Honolulu

Honolulu, in southeast Oahu, is Hawaii’s state capital. The imposing Aloha Tower lighthouse greets arriving visitors with its Gothic architecture, while Ala Moana Park, with its serene beach, offers a break from the city’s bustle. History is the everywhere here, and you can step into the past at iconic sights such as Pearl Harbor, or explore the restored 19th-century homes in the Mission Houses Museum.

Head to one of Honolulu’s beachfront cafes to sample pokē, a lightly spiced raw-fish salad, washed down with a freshly made tropical-fruit smoothie, before watching a smoldering sunset from an idyllic vantage point on palm-fringed Waikiki Beach.