Sky scrapers and extravagant shopping remind visitors that Honolulu, Hawaii's state capital, is an urban American centre. However, the tropical island location of Oahu provides the added bonuses of breathtaking beaches for relaxing, beautiful bays for kayaking, and killer waves for surfing.

The 2-mile white sand beach stretching from Honolulu's Hilton Hawaiian Village to Kapiolani Park is referred to as Waikiki Beach. This public beach has lifeguards and public showers, as well as stores and restaurants along the way. The waves are mighty between May and September, making for great surfing, but not the calmest water for swimming.

Explore the many regional, state, and national parks and landmarks on Hawaii's islands, such as historical Fort DeRussy at the northern end of Waikiki. For those interested in military history, visit Pearl Harbor where the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri are located. Nearby is the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Memorial Park, which has intriguing exhibits about undersea warfare in the last century.

Diamond Head State Monument, with a volcanic crater that is visible from Waikiki Beach, is Hawaii's most famous landmark. There is an incredible lookout from the top – but hike early in the morning to avoid the most intense heat of the day, and take lots of water!

The ancient Hawaiians are the first recorded people to enjoy the sport of surfing, and it was typically a symbol of social status and power. Royalty used surfing as a means of wielding their strength, health and authority over their people. They used larger "olo" boards, made of superior woods, while commoners used smaller "alaia" boards.

The North Shore of Oahu is blessed with pristine beaches and is a popular destination for world-class surfing, body boarding and body surfing in the winter and great swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving in the summer. The sleepy village of Hale'iwa on Oahu's North shore has long been considered Hawaii's surfing capital. This quiet, laid-back town is over 100 years old, with rustic old buildings dominating the landscape.

Hawaii is a stunning location for weddings and honeymoons. If you are considering an "authentic" Hawaiian wedding, there are a few things to plan for: most couples exchange leis – grooms wear a maile leaf lei, and brides wear a aromatic pikake or white jasmine lei woven with maile. Some ceremonies may have Hawaiian music and the blowing of a conch shell.

When you are in Hawaii, the best way to become immersed in the local culture is to check out a luau – a Hawaiian feast in traditional Polynesian style, with music, pageantry and hula dancing.