In addition to Kahului's Food Court at Kaahumanu Center, where children have their pick of everything from tacos to teriyaki chicken, here's a sampling of places that go the extra mile for families:

Central Maui

Koho Grill & Bar (Kaahumanu Center, 275 Kaahumanu Ave.; tel. 808/877-5588) -- A family of four can eat inexpensively here, and the kids have their own menus (with drawings for coloring) that change regularly. Sandwiches (grilled cheese, cheeseburger, hamburger) and fries go for $3.50 and under, and the ever-popular keiki quesadilla is a friendly $3.75. It's casual, a good value, and crayons are provided for the artists-in-the-making.

West Maui

David Paul's Lahaina Grill -- You won't find a cheeseburger on the sophisticated menu, but kids get more than their share of attention. The food is terrific, and the keiki (children's) menu offers soup, salad, and a choice of pasta marinara (spaghetti), excellent fried-chicken strips with french fries, beef kabobs, mahimahi and shrimp sautéed or baked, and other entree choices -- for $12. If they have the ingredients (no hamburger or hot dog buns in the pantry), the kitchen will accommodate special requests. Crayons, a coloring sheet, and the usual boosters and highchairs are part of the package.

Hula Grill -- Behind the scenes, children sort of run this place. Chef Peter Merriman, who put Hula Grill on the map, is the father of three, and the general manager's 12-year-old keeps him on his toes and the menu sensitive to keiki wants and needs. Children can play freely on the grassy lawn and the sandy beach in front of the restaurant, in full view of the outdoor tables. Besides free pasta for kids under 4, the menu (a coloring page of a gecko surfing, a smiling sun, and a hula girl under a palm tree) includes keiki cheese pizza, grilled chicken and fries, cheeseburger and fries, fish and chips, pasta with Parmesan and butter, and other choices for $3.95 to $8.95.

Maui Tacos -- The four locations of Maui Tacos on Maui are all kid-friendly. The place is largely takeout, but those who eat in have a fast-food type of environment that goes with the keiki menu: $2.75 keiki burritos; $3 for the tacos with churro (pastry) and a small drink; $4 for the ever-popular cheese quesadilla without lettuce or tomatoes, and minisize combination plates. In all Maui Tacos except Kaahumanu Center, there's a candy machine with everything from Chiclets to Gummi Bears.

South Maui

Peggy Sue's -- Since this is a malt, burger, and fries kind of place, kids fit in naturally. There are highchairs and booster seats, of course, but the real draw is the food: $3.95 for a choice of half of Peggy Sue's famous hamburger, a small hot dog, or a peanut-butter-and-jelly or grilled-cheese sandwich, each served with fries, a small drink, and a junior sundae for dessert. The atmosphere is carefree, with a tongue-in-cheek, teenybopper quality. The keiki menu has a full page of coloring ("Surf's Up at Peggy Sue's!") with a find-a-word game for fun.

Upcountry Maui

Haliimaile General Store -- A beautiful drawing of the plantation storefront is great coloring material for kids, who are given crayons and a pleasing keiki menu for lunch and dinner. From "kid cocktails" (chocolate and banana with milk; strawberry, banana, and cherry soda; kiwi soda; and lemonade) to the cheese pizza, barbecue ribs, chicken, and spaghetti and meatballs, this is the mother lode for families. With the ice-cream-and-cookie dessert, these are splashy choices for $8 at lunch, $15 at dinner.