Fly to Honolulu

Hanauma Bay State Preserve's vibrant corals and colourful array of sea creatures – from green sea turtles and parrotfish to yellow tangs and surgeonfish – have been drawing snorkelers for generations, but only relatively recently were steps taken to protect the curved bay's finned denizens. Just 17km from Waikiki Beach, the former volcanic cone of Hanauma Bay now limits the number of visitors, and booking ahead online is essential to say aloha! to dozens of underwater species. You'll undoubtedly see the catchily named Humuhumunukunukuapuaa (reef triggerfish), the state fish of Hawaii.

Said to resemble a tuna's dorsal fin, Diamond Head (Leahi in Hawaiian) is a 232-metre-high 'tuff cone' (ring of hardened volcanic ash) south of Waikiki. Named for when 19th-century British sailors mistook quartz crystals embedded in the rock for precious gems, Diamond Head draws hikers to the steep and surprisingly challenging 800m ascent to the crater's ring for views of Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean. From December to April whales are also sometimes seen. To control visitor numbers, booking ahead online is mandatory. Follow up a morning hike with lunch at the Diamond Head Market & Grill.

Rent a car or take a tour to journey around Oahu's North Shore. Highlights include the surf spots of Sunset Beach, Pipeline and Waimea Bay, and it's almost mandatory to stop for grilled shrimp at the food trucks around Haleiwa or Kalewa Bay. With galleries, boutiques and cafés dotted throughout its heritage plantation-era townscape, Haleiwa's also a great place for shopping. Seek out Matsumoto's in Haleiwa, a legendary spot that's been serving refreshing shave ice to surfers and locals since 1951. Options for active travellers include ziplining or hiking to waterfalls at Waimea Valley.