The island home of Honolulu, O'ahu invites visitors to succumb to the dreamy offerings of "classic" Hawaii, with the dramatic peak of Diamond Head punctuating the resort-lined beaches of Waikiki, Maunalua and Waimanalo Bays. Once you're walking along the sugar-soft sand with the sound of crashing Pacific waves filling the scented air, the enduring magic and romance of this Polynesian jewel will become all too clear.
Start your vacation with a night or two at one of Honolulu's grand beachside hotels pitched along the two-mile stretch of Waikiki Beach, such as the elegant Halekulani. Its huge outdoor pool is decorated with a shimmering orchid mosaic, and its spa, SpaHalekulani, offers special dual treatment rooms for couples (try the traditional "lomi lomi" Hawaiian massage or the coconut-passion scrub).
At sunset, linger over a mai tai at the Halekulani's casual restaurant while hula dancers perform under the nearby trees. Roam through the coconut-palm groves of the frothy rose-colored Royal Hawaiian, built in 1927 and dubbed the "pink palace of the Pacific," or try the urban-chic-with-Balinese-accents of the W Honolulu-Diamond Head.
