Kids will enjoy a dolphin show at Sea Life Park on Oahu.
In the tropical state of Hawaii, climate, fauna and history combine to offer many opportunities for children to learn while they play. Though many of the most prominent kid-friendly attractions in the state are on Oahu, one of six islands in the archipelago state that are open to visitors, a number of enriching recreational opportunities can be found on the other islands.
Beaches
The beach is the first attraction that comes to mind when one thinks of Hawaii, and there are several kid-friendly stretches of shore in the state. The Hawaii Tourism Authority has identified a few family-friendly beaches, including Lydgate Beach Park on the island of Kauai, Kailua Beach on Oahu, One Alii Beach Park on the island Molokai and Spencer Beach Park on Big Island, the largest island in the archipelago.
Zoos
Among the kid-friendly attractions on Oahu is the Honolulu Zoo, located in the state capital. The zoo houses an assortment of birds, mammals and reptiles and has a separate children's zoo that features cows, donkeys, hedgehogs and llamas. Children 3 and under are admitted free.
Admission is free for everyone at the 12-acre Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens on Big Island, the only tropical rain forest zoo in the country, which is home to over 80 different species of animals.
Aquaria and Marine Life Parks
In Hawaii, visitors, young and old, can get acquainted with marine life. The Waikiki Aquarium on Oahu is home to over 500 species of aquatic animals, including rare species such as the Pacific giant clam and the masked angelfish. Also on Oahu is Sea Life Park Hawaii, where the whole family can watch dolphins and sea lions perform or get in the water with them.
If your family vacation takes you to the island of Maui, consider taking the kids to the Maui Ocean Center, which offers more than 60 indoor and outdoor exhibits. Notable attractions include the Open Ocean, a 54-foot-long clear tunnel that visitors can walk through to see more than 2,000 fish, including sharks.
Museums
The Hawaii Children's Discovery Center in Honolulu offers several different exhibits, including Fantastic You, which delves into the workings of the human body, and Hawaiian Rainbows, which traces the history of Hawaii. Also on Oahu is the Bishop Museum, the largest museum in Hawaii, where the collection includes millions of artifacts that chronicle the natural and cultural history of the state. Children will especially enjoy the museum's planetarium and Science Adventure Center.
Young space buffs should also visit the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center on Big Island, which has more than 100 exhibits that showcase the scientific and cultural relationship between Hawaii and the cosmos. The center encompasses a digital, full-dome planetarium and a garden that features many plants that are endemic to Hawaii.
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