Surfing with an Expert -- If seven-time world champ Margo Oberg, a member of the Surfing Hall of Fame, can't get your kid -- or you -- up on a board riding a wave, nobody can. She promises same-day results even for klutzes.
Paddling up the Huleia River -- Indiana Jones ran for his life up this river to his seaplane in Raiders of the Lost Ark. You and the kids can venture down it yourself in a kayak. The picturesque Huleia winds through tropically lush Huleia National Wildlife Refuge, where endangered species like great blue herons and Hawaiian gallinules take wing. It's ideal for everyone.
Climbing the Wooden Jungle Gyms at Kamalani Playground -- Located in Lydgate Beach Park, Wailua, this unique playground has a maze of jungle gyms for children of all ages. You can whip down slides, explore caves, hang from bars, and climb all over. It's a great place to spend the afternoon.
Cooling Off with a Shave Ice -- On a hot, hot day, stop by Brennecke's Beach Broiler, across from Poipu Beach Park (tel. 808/742-1582), and order a traditional Hawaiian shave ice. This local treat consists of crushed ice stuffed into a paper cone and topped with a tropical-flavored syrup. If you can't decide on a flavor, go for the "rainbow" -- three different flavors in one cone.
Exploring a Magical World -- Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens on some 240 acres, sprinkled with some 70 life-size (some larger than life size) whimsical bronze statues, hidden off the beaten path of the North Shore is perfect for kids. The tropical children's garden features a gecko hedge maze, a tropical jungle gym, a tree house in a rubber tree, and a 16-foot tall Jack-in-the-Bean Stalk Giant with a 33-foot wading pool below. Only open 3 days a week, so book before you leave for Hawaii, so you won't be disappointed.
Experiencing a Hands-on Learning Adventure -- The Kauai Children's Discovery Museum, located in Kapaa (tel. 808/823-8222, www.kcdm.org), is every parent's dream: an enthralling, hands-on learning adventure to take kids on rainy days (hey, it's so much fun, the kids will beg to come back even on sunny days). It arose out of a grass roots community effort to have a fun place where kids could learn about science, culture, arts, technology and nature. Not only are the hands-on, interactive exhibits thrilling to kids, but it's a great place for your kids to interact and meet children from Kauai. The 7,000-square-foot play center is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm; during school breaks they also are open on Monday from 7am to 5pm. In addition to the exhibits, which range from playing with Hawaiian musical instruments to participating in virtual reality television to hiding out in a "magic tree house" and reading a book (there's even a baby area for kids 4 and under), there also are Keiki Camps (Children Camps), where you can leave the kids all day for various outings to the beach and to points of interest. Admission is $3.50 for kids and $4.50 for adults, with family memberships available.
