The ultimate beach escape

A TRIP to Waikiki, one of the most famous stretches of white sand in the world, is the ultimate beach holiday.

One-and-a-half-mile-long Waikiki Beach offers something for just about every kind of holidaymaker / Supplied

AS far as beach holidays go, this is the Big Daddy, the grand prize, the cat's pyjamas.

Think Hawaii, and you’ll probably conjure up images of Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach (pictured right), one of the most famous stretches of white sand and crashing waves in the world.

In a grand homage to fun, one-and-a-half-mile-long Waikiki Beach offers something for just about every kind of holidaymaker.

By day, the beach hosts sunworshippers from around the world, while wobbly-legged amateurs take surfing lessons from the beach boys at Kuhio Beach Park.

As the sun sets on another balmy day (Hawaii’s climate is pleasant yearround, without extremes), frosted glasses of super-strong Mai Tais are savoured along with the view at sandy-floored beachside bars.

When night falls, tiki torches along the beach promenade are lit, as guests from the high-rise hotels spill onto the sand to watch hula troupes shake and shimmy their grass skirts to the resonant beating of a chorus of drums.

Nearby, the Duke’s bronzed statue (Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, known as the Father of International Surfing) watches over his beloved Waikiki, often with a colourful lei of tuberose and hibiscus flowers that’s been slung over his neck by a grateful surfer who has just paddled in from a big wave.

At Duke’s Canoe Club, those same surfers kick back with a beer and a plate of spiced ribs to enjoy the friendly vibe at this beachfront institution.

At its heart Hawaii is essentially Polynesian, closer in spirit to Samoa and Tahiti than Atlanta or New York.

This heritage is celebrated at the Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii’s most popular paid tourist attraction, where there is a clear mandate to keep alive the traditions, foods and crafts of Hawaiian and other South Pacific cultures.

A traditional Hawaiian luau dinner is served every night except Sunday.

Polynesian delicacies include pig roasted underground then torn into stringy pieces and served alongside taro rolls and crispy fish. The popular local flavours of coconut, pineapple and coffee feature strongly.

Don’t miss the Horizons evening performance after dinner, a 90-minute energetic extravaganza of singing, dancing and storytelling featuring more than 100 young Polynesian performers.

At Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa on Waikiki’s oceanfront, you could while away an amazing week and not ever step foot out of the grounds.

Sprawled over 22 prime beachfront acres, this truly is a village, with its own wedding chapel, more than 20 superb restaurants and lounges, kids’ club, shopping facilities to rival any mall and nightly entertainment that includes a dazzling Friday night fireworks display.

The independently operated Mandara Spa at the Hilton adds another string to the resort’s bow, with its 25 Hawaiian-Balinese themed treatment rooms and expert therapists.

The tradition of spa healing and wellness runs back through generations in Hawaii. It works on many levels - mind, body and spirit - and is as far removed from a basic rubdown as you can imagine.

The aloha spirit is calming, healing and nurturing: therapists are taught to send as much of this spirit as possible to the client to heal their world-weary hearts as well as their aching muscles.

Guests at the Mandara Spa can choose from Tropical Hawaiian Scrubs and Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Massage or Vanilla and Pikake Facial and Hawaiian Pohaku (Warm Lava Stones) Massage.

Family travellers are well catered for, too. Mums or dads can even bring their teenagers to the spa to experience the YSPA menu, a menu of services designed for teens 16 years and older.

On offer for spa fanatics in the making is a menu that includes Heavenly Massage, Surfers Scrub, Fabulous Fruity Facial and Acne Attack Facial.

Its certain, the aloha spirit suits all ages.

FAST FACTS
Getting there: Hawaiian Airlines flies regularly from Australia to Hawaii (Oahu) with connections to other islands. Ph: 1300 669 106.
Staying there: Hilton Hawaiian Village is a family-friendly resort right on the beach at Waikiki with extensive shopping, dining and spa facilities. Ph: 1300 445 866 (in Australia).
More info: Research your trip to Hawaii at gohawaii.com/au/. The site lists hotels, spas, activities and tour
operators as well as a rundown on the attractions of each of the islands in the group.