Best Places for young kids to play on Hawaii Island

The Big Island of Hawaii has some wonderful places for toddlers and young children to play and have fun. The places listed are accessible by stroller with nearby parking and restrooms.

Best Kid-friendly Beaches:

Kamakahonu Beach is in front of the King Kamehameha Hotel in Kailua-Kona.  It is a white sand beach within a protected bay. 

Kamakahonu Beach in Kailua-Kona

Young children can play in the soft white sand without nearby crashing waves.  Parking is behind the hotel and strollers can be used to transport beach stuff to the sand.  There is no shade, so an umbrella is a good idea. Restrooms and showers are on the pier next to the beach.  The hotel charges for parking.

Kikaua Point at Kukio, south of the Four Seasons Hotel, is a man-made beach with white sand and shaded, grassy areas. 

Protected cove at Kikaua Point

A small cove surrounded by lava rock provides a  protected swimming area for young children.  There are no lifeguards and currents are dangerous beyond the protected cove.  A paved path, perfect for a stroller, leads from the parking lot to the beach.   The beach has restrooms and showers.  Parking is free, but limited and requires a pass from the Kukio gate. 

Best Parks

Liliuokalani Gardens is next to Hilo Bay with some large grassy areas next to huge banyan trees for children to roam and run. 

Grass and trees in Liliuokalani Garden in Hilo

Paved paths through flowers and statues are stroller-friendly. 

Banyan Trees at Liliuokalani Garden in Hilo

Nearby is the bridge to Coconut Island.  Banyan Drive has a great sidewalk for strollers.  Hotels are located along Banyan Drive with cafes and restaurants overlooking Hilo Bay.   At the end of the road is Reed’s Bay which has recently been upgraded with new restrooms.  Reeds Bay is a beach in a protected cove and no waves.  There are parking lots at Liliuokalani Garden and Reed’s Bay.

Harold H Higashihara Park is located on Highway 11 south of Kailua-Kona. The Kamakana playground within the park has a multi-story wooden castle, large playground, and fenced area. Children can explore, climb, swing, and run.  The public park has lots of shade, nearby parking, and restrooms.

Best Museum

The Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center is a small museum located at Kona’s airport.  The museum is dedicated to an astronaut from Kona who died in the 1986 Challenger space shuttle explosion.  The displays and videos are aimed at young children with exhibits about space flight and life in space.  Activity tables are set up where children can sit down and become absorbed with the materials provided.  It is a great place to spend a couple hours between activities or while waiting for a flight.  There is a charge for the museum and for parking at the airport. (moonchasers.com/onizuka.html)

Best Zoos

Panaewa Rainforest Zoo in Hilo is the perfect place to take young children for a stroll or to let them explore.   

Roaming peacocks at Hilo Zoo

The small zoo has paved paths that lead past animal cages in a tropical garden. The exhibits focus on animals, birds, reptiles and insects from the tropics.  The animals are easy for children to see, there are plenty of places to sit, and there is an area with play equipment.  A petting zoo is open on Saturday at 1:30-2:30PM. Parking and entrance are free.  (hilozoo.com)

The Hilton Waikoloa Village is like a mini-amusement park with sidewalks and covered walkways through the 62 acre resort.   You can stroll your children past waterfalls and cages of exotic wildlife including flamingos, cockatoos, swans, cranes, parrots, and Hawaiian nene.  There is a viewing area of the dolphins next to Dolphin Quest and a white sand beach next to a protected lagoon filled with fish and green turtles.  An air conditioned train runs across the property  (free from 6AM to 12AM) and canal boats float through the resort’s  waterways filled with tropical fish and a four-foot barracuda (free from 2PM to 10PM). 

Canal Boat at Hilton Waikoloa

The Hilton hotel charges for parking.   

(hiltonwaikoloavillage.com/resort-experiences)

Best Shopping Centers

Queen’s Marketplace at Waikoloa Beach Resort has a large koi pond, fountains, and ponds in a center courtyard area. There is a lot of sidewalk for strollers, shady areas, and a gazebo.  Koi feeding is daily at 9:30AM and 3:30PM. Parking is free (queensmarketplace.net)

Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo is the island’s only indoor mall with wide corridors, stores, food court, restaurants (IHop and Zippy’s), and movie theater. 

Hilo indoor mall

The mall has a Toy R Us Express and the older kids may like Game Stop and Tilt (video game parlor). There are often shows and activities at the center court.  The mall is open daily at 10 a.m., though the restaurants open earlier for breakfast. (princekuhioplaza.com)