| Week of September 11-17, 1997 |
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Family beach-bumming in Hawaii Question: Do you know of any family vacation trips to Hawaii where we could join other families with children and do mostly outdoor activities? We are thinking of October or November. Leslie Winner
ϳԹ Adviser: According to ϳԹ‘s , there’s no better place than Hawaii to take the kids. A number of resorts cater to families, including the Hyatt Regency on Kauai. Here the kids can play on the waterslide, in the river-current pool, and in the action pool with volleyballs and basketballs, or they can explore the sand-bottomed lagoon. There are also classes on lei-making, poi-pounding, natural-history tours, and hikes to archaeological sites. On-site snorkeling as well as horseback-riding tours offered through a nearby stable are also available. For older kids, ages 16 and up, you can take an all-day, 15-mile paddle with Kayak Kauai ($130 per person, 808-826-9844). Double rooms at the Hyatt Regency start at $365 per night. Call 800-233-1234. For a less commercial experience, try Kona Village on the Big Island. Five miles north of the airport on the site of an ancient Hawaiian fishing village, you’ll find a pod of thatch-roof huts along a small beach. Here your kids can learn how to throw fishing nets, hook carp, and paint coconuts in the Na Keiki in Paradise program (Kids in Paradise). Snorkeling, kayaking, and sailing, as well as hiking and horseback tours are available through nearby outfitters. Kona Village is $625 per day for two adults, which includes three meals and airport transfers. Child rates run from $25 to $170 depending on the age. Finally, Molokai Ranch on the island of Molokai packs it all in — mountain biking, horseback riding, safaris, and beach-bumming. Families stay in two-unit tents mounted on wooden platforms with solar-powered lights and self-composting toilets. There are daily jeep tours of the ranch’s 350-acre wildlife park where zebras, giraffes, and sheep roam the landscape. Or you |
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