Christmas to New Year’s in Kaua'i: 9 Days of Ocean Breezes, Pirate Games & Holiday Magic

Walk into the open-air lobby and exhale: the festive decor is quietly perfect—tropical garlands, subtle sparkle, and the hum of a slack-key guitar in the background. We checked into our oceanview suite, where the view looked like a postcard and the lanai became our new favorite room. Within an hour, the kids were floating and dunking in the lagoon, and I was happy as a clam on a lounge chair hearing their happy yells.

The Club Lounge came through immediately—snacks for the kids, wine for us, and a much-needed moment to exhale. No need to over-schedule. We were here.

We planned nothing, and it was everything. The saltwater lagoon at the Grand Hyatt is huge—four acres! If your kids like to swim, this is paradise. Ours spent hours making up pirate quests and swimming from island to island.

We ordered poolside service and luxuriated in the shade. When we looked back on this trip, this day—this do-nothing, everyone’s-happy, salty-haired, zero-effort day—was one of our favorites.

We started with a tour at Lydgate Farms, a local cacao and vanilla farm tucked into the hills. Our older kid was obsessed—getting up close to the plants, learning that vanilla is an orchid (?!), and taking notes during the tasting. The tour is hands-on, educational in the best way possible, and generous with the samples.

Afterward, we headed to the Shop at Kukui‘ula for dinner and Lappert’s ice cream. Sitting under the glowing ALOHA sign, covered in chocolate dust and sunshine, was pure holiday perfection.

Kaua’i Backcountry Adventures runs one of the most unique excursions we’ve ever done. You board an open-air bus and ride through a sprawling private estate that looks exactly like Jurassic Park—all misty jungle and rolling green hills. The guides are incredibly friendly and wonderful with kids.

Then comes the main event: tubing down a network of historic irrigation canals built for the old sugar plantations. The kids wore helmets and headlamps and absolutely loved floating through tunnels and splashing down the mountain. It was adventurous without being scary, and felt like something we’d all remember for years.

We woke up to a surprise: a stocking hanging from our suite door, filled with thoughtful treats from the resort. A small touch, but somehow magical. The kids opened presents on the lanai while we drank coffee and watched the early light bounce off the waves.

Later that morning, Santa made his arrival—not in a sleigh, but paddling across the lagoon in an outrigger canoe. It was sweet, low-key, and exactly the kind of memory you want from a holiday trip. He handed out candy canes to delighted (and only mildly sunburned) children.

We ventured inland to Waimea Canyon, stopping at scenic lookouts and venturing on a longer hike (there are so many!). The views are dramatic, and even the kids were impressed. We grabbed some shaved ice for the drive home.

We headed down to Poʻipū Beach for the day—an easy 5 minute drive from the resort. The snorkeling was perfect for kids, and every evening around sunset sea turtles beach themselves in an amazing spectacle.

Lunch was Puka Dogs: hot dogs wrapped in pillowy sweet rolls and slathered in secret sauce. Messy, ridiculous, delicious. We wrapped it all up with beach lounging and tide pool exploring. If you want turtles, sand, and something a little less curated, this is the move.

Our last full day was slow and sun-soaked. The fireworks show over the beach was visible right from the resort. No crowds, no traffic. Just a blanket in the sand, our kids curled up next to us, and the sky lighting up to welcome a new year. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

The kids begged for one more trip around the lazy river. We gave in. We always do. We lingered over breakfast, packed slowly, and watched the waves from our patio one last time.

And as we checked out, the front desk clerk asked, “Did you enjoy your stay?”

We laughed. Yes. Yes, we really, really did.