6 Things to Do in Honolulu with the Kids That You’ll Actually Want to Do Too

Okay, let’s face it – you love your kids, but their idea of a fun day and yours may look a little bit different. Luckily, a family trip to Honolulu provides plenty of opportunities to have fun together. No tvs, no tablets, no smartphones. Just family fun. But if you’ve never been to Honolulu before – or you’ve never been to Honolulu with kids – where do you start putting together a family-friendly itinerary?

Since you’ve landed on this article, my guess is that you took your search to Google. You probably searched for something like “things to do with kids in Honolulu, Hawaii” or “things to do in Honolulu with kids” or even “family friendly things to do in Honolulu.”

Good call because that’s how you got here! Today we’re breaking down some of the best and most fun attractions in Honolulu, from fireworks on the water to immersive nature experiences. Not only will your kiddos have a good time with the activities on this list, you’ll have fun and maybe even learn a thing or two, too.

Plus, we’ve done all the legwork for you. Each activity on this list includes a review from a real visitor to give you a glimpse of what it’s actually like to go, plus we’ve pulled the address and website to make it easier for you to start planning your visit if something catches your attention – and we’re sure something will.

We’ve even pointed out which of these attractions currently partner with GiftYa as of this writing.

What’s GiftYa?

Glad that you asked. GiftYa is a digital gift card that can be sent within seconds right from your phone. These gift cards can be used at thousands of local and national businesses, and best of all there’s no physical gift card to worry about. That means if you or a loved one is headed to Honolulu with the kids soon, you can stock up on GiftYas to fund some of your adventures so you don’t have to carry as much cash on hand.

You don’t even have to worry about keeping track of the gift card balances because GiftYa does all of that for you. There really isn’t a more convenient option when it comes to buying gift cards and gifts for yourself or others.

Nocturnal Adventures Hawaii

Stay Up Past Bedtime with This Night Time Adventure in Honolulu

Honolulu  | Waikiki | www.nocturnaladventureshawaii.com

Ah yes, bedtime. At home, it helps keep everyone on schedule and prevent meltdowns (yours or theirs) due to lack of shut-eye. But for special occasions like visiting an island paradise, staying up late can be a treat that makes everything feel more exciting. 

Nocturnal Adventures Hawaii believes that the fun doesn’t have to stop just because the sun goes down. They offer a variety of evening and night time adventures that the whole family can enjoy, from soaking up a beautiful Hawaiian sunset from your paddle board to catching a jaw-dropping fireworks display over the water. 

“Chad was a wonderful host, super chill nice guy. It was a lot of fun paddleboarding in the night and it was incredibly beautiful. There were sea turtles and so many kinds of sights!” - Yelp Review 

As always we’re busy adding attractions and things to do with kids in Honolulu to GiftYa all the time but you can’t get one for Nocturnal Adventures Hawaii just yet. Check back soon.

Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats

See What’s Going On Under the Sea on a Family-Friendly Boat Tour in Honolulu

1009 Ala Moana Blvd F21 | Kaka'ako | hawaiiglassbottomboats.com

Finding outdoor adventures that will be fun for younger kids can be tricky. They can’t be too long, too difficult, too boring to hang onto your kiddo’s attention span, or chances are nobody will end up having a good time. Luckily, that’s not a problem when you take the whole family on a tour with Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats.

Choose from a variety of tours, ranging from sunset excursions to wildlife cruises. Daytime trips glide right over tropical reefs and shipwrecks that will capture any kid’s imagination. Get a chance to see sea turtles, eels, dolphins, schools of fish, and other wildlife. Or book an evening boat tour and watch an incredible fireworks display together from the water after a day of fun on the island. 

Most of the tours offered by Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats range from one to two hours, and there’s even a special discount for the youngest passengers. Children under 3 (the website clarifies that this means 0 to 2 year-olds) can ride along for free, making Hawaii Glass Bottom Boat tours a great way to see the island without breaking the bank.

“Super friendly staff! great 1hr boat ride got to see turtles and some beautiful fish! Great to take your family on a budget !” - Yelp Review

Right now you aren’t able to get a GiftYa digital gift card to Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats but check back because there’s more things to do with kids and stores in Honolulu added all the time.

Honolulu Zoo

Explore 42 Acres of Specially Designed Habitats

151 Kapahulu Ave | Waikiki | www.honoluluzoo.org

Did you know that the Honolulu Zoo is the only zoo in America established from royal land that a king gifted to his people? King David Kalakaua made the land that would become the Honolulu zoo available to the people of Hawaii in 1876, and since then, it has been used for a variety of public purposes including housing the King’s private bird collection. The collection grew, and 42 acres of the land was eventually designated the Honolulu Zoo in 1947.

