The concierge
Diamond Head
No trip to Honolulu is complete without trekking to the summit of Diamond Head, a volcanic crater that’s about 300,000 years old and offers staggering views of Waikiki and the shimmering Pacific Ocean. It gets busy, of course, so the best way to beat the crowds – as well as Honolulu’s notorious midday heat – is to get up early. It takes about 45 minutes to make your way to the top and though it can be a bit challenging at times, the reward at the end is worth it. Back in Waikiki, treat yourself to an açai bowl topped with fresh fruit at relaxed café Heavenly Island Lifestyle (heavenly-waikiki.com).
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
Housed in a volcanic cone, Hanauma Bay
Nature Preserve (hanaumabaystatepark. com) is home to 400-plus species of fish, including the humuhumunukunukuapuaa (Hawaii’s state fish), as well as turtles and reef sharks. Be sure to arrive early in the day as there isn’t much shade on the beach. Once you’ve purchased your entry ticket, you’ll go to the Marine Education Center to watch a nine-minute video about protecting the reef before you descend onto the beach. Don’t worry about bringing snorkels and flippers as they can be hired at the shack near the entrance. The reserve offers return shuttle transfers to Waikiki.
Kaimana Beach
You have to make a pilgrimage to Honolulu’s most famous beach, Waikiki. But if the crowds get too much for you, there’s no dearth of quieter options – you just need to know where to go. Kaimana
Beach (see previous page) is a short walk from Waikiki Beach but because it’s hidden behind the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial, only locals know about it. If you’re lucky, you might chance upon one of the resident Hawaiian monk seals.
Pearl Harbor
A visit to the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites (pearlharborhistoricsites.org), about 20 kilometres north-west of Waikiki, offers more than just a history lesson. I get goosebumps every time I visit Pearl Harbor and I always take away something new. If you’re staying in Honolulu for the first time, a trip to the USS Arizona Memorial and the surrounding museums is an absolute must. Or if you’re after a fresh way to see this piece of history, take to the air with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters (bluehawaiian.com). The company’s 65-minute Complete Island Oahu trip departs from Honolulu, not far from the airport, and takes in many of the island’s sights, including Pearl Harbor, where passengers get a unique vantage point of the base – you can still see fuel seeping out of the sunken USS Arizona and into the harbour. It’s a sobering sight and there are no queues.