and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for all your latest Hawaii news. Be sure to follow Travel Agent’s Joe Pike on Twitter @TravelPike and Instagram @pike5260.