Located between Diamond Head and Waikiki, the Honolulu Zoo is home to more than 1200 animals. Visitors can get a look at a large collection of reptiles – including sea tortoises, alligators, and pythons – as well as larger mammals like elephants and monkeys, and of course plenty of birds. 

Infants under the age of 2 get free admission, and children ages 3-12 years old can get tickets for a reduced rate. When you buy tickets, memberships, or donate to the zoo, you can feel good about the impact you’re having on your vacation destination. Those funds are used to support conservation efforts, train zoo staff, and provide enrichment to the zoo’s furry, feathery, and scaly residents so that they can have happy, healthy lives.

“We love the Honolulu zoo for an affordable all day activity! Lots of parking, with pay stations located all around the lot. Parking is reasonable priced. Admission cost is fair for Kamaaina, $8 for adults, $4 for keiki and free for 2 years and younger.” - Yelp Review 

You can’t get a digital GiftYa gift card to Honolulu Zoo at the moment but be sure to check back soon as new things to do with kids and locations in Honolulu are added all the time!

Lulumahu Falls

Enjoy a Short Hike You Can Do with the Kids in Tow, and Experience Hawaii’s Natural Beauty First Hand

4459 Pali Hwy | Honolulu | dlnr.hawaii.gov/ld/contact

Hawaii is very different from anywhere else in the US. Half a world away from the continental states, it’s a chance for visitors to step into a tropical climate completely unlike anything they can experience back home. That means beautiful beaches, awe-inspiring volcanoes, and of course, waterfalls hidden in the emerald green forest. 

Luckily, you don’t have to miss out on seeing some of Honolulu’s iconic waterfalls just because you have little ones along for the trip. The hardest part about hiking the Lulumahu Falls trail is finding it – as an unofficial trail, the trail head is unmarked, which can make getting started a challenge. 

Since it’s located on private property, those visiting the Lulumahu Falls Trail should apply for a permit and bring a printed copy along on their hike.

The trail winds through muddy areas in a bamboo forest, so be prepared!

“This is a very fun, immersive trail. I would rate it moderate because there are obstacles to climb over and duck under. I would say where hiking boots because it's muddy and there are places in the hike where the grip is nice. Many people do it barefoot, flip flops, tennis shoes.

Bamboo Forrest, upward hike, climb over boulders, balance across the damn, get muddy, and see a beautiful waterfall that has a rock perfect for sitting on for photos.” - Yelp Review 

There aren’t GiftYa digital gift cards available for Lulumahu Falls as of the date of this writing, but there might be now! Be sure to check GiftYa itself for all the gift cards available for things to do with kids  in Honolulu.

Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center

Spend Some Time at Honolulu’s 38,000 Square Foot Children’s Museum

111 Ohe St | Honolulu | discoverycenterhawaii.org

Okay, I know what you’re thinking – a children’s museum? On a list of things to do with kids in Honolulu that will be fun for the parents too? But hear me out. Hawaii Children Discovery Center is packed with interactive experiences that will keep your little ones engaged, and some so fun you may even want to get in on them yourself.

This children’s museum has lots of exhibits that focus on local weather and ecosystems. Rainforest Adventures includes a large water table to interact with and lots of information about the importance of caring for natural resources. Hawaiian Rainbows invites families to pick pineapples and step into the shoes of the people who have lived and worked on the island for generations.

Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center also offers a number of weekly programs, like hours in the Makerspace, storytime, outdoor excursions, and guided art sessions.

“This was such a great place to take the kids if you want to do something indoors especially when it was raining. There were at least 3 floors of interactive activities, games, and toys for kids to partake in. They get to learn about the real world by imitating people's professions, culture and lifestyle. We could tell that the museum spent good money building high quality exhibits. There is also a kids cafe at the first floor if the kids want a break to take a quick bite. Highly recommended!” - Yelp Review 

Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center isn’t accepting GiftYa digital gift cards just yet, but check here for all the other GiftYa available for things to do with kids in Honolulu

Hawaii Nature Center

Vibrant Programs + Nature Camps for a Hands-On Experience with Honolulu’s Habitat

2131 Makiki Heights Dr | Honolulu | hawaiinaturecenter.org

Locally run and independently owned Hawaii Nature Center has a simple mission: to foster awareness, appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of Hawai’i’s environment by introducing the next generation to all that it has to offer. Since Hawaii Nature Center began running children’s programs in 1981, more than 1 million students have been educated through their immersive, interactive approach to learning.

“'I’ve been able to experience the Hawaii Nature Center as a teacher, as a family member attending a birthday party, and as a parent, and I am so impressed by what this place has to offer!” - Yelp Review 

Hawaii Nature Center doesn’t offer GiftYa digital gift cards just yet, but check back soon because we are always adding things to do with kids and attractions in Honolulu!

Check out everything GiftYa has to offer in Honolulu by following this link!