My dream family trip would be to take our three children to Hawaii. Unfortunately, with one working, one in university and one in high school, the only time that they could all go is at Christmas or the summer. Having never been there, I don't even know which island to go to or what to do besides hitting the beach.
- Nancy Lasher The backstory
Hawaii, with its year-round subtropical climate, may be less familiar to Eastern Canadians than to those in the West, some of whom have almost made the 50th U.S. state a second home during the winter months.
The Hawaiian Islands form a 2,500-kilometre-long archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. There are six islands that can be easily visited - Hawaii (the "Big Island"), Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai. Arguably the best island for a malihini (newcomer) to visit is Oahu, home of the state capital, Honolulu, and world-famous Waikiki Beach.
How to do it
Although some still get to Hawaii by ship, the most practical way for nearly everyone is to fly. Air Canada (1-888-247-22627; http://www.aircanada.com) and WestJet (1-888-937-8538; http://www.westjet.com) fly to the islands by way of Vancouver. The flight time from Vancouver is about five hours. Honolulu is five to six hours behind Toronto, depending on the time of year. (Hawaii does not observe daylight savings time.)
Nearly all hotels in Honolulu are in Waikiki, with the most luxurious - Hiltons, Sheratons, Hyatts and Marriotts - either directly on Waikiki Beach or just across the street. Considerable savings can be had by booking accommodations a block or two inland. One example: Hotels with the word Ohana in the name. (Ohana is the name given to hotels run by Hawaii's home-forged Outrigger chain, but not as pricey as, for example, the Outrigger Waikiki Beach; http://www.outriggerwaikikihotel.com.) Some of these include kitchen facilities, offering potential savings for those willing to cook some meals instead of dining out.
There are a number of high-quality restaurants in the Waikiki district, some in the hotels. On the other hand, there are just as many good ones outside the immediate area. With a rental car, you can reach excellent establishments all over the island - at prices that won't keep you from splurging on dessert.
The best way to try traditional Hawaiian food is by attending a luau, which combines kalua pig, poi and other local specialties with traditional island entertainment. One of the better luaus is held outdoors at the 1927 Royal Hawaiian Hotel (2259 Kalakaua Ave.; 808-923-7311; http://www.royal-hawaiian.com). Because of Hawaii's position in the world, there are many dining rooms specializing in Asian cuisine (Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc.). There is also a recognized school of cooking called Pacific Rim, or Hawaiian regional cuisine. One example is Alan Wong's Restaurant (1857 S. King St.; 808-949-2526; http://www.alanwongs.com).
A few Honolulu restaurants are world-famous, including Chef Mavro (808-944-4714; http://www.chefmavro.com), where George Mavrothalassitis supervises at his stand-alone address at 1969 S. King St. But you'll find plenty of familiar fast-food establishments, too. And there's a popular local chain called Zippy's. Be sure to sample malasadas, or Portuguese doughnuts, a traditional favourite among keikis (local kids).
Shopping is an important part of the island experience - you should do at least enough so you can dress in cool and bright aloha-style clothing. Shops along Kalakaua Avenue, the main street of Waikiki, sell everything from bargain garb to designer fashions. A popular emporium with several branches in Waikiki is ABC Stores (http://www.abcstores.com), where you'll find everything from macadamia nuts to muumuus.
There's a lot to learn about Hawaiian cultures - more than just the original Polynesian inhabitants. The islands are home to many peoples and no one forms a majority.
One way to learn something of the Hawaiian way of life is to take a guided tour. Tour-bus drivers are entertaining souls in their own right, and some are known to break out in song at the drop of a coconut hat.
The following day might be ideal for exploring the island on your own with a rental car.
On a rainy day - yes, it can happen - make your way to one of Honolulu's several museums, such as the Bishop Museum (1525 Bernice St.; 808-847-3511; http://www.bishopmuseum.org), a repository for cultural items from all over the Pacific.
When to go
Hawaii's largest industry is tourism, and many are dedicated to seeing that malihinis have a good time at any time of the year.
Generally, travellers find Hawaii delightfully warm in the winter and relatively cool in the trade wind-blessed summer, with year-round daytime temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s.
November and December are great, with many holiday activities. Some prices are lower than in January and February, the high season. In summer, you'll find dramatic flowering trees. Also, many hotels have special programs for families and children.
Intelligence
Begin planning your trip using the official website of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (http://www.gohawaii.com). Or you could surf directly to the Oahu Visitors Bureau website (http://www.visit-oahu.com).
You'll never forget
After the sun has sunk into the ocean, take a barefoot walk along the sands of Waikiki Beach. As the day fades, the lights begin blinking on along the shoreline. The sounds of the waves are mixed with the live music filtering from the hotels. On some nights, the moon rises above Diamond Head, the ancient volcanic crater, and reflects off the incoming waves. Those evenings will be a lifetime memory.
Hawaii resident Robert W. Bone is the author of several travel guides to the islands, including the Maverick Guide to Hawaii.
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