The Kahala Hotel & Resort is Hawaii’s reigning luxury resort, set on a secluded beach just ten minutes from the world class shopping and entertainment of Waikiki. This legendary hideaway resort in Honolulu‘s plush Kahala district is a favorite with presidents, international royalty and celebrities. From the moment you arrive, you will know that you are truly somewhere special. This luxurious oceanfront resort features 338 rooms and suites, five stylish restaurants and a world-class spa.

The Kahala pool

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For a first-time snorkeller in tropical waters, it might seem like a psychedelic dream: a cloud of black-masked raccoon butterfly fish in brilliant yellow flitters by, followed by a swarm of black-and-white Hawaiian damselfish hovering close to their favorite coral head, while parrot fish in green, yellow and orange dart in and out. Welcome to Oahu’s most popular snorkelling spot, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, with its picture-perfect 2,000-foot crescent-shaped beach bordered by palm trees.

Hanauma Bay Oahu Hawaii

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Lush rain forests,  savannahs teeming with wildlife, fertile farmlands, and a diverse population of mammalian and plant life. Sound good? If so, a tropical vacation might be perfect for you. The tropics are irresistible to vacationers who like to go to the beach, but also want a little something extra, be it hiking, zip-lining, or snorkeling. We’ve rounded up 10 of the world’s best tropical destinations, both near and far. Read on to start dreaming about (and planning) your own tropical escape.

Kee Beach Kauai Hawaii

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On a sunny Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, Japanese planes appeared over the island of Oahu and began bombing the U.S. Navy’s Pacific fleet, the bulk of which was docked in Pearl Harbor. Ninety minutes later, 2,403 Americans had been killed. Nearly half died on the 608-foot battleship USS Arizona, which sank in nine minutes without firing a shot after its forward ammunition magazines exploded catastrophically, taking 1,177 sailors and marines to their deaths. The attack crippled the fleet, severely damaging or destroying 12 warships; destroyed 188 aircraft, representing nearly all the planes on nearby air bases; and catapulted the U.S. into WWII.

USS Arizona Memorial Pearl Harbor Hawaii

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Kauai is Hawaii’s fourth largest island and is sometimes called the “Garden Isle,” which is an entirely accurate description. The oldest and northernmost island in the Hawaiian chain is draped in emerald valleys, sharp mountain spires and jagged cliffs, aged by time and the elements. Centuries of growth have formed tropical rainforests, forking rivers and cascading waterfalls. Some parts of Kauai are only accessible by sea or air, revealing views beyond your imagination.

Kauai Hawaii North Beaches

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Besides the Crater Road to Haleakala’s summit, Maui’s other famous road show, and one of the Pacific’s most scenic, is the narrow, corkscrew Hana ‘Highway’ on the island’s lush, isolated northeastern coast.

Beginning at the relaxed former sugar-plantation town of Pa’ia, the 50-mile drive takes two to three hours, climbing and dropping among some 617 curves, crossing 54 one-lane bridges and passing dozens of waterfalls and vistas before reaching the quiet, old-fashioned, eye-blink town of Hana.

Hana Highway Maui Hawaii

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