Hawaii, land of sun, sand and sea is an archipelago of eight volcanic islands and is located in the central Pacific Ocean. Hawaii became part of the United States in 1959.

Hawaii is a land of cliffs, caves, deep valleys and streams. It’s a world in itself situated over 2000 miles from the nearest landfall. The Hawaiian Islands are geographically diverse with deserts, rainforests, volcanoes and snow capped mountains. The islands of Hawaii have 10 distinct climate zones, making it an exciting vacation destination.

On Hawaii’s Big Island, which is the driest and sunniest part, one of the more popular places to stay is the Outrigger Waikoloa. This oceanfront resort will provide you with a memorable Hawaiian experience and sports a great beach, pool, Kids Club and snack bar. The snorkeling is great, and you can ride a glass-bottom boat to see whales, sea turtles and tropical fish.

On the Island of Maui, a favorite five-star resort is the Grand Wailea Resort, Hotel & Spa. It is renowned for its spa, pools and suites, with luxurious amenities and family activities. The pool at this fabulous resort includes a 2,000-foot “river” that streams through nine separate pools, seven waterslides, waterfalls, caves, white-water rapids, grottos, spa, sauna and the world’s first water elevator.

The Island of Oahu attracts the most visitors and is home to the famous Waikiki Beach. One of the best five-star resorts in Oahu is Halekulani. This is considered the gem on the beach at Waikiki. It has spectacular view of Diamond Head and offers impeccable service, wonderful cuisine and magnificent sunsets.

Obviously, there are many great places to stay in Hawaii, and we’ve only mentioned two. You can go online to any Hawaii travel agency or travel information site and find hundreds of resorts on all the Island of Hawaii. There are wonderful five-star resorts, but there are also places that are more economical if you are traveling on a budget.