Fly to Honolulu

On the island of Oahu, Honolulu is the historic and cultural center of Hawaii. Visitors tend to arrive thinking only of Waikiki Beach and discover something much deeper: Pearl Harbor, old volcanic craters, some of the world's best surf and a cuisine influenced by Chinese, Portuguese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese and Native Hawaiian traditions.

Waikiki is still the classic beach, with calm protected water, surf schools and a mile-long row of high-rise hotels. Head out of town, though, and Oahu opens up. The Diamond Head Crater trail is a moderate climb with panoramic views, and an hour away the North Shore has famous winter breaks such as Sunset Beach and Pipeline, along with easygoing Haleiwa and the well-known Giovanni's shrimp truck.

A visit to Pearl Harbor is both essential and deeply moving. The USS Arizona Memorial rests above the sunken battleship, where more than 1,100 sailors are still entombed; admission is free, but tickets need to be booked online weeks ahead. On the windward coast, the Polynesian Cultural Center gives a thorough introduction to Pacific Island cultures, and downtown Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States.

Nonstop flights reach Honolulu (HNL) from most large US hubs, taking 5 to 6 hours from the West Coast. From the East Coast, expect either one long nonstop or a change of planes in California. The weather is gentle all year, but April to June and September to November strike the best balance between climate, crowds and cost.