Vacation Time: Pacific Paradise!

Aloha OahuYOUR GUIDEBOOK WILL TELL YOU that Hawaii has been a US state since 1959, and that it is the northernmost island group in Polynesia. A volcanic archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, it comprises hundreds of islands spread over 2,400 kilometres. But all that is just words – you really have to see Hawaii to believe it. OAHU, THE GATHERING PLACE, is where most visitors get their first taste of Hawaii. While its high-rise resorts don’t provide anything like a desert island experience, they can claim to supply the ultimate in RnR. You’re free to enjoy the best beach holiday ever, with a large helping of Hawaiian hospitality thrown in. FLY INTO HONOLULU and make a beeline for world-famous Waikiki Beach, renowned for its golden sands and iconic Diamond Head backdrop. Here, you can try your hand at surfing or simply soak up the sun before heading into the lush tropical hinterland. Take a hike to Manoa Falls, where a stunning 30-metre waterfall awaits. IF THE PERFECT WAVE EXISTS, YOU’LL FIND it on Oahu’s North Shore, where 10-metre waves draw the best surfers in the world. Stretching for more than 11 kilometres, the North Shore beaches host the world’s premier surfing competitions during the peak winter months, including the biggest of them all, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. HANAUMA BAY NATURE RESERVE is a must for snorkelling and scuba-diving. A marine-life conservation district, it boasts crystal-clear waters teeming with glittering silver fish, parrotfish and the occasional sea turtle. From an overlook you can see the outline of the 7,000-yearold coral reef that stretches across the width of the bay. FOR LUSH RAINFORESTS, GIGANTIC LAVA-ROCK formations and gently rolling hills, make your way to Central Oahu, the fertile valley between the Waianae and Koolau mountain ranges. Here you can explore Wahiawa Botanical Garden and discover the island’s rich agricultural history at Hawaii’s Plantation Village. FOR TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN CUISINE, stop at one of Oahu’s legendary food trucks and create your own ‘plate lunch,’ piled with kalua (pulled pork), lomi lomi (salmon salad) and poi (sweet and sour tarot). Order a poke bowl on the side. Visit the lively farmers’ markets in Kailua or Haleiwa for a taste of local life and fresh tropical fruits.