For Teens, Maui Means Another Day in Paradise

We staggered out of bed at 2 a.m., the three teenagers grumbling about whether any experience could be worth this much lost sleep.

We were on our way to watch the sunrise from the top of Maui’s 10,000-foot dormant volcano, Haleakala, where we would mount roadster bikes and follow a guide more than 33 miles down the mountain through Haleakala National Park (https://www.nps.gov/hale) to the small surfing town of Paia.

The giant red sun emerged right on cue over the stark, rocky volcano crater as dozens of us huddled in the cold to watch. Seventeen-year-old Matt and 15-year-old Reggie agreed that the spectacle was worth a few hours of lost shut-eye.

Rule No. 1 when traveling with teens in paradise: Sleep time, the beach and connecting with other teens are more important than any organized excursion. The trip to watch the sunrise over Haleakala is a quintessential Maui experience, but many teens would be just as happy to skip most of the “tourist stuff” for more hours in the sack, more time at the pool or more time to shop for board shorts.

Our snorkeling cruise to the Molokini Crater, a sunken volcanic cinder cone three miles off the coast, didn’t get high marks from the teens. They complained that the trip took too long. I was glad I had booked us for the half-day session rather than the all-day excursion to neighboring Lanai.

The exception to Rule No. 1 is when the teens are doing something they enjoy, like scuba diving or playing a round of golf with dad, as Matt did. (Through Dec. 21, Wailea Resort offers special discounts for junior golfers and their parents after noon: On the resort’s Blue Course, the greens fee is $90 adult, $45 youth. For guests at the resort, those numbers drop to $80 and $40. Call [888] 328-MAUI [6284] or visit https://www.waileagolf.com.)

Rule No. 2: Always consult teens before forking over money for expensive outings, and suggest activities that promise the presence of other teens or the possibility of adventure--such as parasailing 500 feet above the water, surfing the giant waves or coasting down a mountain on a bike. We chose Cruiser Phil’s Volcano Rides. (Sunrise rides are $130 per person, including breakfast and equipment, but that’s reduced by 20% for families of four, 25% for five or more. Ask about the cheaper, no-frills afternoon tour. Call (877) 764-2453 or visit https://www.cruiserphil.com.

Our kids nixed a drive to Hana--too many hours in the car with mom and dad. We coaxed two of the three to a luau at the Outrigger Wailea Resort because they knew they could walk back to the hotel if they wanted to leave early. (The luau, with Polynesian show, is $65 for teens and adults, including alcoholic drinks for the grown-ups, and $29 for kids 6 to 12; call [808] 879-1922 or visit https://www.outrigger.com.)

Rule No. 3: Expect sudden mood swings, especially when the Love of the Moment is thousands of miles away.

Thank goodness for a vacation spot that can’t help but please even the most finicky teen. According to a recent study by the market research firm Yesawich, Pepperdine & Brown, Hawaii ranks as a top vacation pick among teens (and younger kids too).

Maui has everything they could want: gorgeous beaches and hotels, a fantastic array of water sports, shopping in Lahaina and the Wailea Shopping Village, friendly local kids. (Call the Maui Visitors Bureau at [800] 525-MAUI [6284] for more information, or check its Web site at https://www.visitmaui.com. The site has a special section devoted to teens; click on “Family Vacation” to get there.)

Rule No. 4: It helps to have a friend along. Consider getting a second hotel room or a larger condo and inviting a friend from home. Teens will whine less, and parents will feel more comfortable allowing them to venture out on their own.

Rule No. 5: Their definition of vacation bliss won’t be the same as yours. I loved our bike ride through Haleakala, but Matt and Reggie thought the pace was slow. They couldn’t wait to get to the beach.

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Taking the Kids appears twice a month.