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This off-the-main-drag boutique hotel is a hidden treasure. One of the two towers has suites, the other regular rooms. All have whirlpool tubs and stereo systems. Complimentary continental breakfast.

Although it’s not on the beach, it is the sister of the luxurious Halekulani across the street. The level of service is the same at a much lower price. Rooms are tastefully appointed and the Parc Café offers bountiful buffets.

Just a few blocks from the beach, this affordable hotel has medium-size rooms and studio apartments, all with free internet acess. The kidney-shaped pool is the location for daily complimentary breakfast.

The only oceanfront condo complex in Waikīkī, most of the one- and two-bed suites and studios feature breathtaking views, especially on the upper floors. All units have a kitchen and laundry facilities.

This 24-hour diner draws locals and tourists looking for reliable food and fast service.

Here you catch sight of uninterrupted white sand that stretches three miles along the coast. The facility includes Waimānalo Beach Park, south of town, and the recreation area to the north. Both offer prime picnic areas, camp sites, restrooms, and showers. The park is right on the road but the recreation area is secluded in an ironwood grove (known as Sherwood Forest, alas, in part because car burglaries are a problem).

Polo, favored by Hawaiian royalty, has a 200-year history here. Honolulu Polo Club matches are held at 2:30pm each Sunday from June through October (adults $3, children under 12 free). There is a shaded grandstand, food for sale, and you’ll find lots of aloha (warmth) for visitors – who have included the UK’s Prince Charles, who played a match here in 1974.

A beach with two personalities. Calm as a bathtub in summer, it’s ideal for swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling. Come October and on until April, this beach (where Captain Cook first landed on O’ahu) is crowded with open-mouthed visitors watching surfers from around the world ride the wild surf.

This one-time plantation town is the hub for O’ahu’s Filipino community. Activities at the Filcom Center (94-428 Makuola St.) include the summertime Taste of Waipahu celebration, with its fantastic cooking competitions and food samples.