Hawaii Hotels

Hawaii bubbles up across the Pacific in a series of islands diverse in size and character. Come to laze on pristine sandy beaches, hike emerald green trails, snorkel in volcanic craters or see the evocative remains in Pearl Harbour.

Choose your own sand colour on Big Island, where volcanic activity has produced white, red, black and green beaches. Seek the underwater wonderlands and tranquil beaches of northern Maui or aim for the glitz and glamour of Oahu's Waikiki Beach, with its backdrop of gleaming Honolulu skyscrapers. Confirmed loners hide away in little ocean-side retreats on Molokai and Kauai.

See the poignant remains of Pearl Harbour before gasping at fire-eaters at the Polynesian Culture Center on Oahu. On Big Island, visit the vast Volcanoes National Park and prehistoric stone idols in the Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park. Explore Maui's enchanting Floral Gardens at Kula and brush up on Hawaiian history at the Baldwin Home Museum.

Disappear into the spectacular 16km Waimea Canyon on quiet Kauai, or lounge on one of the 'garden' island's pristine beaches. Purge your soul atop Kahiwa Falls and Molokai's terrifyingly high sea cliffs. View Honolulu's sparkling waterfront from afar at sunset onboard a catamaran. While on Oahu, trek into virgin rainforest in the Makiki Valley.

Brave Oahu's North Shore for unparalleled surfing waves. Windsurf and sail off the breezy east coast or snorkel in the Molokini crater, off the coast of Maui. Scuba-dive to explore the reef off Molokai, and head high to snowboard on Big Island's Mauna Kea. Hike through lush vegetation or gallop on horseback along the beach at any of the islands.

Don't miss a traditional luau (open-air feast) on the beach. Savour succulent kalua pig (slow roasted underground) and fried rice, accompanied by cold lomi lomi salmon (salad with salt-cured salmon). Round off your barbecue with banana and guava breads or fresh pineapple. Sip fruity rum Mai Tai or vodka-based Blue Hawaii cocktails as the sun slips into the ocean.

Head for Waikiki and Honolulu on Oahu for clubbing and bar hops along the illuminated shoreline. Bop the night away in the live-music bars of Maui resorts, Lahaina and Kahului. Elsewhere things are sleepier - dance in the clubs of Hilo and Kona on Big Island.

Surprise your friends with patterned aloha shirts and sarongs. Buy bowls and baskets made of leaves from the pandanus tree and stock up on local Kona coffee and macadamia nuts.