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Hawaii The island group of Hawaii lies 3860km (2400 miles) off mainland America, comprised of 132 islands and atolls. The state of Hawaii consists of eight islands, of which seven are inhabited and six allow visitors. Oahu contains the capital, Honolulu, and is the most commercialised, while Hawaii is the biggest island.

Greeting! Experience a traditional welcome to the Islands with an authentic Hawaii lei greeting right at your arrival gate! Honolulu Lei Greetings offers a Hawaiian-style reception that won't soon be forgotten.

Sands of time Toe-burning black sand at Punalu'u Beach is a vivid reminder of the lava that has flowed here since time immemorial. This enticing beach with its lei of palms is in the sleepy Kau district, on the west flank of snow-capped Mauna Loa. Grab a bungalow or hammock here and leave the busier resorts to others. Simple pleasures are what Hawaii is all about.

Geetin` the hang Tired of watching others have all the fun? Take a surfing lesson at Waikiki, where the water is warm and the waves are gentle. Look for surfboard rentals and lessons by the statue of Oahu's own Duke Kahanamoku, the Olympic swimmer considered the father of modern surfing. Most instructors promise you'll be standing on your board—in the water, that is—before the day is out.

Hula hoopla Grass skirts, flowery leis and the strum of ukuleles add up to traditional Hawaiian entertainment. Bring your camera to the free, one-hour hula show held weekday mornings at the Waikiki Shell in Kapiolani Park. You can also see dances, fiery sword displays and a canoe pageant at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Complete your Hawaiian sensory experience with the delicacies of a luau—pit-roasted pig and poi (taro root).

Outrigger ride Ready for a little exercise? Take your seat in a Waikiki outrigger canoe and head out to sea. Once out in the waves you'll come 'surfing' back to shore. Your guide will take you out and back several times and will probably welcome your help with paddling. If you'd rather be pampered, sit back on an evening cocktail cruise and let the wind do the work.

Regal Hawaii Take a tour of Honolulu's stately Iolani Palace and get a feel for the days of Hawaiian royalty. The 1882 palace had telephones and electricity even before the White House. For a look at more royal relics and a wealth of natural history specimens, visit the unique Bishop Museum. There's more to Oahu than Waikiki.

Nightlife Bars and nightclubs abound, especially on Oahu and Maui. Top international stars are booked, whilst luau shows (traditional Hawaiian banquets followed by live performances of music and dancing) are in themselves a great attraction. Jazz, big band music, tea dances and hula groups are all available.

Sport Golf courses are numerous and scenic. Deep-sea fishing is very popular off Hawaii’s Big Island. The Hawai’ian islands are particularly good for watersports. For would-be yachtspeople, 1-week yachting charters are available, with or without crews. All boats are equipped with Coast-Guard-approved safety equipment and are under Coast Guard supervision. Surfing is, of course, a very popular sport – for both participants and spectators. Waikiki Beach is probably the most famous surfing beach in the world; learners are welcome here. Snorkelling is especially popular near the Molokini Crater off Maui, as well as at various sites around each of the islands. Increasingly popular is the hair- and dust-raising sport of downhill biking, particularly so on the 64km (40 miles) of Haleakala volcano’s slopes in Maui. In addition, there are some exciting international events such as the Canoe Races, in which outrigger canoes race against each other. One particularly gruelling race course runs from Molokai to Waikiki. Races take place from autumn to spring.

Excursions A variety of excursions is available. At least a day should be allowed for the Circle Island Tour, which takes in the whole of Oahu. Attractions en route include Waimea Falls Park, Pearl Harbor, the Polynesian Cultural Centre, Sea Life Park, the Waialua Coffee Visitors’ Center (on a former plantation), the Sacred Birthstones and Sunset Beach.

Climate Warm throughout the year, with an average temperature of 24-29° C (75-85° F), and no appreciable difference between ‘summer’ and ‘winter’. Heavy rainfall can occur in some mountainous areas from December to February, but most areas only receive short showers, while others remain totally arid.

