Golden beaches
Of all Hawaii’s beaches none is more famous than
Waikiki Beach, a narrow 1½- mile stretch bordered by high-rise Honolulu hotels and watched over by
Diamond Head mountain. When the waves are high, sun-tanned surfers paddle out into Waikiki’s
Mamala Bay, making for great entertainment even for those preferring to watch from their beach blankets. Between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu
Ala Moana Beach offers smaller crowds and calmer water for swimming, while
Hanauma Bay, on Oahu’s easternmost shore, is popular with snorkelers.
Island romance
Stroll the stalls of
Chinatown’s open market, gathering up fresh- cut
orchid bouquets or plumeria leis (typical Hawaiian garlands). Waikiki Beach
is a favorite spot for couples to take surfing lessons or for just soaking up some sun
. Reserve space at a classic
Hawaiian luau party
and learn to hula
at resorts throughout Honolulu. For a more laid-back evening, dine at five-diamond
La Mer in Waikiki, famous for French preparations of Hawaiian ingredients and sunset views of Diamond Head
. End your romantic Honolulu vacation sipping mai tai cocktails in a beachside hotel, overlooking a brilliant red sunset.
Polynesian past
A visit to downtown Honolulu reminds visitors of Hawaii’s history as an independent nation. The
‘Iolani Palace, America’s only imperial residence, highlights Polynesian history through its Victorian galleries and sparkling royal jewelry collections. Across the street the
King Kamehameha I statue stands before the
Kawaiaha’o Church, built from 14,000 coral blocks, and
Mission Houses Museum, where New England missionaries settled in 1820. For a taste of more recent history, visitors can take the short bus ride to
Pearl Harbor and the
USS Arizona Memorial, which marked the beginning of America’s involvement in the Second World War.
