Top 5 Resorts for Families on Kauai

Published: July 8, 2022 by Todd Faulk | Leave a comment

Even though Kauai is known for its spectacular cliffs, rain forests, and waterfalls, that doesn’t mean you and family have to do without the amenities and activities of world-class resorts. In fact, Kauai has everything you’ve come to expect for relaxation and entertainment options for everyone in your family, from the littlest ones to teenagers to grownups. Most of the lodging on Kauai is small-scale and designed for extended stays, which means fewer crowds and more room for you and your family to spread out. Peruse some of resorts for families on Kauai — you’re bound to discover one perfect for your next family vacation.

Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club

Nestled in a small cove on Kauai’s East Coast is one of Marriott’s most beautiful properties in Hawaii–and that’s saying a lot. Their Kauai Beach Club is studded with swaying palm trees and lush foliage fronting the crescent-shaped Kalapaki Beach. Kids will love frolicking in the giant, 26,000-square-foot pool, which is said to be the largest open-air pool in Hawaii. Parents can easily keep an eye on them while sipping a tropical cocktail in one of the many lounge chairs circling the pool. The beach next to it is perfect for all ages because the surrounding hills form a protected cove that never gets waves that are too big. If the kids under 12 ever get tired of the water and sun, they can get a break at the special kids’ club that offers arts, crafts, and games that will keep them occupied for hours.

Parents will appreciate endless chances for adult fun and relaxation, like at the Alexander Day Spa & Salon that offers ocean-side massages, the on-site fitness center, and golf at the nearby Hokuala Golf Club. The concierge can arrange family excursions for scuba, snorkeling, and surfing. The grownups will also like the several on-site oceanfront restaurants and the spacious one- and two-bedroom villas that allows everyone to spread out. To book an unforgettable stay on the Garden Isle, visit Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club website here.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort

Spread out on a cliff overlooking Kauai’s North Shore is this beautiful villas-only resort perfect for families. The resort features many family-friendly activities on-site and nearby, such as swimming on Anini Beach and ziplining through a rainforest at Princeville Ranch Adventure. A special kids’ club with fun activities will keep children under 12 occupied while the older ones and adults stroll the gorgeous 1,000-acre Limahuli Garden or venture to the closeby Hanalei Lookout for spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

Of course, the Westin Princeville has all the amenities grownups would expect for a relaxing vacation. They include different kinds of soothing massages at the Freedom Spa; multiple heated plunge pools, a swimming pool, a whirlpool, and kids’ pool; and a world-class fitness center. The on-site restaurant features local comfort food, and the Wailele Bar features pool-side cocktails next to a waterfall. All the villas include kitchenettes, washers and dryers, and furnished lanai (patios or balconies) that make extended stays for families a breeze. To book your relaxing family holiday on Kauai, visit the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort website.

Kiahuna Plantation Resort

This beach-side resort on the South Shore is spread out over 35 acres containing green lawns and cactus and orchid gardens. Kids will feel right at home when they are given a special activity book they can keep and can borrow binoculars for spying the wildlife on the grounds and in the ocean. The resort overlooks the picturesque Kiahuna Beach, which has gentle surf ideal for kids’ swimming. They’ll also love the waterslide, big pook, kids-oriented activities, and summer camp at the nearby Poipu Beach Athletic Club (access is complimentary for resort guests). Fussy eaters will like the many kid options on the menus at the three on-site casual restaurants, too.

The adults and teenagers will find many ways to relax and have fun at the Kiahuna. The Poipu Beach Athletic Club has a fitness center and tennis courts, while world-class surf instructors can be found for surfing lessons at nearby Poipu Beach. Lodging at the Kiahuna is in the style of spacious cottage condos that have everything a family needs for a comfortable stay. To book your next family vacation on Kauai, visit the Kiahuna’s website.

Sheraton Kauai Resort

This family-friendly hotel and resort on the South Shore has some of the best ocean views on Kauai. It also offers a lot of kid-friendly activities like storytelling hours, hula dancing, and surfing lessons at nearby Kiahuna Beach. There’s even on-site scuba instruction for beginners, including older children. Everyone in the family will have fun in the huge Ocean Pool that overlooks the Pacific, and adults can relax with poolside cocktails in their shaded cabanas. The hotel can arrange different kinds of fun for the whole family, like trying to escape the Kauai Escape Room, tubing down open-air canals on a former plantation, and creating Kauai-style pottery.

If the parents are looking for some “me-time,” there are four golf courses, a tennis center, and the Hawaiian Rain Forest Spa close to the Sheraton Kauai Resort. Adults will also enjoy the beautiful sunsets at the resort’s signature restaurant, the RumFire Poipu Beach. And the Polynesian dinner and dance show at the Auli’i Lu’au is always a crowd-pleaser for everybody in the family. The resort also offers renovated luxury suites for families to spread out in comfort. Visit the Sheraton Kauai Resort website for more information and to book.

Koloa Landing Resort

Probably the most luxurious family-friendly resort on Kauai, the Koloa Landing on the sunny South Shore can boast some impressive accolades. For instance, its three-terraced pool with multiple water features has been voted “Best Pool in America” two years in a row. The resort has also been rated in Hawaii’s top tier for service. Kids will just love splashing around the huge pool with its waterslide and waterfall. The younger set will also delight in experiences like roasting s'mores over evening campfires and watching green sea turtles at the Activity Hut. And the resort’s expert concierges can arrange almost any fun time the kids can think of, like whale watching or swimming with dolphins. The onsite Holoholo Grill offers plenty of locally inspired food that kids will like, too.

Of course, at a place as luxurious as the Koloa Landing, adults will not feel left out. The Spa at Koloa Landing features private treatment rooms and spa treatments utilizing mountain and ocean ingredients indigenous to Kauai and Hawaii. The adults-only Tranquility Pool with its huge waterfall is perfect for unwinding after a day of activity. And everyone will be wowed by the one- to three-bedroom luxury villas. There’s even a 3,600-square-foot, four-bedroom penthouse that can accommodate larger families. If you’re looking for a luxurious experience on Kauai that the whole family will enjoy, visit the Koloa Landing Resort’s website for more information and to book.

Find more fantastic family travel destinations in our archives.