Hawaii is Paradise for Children Too

Sand, sun, and surf. If you're coming to Honolulu with children, you may be thinking—what else do you need? But Honolulu's got a lot for kids who get tired of the beach. Here are a few attractions:

• Honolulu Zoo: Located between the slopes of Diamond Head and Waikiki, this small urban zoo with over 200 species of birds, mammals, and reptiles is within walking distance from most places in Waikiki. Coolers and outside food are welcome on zoo grounds. (But the zoo appreciates your attention to disposing all trash in receptacles, including fast-food beverage container lids and straws that may pose a danger to the animals if blown into their exhibits.)

• Hawaii Children's Discovery Center: This kid's museum features four permanent exhibits, in addition to a special area for toddlers. The three levels of the Discovery Center house 38,000 square feet of high-tech, interactive exhibits, divided among four major themed "galleries": "Fantastic You," a child's introduction to the human body; "Your Town," describing how a community works and the functions that different people—a banker, a mechanic, a policeman—play; "Hawaiian Rainbows," all about Hawaii from plantation to modern days; and "Your Rainbow World," illlustrating the diverse cultures outside Hawaii.

• Waikiki Aquarium: Located next to a living coral reef, the award-winning Waikiki Aquarium brings guests face-to-fin with colorful tropical fish, reef sharks, living corals, endangered Hawaiian monk seals, sea jellies, squid, octopuses, and more. Exhibits, programs, and research focus on the aquatic life of Hawaii and the tropical Pacific. Over 3,500 marine animals represent more than 500 species of aquatic animals and plants. Every year, 320,000 people, including 25,000 students, visit the Waikiki Aquarium. It has been designated as the Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center for the Pacific Island Region of the Coastal America Partnership.

• Diamond Head State Monument: For families with older children prepared for some exercise, be sure to visit Diamond Head State Monument and make the 1.4 mile hike up to the peak. The view from the top is one you won't forget. But this is strictly for the more athletic kids and adults: some parts of the way up are more arduous than others—there are two tunnels and one section that requires climbing 99 steps (the steps are concrete, not dirt). And it can be hot, so wear a hat and bring sunscreen and water. But there are handrails all along the trail as well as benches for resting.

• Polynesian Cultural Center: For something a little more extensive (and expensive), visit the Polynesian Cultural Center. It features the people and islands of Hawaii, Samoa, Aotearoa (Maori New Zealand), Fiji, the Marquesas, Tahiti, and Tonga; a Rapa Nui exhibit; and an 1850s-era Christian mission complex, all in a beautiful 42-acre setting that has been one of Hawaii's top paid-admission visitor attractions since 1977.