The appeal of North America’s 50th State is just as irresistible as cinema and television producers would have you believe. Its volcanic mountain ranges silhouetted against the blue skies of the tropics, lush green orchid-and-hibiscus-perfumed hillsides sloping to sugar-cane and pineapple fields; the romantic Pacific beaches and lagoons. These are all part of an exotic mid-ocean cocktail blended of American know-how (witness the high standard of hotel facilities), Oriental enigma and the easygoing Polynesian charm of islands of that famous ‘Aloha’ and lei-garlanded welcome.

No two Hawaiian islands are alike. Oahu is where 80% of the islanders live - and setting of Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach and its celebrated surfers, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbour, a vast selection of shops, restaurants and entertainments. Oahu offers a contrasting introduction or finale to a stay on one of the other islands. The spectacular ‘Big Island’ of Hawaii is the setting of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the 13,000ft peaks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.

The ‘Valley Isle’ of Maui, has some of the finest beaches in Hawaii. It’s rich in history (don’t miss the quaint, superbly preserved 19th century whaling town of Lahaina, with the old sugar-cane trains still operating for visitors). But the lush scenery demands exploration, too - best viewed from the observatory at the top of the 10,000ft high Haleakala Crater, the world’s largest dormant volcano. The lush tropical landscapes and Bali Hai mood of the verdant ‘Garden Isle’ of Kauai (‘South Pacific’ was filmed here at Hanalei Bay) abounds with history and mythology. The scenery has an awesome grandeur, and is notable for Waimea Canyon (the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’ - see it by helicopter) and the 800ft Waipoo Falls.