| Picture: PCL |
Hawaii may be the holiday destination of a lifetime for
some, but it can be difficult to know where to start. Only six of
the 132 islands that make up the archipelago are set up for
tourism, but that still means plenty of choice for
holidaymakers.
Oahu, Maui and Kauai are the main draws for visitors, home to the
big resorts. On Oahu, the famous Waikiki beach and the punishing
North Shore are a magnet for fearless surfers the world over.
Hawaii itself (known as the Big Island) is one of the world’s
geographical oddities, home to a tropical rainforest, an active
volcano, even snow-capped mountain peaks.
Chilled out Lanai and Molokai get the fewest visitors – those
who go do so to enjoy the peace and solitude.
One thing is clear; Hawaii isn’t just about sunshine and
surfing. Get beyond the 750 miles of coastline and you’ll
find a wealth of product, from luxury spa hotels to golf courses.
Here are a few of Travel Weekly’s favourites.
| 1. Best for luxury |
Where: Kahala Mandarin Oriental, Oahu.
Why? Because on an island well served for stunning
vistas and endless sandy beaches, you need somewhere with an edge
over the competition. Oahu’s Kahala Mandarin Oriental is
located on its own secluded bay, home to shoals of tropical fish
and a pod of bottlenose dolphins. There’s an educational
programme dedicated to the dolphins, plus a kids’ club, spa
and fitness centre. An award-winning restaurant serves Japanese and
Hawaiian cuisine.
Sample product: ITC Classics offers seven
nights’ room-only at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental from
£1,312 per person, with British Airways flights and private
transfers. For absolute luxury, (and top commission) upgrade your
clients to a two-bedroom Governor’s Suite, from £9,225
per person, including flights and transfers.
| 2. Best for romance |
Where: Lanai.
Why? Because the pace of life on Oahu and Maui is
increasingly frenetic, so for couples wanting to escape the crowds,
Lanai is a luxurious bolthole. Bill Gates thought so – he got
married here. And it’s fair to say he can afford to have gone
anywhere.
Sample product: North America Travel Service
offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the Lodge at Koele
– an English-style country lodge – from £1,574 per
person, including flights.
| 3. Best for golfers |
Where: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Big
Island.
Why? Hawaii isn’t just about beaches.
Golfers are actually quite spoilt for choice, with more than 80
courses to choose from in total, including several by top designers
such as Robert Trent Jones and Jack Nicklaus.
Nicklaus was responsible for the 72-par course at the Four Seasons
Resort Hualalai – one of the toughest on the island. This
month the Big Island plays host to the Senior PGA Tour.
Sample product: Elegant Resorts offers seven
nights at the Four Seasons Resort with return BA flights and
private transfers from £2,140 per person. Golf costs between
£50-£100 per round at the local courses.
| 4. Best for beginner surfers |
Where: Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and
Spa, Oahu.
Why? Because the famous North Shore is no place
for a beginner, or even an intermediate surfer – the waves
here can be as big as houses. Better to learn in the relatively
calm waters off Waikiki. The Hilton offers lessons in surfing and
boogie boarding, or will rent out equipment to more experienced
riders.
Sample product: Thomas Cook Signature offers seven
nights’ room-only and flights with American Airlines from
£1,024 per adult.
| 5. Best for kitesurfing |
Where: Kiteboarding School of Maui.
Why? Because kitesurfing is the next big thing in
the wave-riding world, so a few lessons will see you upright and
pulling stunts before your mates.
This new sport takes things a step further than regular surfing
– riders’ feet are fixed to the board and they are
towed along by a huge kite, so it’s possible to pick up great
speed and literally jump from the wave.
Sample product: American Dream launched its
‘Xdream’ brand this year, featuring Maui’s
Kiteboarding School. Seven-night breaks, including bed and
breakfast at the Maui Seaside Hotel and a five-day course of
lessons, lead in at £1,299 per person.
| 6. Best for families |
Where: Outrigger Reef on the Beach, Oahu.
Why? Because on the famous Waikiki Beach, the main
strip of Oahu, there’s always something going on. The hotel
is right on the beach, four miles from downtown Honolulu, so
shopping and nightlife are within easy reach. Family suites are
available and under 18s stay free in certain room types.
Sample product: Thomas Cook Signature offers seven
nights’ room-only and flights with American Airlines from
£900 per adult and from £400 per child.
| 7. Best for mainland twin centres |
Where: California.
Why? Because a stop on the US West Coast is a
great way to break up an otherwise very long flight. Premier
Holidays reported the majority of its Hawaii breaks are sold with a
stopover in either Los Angeles or San Francisco, but Toronto,
Seattle, Washington and Vancouver are also possibilities. Dedicated
city breakers could make a stop on each leg – Los Angeles on
the way out; San Francisco on the way back.
Sample product: Premier offers three nights at the
Buena Park in Los Angeles, followed by five nights at the Aston
Waikiki on Oahu and three nights at the Holiday Inn
Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco from £965, including
all flights.
| 8. Best for island hopping |
What: a five-island cruise with Norwegian Cruise
Line.
Why? Because an organised tour takes away all the
stress of making your own arrangements. Norwegian Cruise Line has a
couple of ships based here – Norwegian Wind, which makes
three Hawaiian stops before sailing to Fanning Island (part of the
Republic of Kiribati); and Pride of Aloha, the only ship to sail
exclusively around Hawaii.
Sample product: Cosmos Tourama has introduced a
14-night Hawaiian Islands Explorer cruise for next year, featuring
three nights in Honolulu followed by an 11-night itinerary around
Big Island, Maui, Kauai and onward to Fanning Island. Prices lead
in at £1,519 per person.
