Maui - Hawaii with Kids - page 274

Frommer's Favorite Maui Family Experiences

Greeting the Rising Sun from atop Haleakala Bundle up, fill a thermos
with hot java, and drive the 37 miles from sea level to 10,000 feet to
witness the birth of yet another day. Breathing in the rarefied air and
watching the first rays of light streak across the sky makes the Haleakala
sunrise a mystical experience.
Watching for Whales No need to head out in a boat—in winter, you
can see these majestic mammals breach and spy hop from shore. One of
the best places is scenic McGregor Point, at mile marker 9 along
Honoapiilani Highway, just outside Maalaea in south Maui. The hump-
backs arrive as early as November, but the majority travel through
Maui's waters from mid-December to mid-April.
Plunging Under the Sea (p. 293) Atlantis Submarines ( & 800/548-6262 )
takes the whole family down into the shallow coastal waters off
Lahaina in a real sub. The kids will love seeing all the fish—maybe even
a shark—and you'll stay dry the entire time.
Riding the Rails on the Sugarcane Train (p. 273) This ride will appeal
to small kids as well as train buffs of all ages. A steam engine pulls open
passenger cars of the Lahaina/Kaanapali & Pacific Railroad on a 30-
minute, 12-mile round-trip through sugar-cane fields between Lahaina
and Kaanapali. The conductor sings and calls out the landmarks, and
along the way, you can see Molokai, Lanai, and the backside of Kaana-
pali. Tickets are $16 for adults, $8.75 for kids 3 to 12; call &

808/

661-0089.
Looking for Stars The stars over Kaanapali shine big and bright
because the tropical sky is almost entirely free of both pollutants and the
interference of big-city lights. Amateur astronomers can probe the Milky
Way, see the rings of Saturn and Jupiter's moons, and scan the Sea of
Tranquillity in a 60-minute star search on the world's first recreational
computer-driven telescope. This cosmic adventure takes place every
night at the Hyatt Regency Maui, 200 Nohea Kai Dr. ( & 808/661-1234 ),

On the second floor of the mall is the Whale Center of the Pacific ( & 808/
661-5992 ), a museum celebrating the “Golden Era of Whaling” (1825-60).
Harpoons and scrimshaw are on display; the museum has even re-created the
cramped quarters of a whaler's seagoing vessel. It's open daily from 9:30am to
10pm; admission is free. Children 6 and up should like it, and you should plan
at least a half-hour to see everything.
SOUTH MAUI
MAALAEA
Maui Ocean Center All ages. This 5-acre facility houses the largest
aquarium in Hawaii and features one of Hawaii's largest predators: the tiger
shark. As you walk past the 3 dozen or so tanks and countless exhibits, you'll
slowly descend from the “beach” to the deepest part of the ocean, without ever
getting wet. Start at the surge pool, where you'll see shallow-water marine life
like spiny urchins and cauliflower coral, then move on to the reef tanks, turtle