Hawaiian

Hanauma Bay Oahu, Hawaii

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 favourite 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.

Oahu, Hawaii Watch big-shot surfers ride the big waves

Ever since Hawaiians revived the ancient practice of surfing a century ago, and especially after Duke Kahanamoku—Olympic gold-medal swimmer and the original ‘Big Kahuna’—popularised it from Australia to California, riding the waves has been the quintessential Hawaiian sport. For surfers and spectators alike, there’s no place like the six-mile stretch of Oahu’s North Shore from Hale’iwa to Sunset Beach, where in winter, monster swells from Pacific storms rush unimpeded towards breaks in the reefs.