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Honolulu The cultural, commercial and political centre of the island group is the starting point for most visitors. The Waikiki Beach area is a particularly popular resort region of the city, and is currently undergoing a US$300 million rejuvenation programme including construction of new walkways, traffic calming measures, and picnic and entertainment areas. Some of the older high-rise hotels in the district have been demolished and replaced by new low-rise hotels and public walkways, as part of an extensive redevelopment project, which will encompass nearly 3 hectares (8 acres) of Waikiki land. The first phase, which will create the Waikiki Beach Walk and a low-level retail complex, pedestrian areas, meeting space and entertainment areas around an open-air plaza, will be completed in 2005. Some 436 hotel rooms will be lost during phase one alone; phase two, which is slated for commencement in 2006, will spell the end for three of Waikiki’s hotels, to be replaced by a single 890-room venue.        The old harbour area here (known as Aloha Tower Marketplace) is now an attractive and modern waterfront development, and is one of the major attractions in the area, with shopping plazas, restaurants and pavement entertainers. Other attractions include: Kalakaua Avenue, Kilohana Square, the Ala Moana Center and the Kahala Mall (all noted for their shopping); the Honolulu zoo near Kapiolani Park (where the Honolulu Marathon is concluded annually); the National Cemetery of the Pacific, or Punchbowl, a memorial and cemetery for US military veterans; central Honolulu, including Chinatown; the fine collection of Asian art at the Honolulu Academy of Arts; Bishop Museum; the new Hawaii State Art Museum; Iolani Palace and the spectacular Nuuanu Pali. There are also many other parks, plus aquaria, museums and theatres in the city and its environs.                                                                 Oahu’s most visited attraction is Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial (open daily 0730-1700), the scene of Japan’s surprise attack which brought the USA into World War II. Free tours take visitors by boat to the memorial spanning the wreck of the Battleship Arizona where 1177 men died; the last boat leaves at 1500 and arriving early is recommended.

Maui Hawaii’s second-largest island is popularly known as ‘The Magic Isle’ and attracts a multitude of tourists every year. Luxury resorts and budget condos abound, but there are isolated spots of raw beauty. Attractions include the town of Wailuku; the more bustling town of Kahului; the Iao Valley; the historic whaling town of Lahaina; Mount Haleakala, a massive volcanic crater whose name translates as ‘The House of the Sun’; the tranquil beauty of Hana on the Eastern Shore; the East Mountain range with its native ecosystem; the waterfalls at Wailua Cove; and Ka’eleku Caverns, which are located beneath the Hana Rainforest, and now open to the public for guided tours.

Lanai Once known as ‘The Pineapple Isle’ (pineapples have dominated the plantation economy since the early 1900s), beautiful Lanai now offers two 5-star resorts. Spectacular natural attractions include the dramatic Shipwreck Beach or Kaiolohia with its petroglyph rock carvings and the mystical Garden of the Gods at Kanepu’u. Other attractions include the ruins of Kaunolu Village (a complete archaeological site) and the Munro Trail, which leads to the Hauola Gulch, a truly spectacular view of the neighbouring islands. From November to April, Lanai is the perfect place for whale watching, as humpback whales make the waters around the island their winter breeding and calving grounds.

Molokai A 15-minute flight east of Honolulu, Molokai, ‘Hawaiian by Nature’, offers wide open vistas, an easy-going ambience and a lively local community. Attractions include the harbour town of Kaunakakai, with its quaint and colourful shops; Mount Kamakou; the Moaulu Falls; the beautiful Halawa Valley; Molokai Ranch; and Father Damien’s Community at Kalaupapa.

Kauai ‘Hawaii’s Island of Discovery’ is breathtakingly beautiful (some say it is the most outstanding in the archipelago), with staggering mountains and miles of sandy beaches. Located at the northwestern end of the curve of islands, Kaua’i is small (1400 sq km or 552 sq miles), with a laid-back pace and discreet tourist facilities; ideal for the visitor who does not care for crowded beaches or high-rise hotels. Local attractions include Mount Waialeale; the capital town of Lihue; Waimea Canyon; the tropical rainforest in the centre of the island; the Wailua River; the Fern Grotto; the awesome Na Pali Coast and the nearby temple of Holoholoku Heiau. Hanakapiai Beach is 2 miles inland and there is a stupendous waterfall 2 miles up in the Hanakapiai Valley.