Hawaii Holidays

Flights to Hawaii take around 16 hours excluding stopovers. Although there are currently no direct flights to Hawaii from the UK, there are numerous flights available via Vancouver, Seattle, LA, New York and Washington DC to a number of Hawaiian Islands with United Airways, British Airways, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Delta. 

There are eight main islands in Hawaii: Hawaii Island, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and Kahoolawe, although the latter two islands are often overlooked. There are also numerous smaller atolls and islets within the archipelago, which – if factored in – bring the total to more than 100. You can stay overnight on five of the eight islands and the best way to experience the destination is by island-hopping.

This world-famous beach is located on the south shore of Honolulu on the Hawaii island of Oahu and in the 1800s was home to Hawaiian royalty. Waikiki – known in Hawaiian as 'spouting waters'  – had its first hotel built on its shores in 1901; the Moana Surfrider is the main hotel and resort area on Oahu. Visitors from around the world visit Waikiki Beach for fantastic shopping, dining in an array of restaurants and of course learning to surf.

Hawaiian cuisine has been inspired by settlers and sailors over the years who have visited these islands of paradise that they later made their home; from Polynesian and Chinese to Portuguese and Japanese, Hawaii has a blend of flavours from around the world. You can taste Hawaiian cuisine throughout the islands, but one meal in particular that we recommend is kalua pork; which is cooked slowly underground (often at a traditional Hawaiian luau) that results in tender, juicy smoked meat.

No visit to the Hawaiian Islands would be complete without a visit to a Hawaiian lū‘au, which is a traditional Hawaiian party or feast with live music and performances. Today, friends and family get together for a luau to celebrate special occasions, including a graduation, wedding and, most commonly, a birthday. You can experience a luau for yourself at many hotels across the islands or at a Polynesian cultural centre on Oahu or Maui, where you can also learn to hula dance.