Paradise in Hawaii

At the gateway to Waikiki, the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki overlooks the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor and is half a mile from the Ala Moana Center and less than two miles from Ala Moana Beach Park and Waikiki Beach.Comprising 521 rooms in one 33-floor tower, the Hawaii Prince Hotel offers extensive facilities and services. In addition to four cafes and restaurants, the hotel has a business center that is staffed weekdays and accessible 24 hours, and more than 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space. It also provides an activities desk and shops. On-site amenities include a small fitness center and a fifth-floor sundeck with large pool, spa tub, snack bar, and shaded terrace. Complimentary resort activities include Tai Chi stretch, hula, and Hawaiiana classes, and complimentary shuttle service to the Hawaii Prince Golf Club, where guests receive special tee times and rates. A complimentary shuttle service takes guests to shops and restaurants in the Waikiki District, as well as to its beaches. An on-site day spa offers guests discounts on Swedish, Hawaiian-style, and Japanese-style massages, and on various skin, body, and hair care treatments.All of the 521 air-conditioned rooms at the 33-floor Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki face the ocean, providing harbor and water views from floor-to-ceiling windows. Decor is light-colored and island-style. High-speed Internet access (surcharge) and in-room safes are supplied, along with coffeemakers, and compact refrigerators stocked with complimentary bottled water on day of arrival. Marble bathrooms have lighted makeup or shaving mirrors, separate tubs and shower stalls, and bathrobes and slippers.KIDS EAT FREE / GOLF FREE promotion (valid for travel dates from April 1-September 30, 2009): Children 5-12 years of age eat FREE when dining with parents paying full rate on a main course from restaurant menu. Children 6-17 years of age golf free when parents purchase a round of golf and accompany them.

Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is the capital and largest city of the state of Hawaii. It is the government, transportation, and commercial center for the state, and home to its best known tourist destination, Waikiki Beach.

Waikiki Beach is definitely not the place to go for a "get-away-from-it-all" Hawaiian vacation. It is as fast-paced and dynamic, and also a good place to learn to surf. But Honolulu has not entirely lost its laid-back atmosphere and culture. Looking for something closer to nature? Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, a bay formed in the crater of an extinct volcano and filled with a wonderful coral reef and many fish, is a great place for snorkeling and scuba diving. Or check out the Pali Lookout for a panoramic view of Windward Oahu.

If you’re looking to stay indoors, the Bishop Museum has an excellent collection of Hawaiian artifacts, as well as a number of science-based exhibits. The new Science Adventure Center is centered around vulcanology, with a large simulated volcano in the center that "erupts" regularly. The museum also features a planetarium.

The impressive holdings of Hawaii's fine arts museum include one of the nation's finest collections of Asian art as well as a 17,000-piece collection of graphic arts and artifacts from Hawaiian and other ancient civilizations around the world. Italian Renaissance and American works are also on exhibit. Guided tours are available. The 290-seat Academy Theatre presents more than 400 programs annually. A restaurant and gift shop is also onsite.

This company offers a variety of entertaining cruises in the waters off Honolulu and beyond. Its most popular activity is the Pacific Splash Barefoot Fun Cruise, which lasts or about three hours. Dolphin-watching cruises depart each morning and whale-watching cruises happen several times a day during the winter (December 15 through April 30). Sunset dinner cruises and extended voyages are also available.

Absolutely beautiful dresses for little girls are sold here. Designed by artists, made of lace and satin, and accessorized by pearl chokers and tiny sunhats, these garments are intended for very special occasions. The women's clothing is a bit more utilitarian; the batik prints and lace tops could conceivably be worn to upscale-casual social events. Crafts, toys, accessories and home accents, designed by local artists, are also sold at this store in the Aloha Tower Marketplace.

If you're in Chinatown and looking for a quick bite for a few dollars, try this informal little place. Family owned and operated, it's mostly frequented by aging Asian folks. The menu is printed in Chinese first, English second. It is not a place with any culinary pretensions; pig's fore shank is listed right above the standard chicken fried rice. The menu is fairly lengthy. The house specialty is the "hot pot". About a dozen varieties are served, ranging from hot-and-spicy chicken to pork and taro.

Located inside the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel, this dolphin habitat draws visitors from up and down the island of Oahu. Dolphin Quest offers a variety of programs and encounters for everyone from children to couples. Guests and visitors have the chance to learn about these extraordinary creatures through fun and educational programs. To learn more, visit their website.

The gourmet room at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental is renowned amongst local and international critics and foodies as a one-of-a-kind dining experience. And who just who might these critics be? Food and Wine Magazine, Zagat Guides and Conde Nast Traveler, for starters. The cuisine here is an inventive and delightful fusion of Pacific Rim, Continental and Hawaiian styles. The open kitchen allows diners to watch the chefs work their magic.