The siren-like allure of Waikiki remains strong and constant with Kiwis, with three airlines connecting Auckland to Honolulu, so the Trans-Pacific trek doesn’t have to bust the budget.  If you haven’t strolled down Kalakaua Ave for a while, you will certainly notice some big changes. The glinting new condos rise ever higher and the onslaught of luxury label stores has made itself quite at home. Not that you will have any trouble locating one of those cheap and cheerful ABC stores!  

So what are the essential experiences that should be on your holiday check-list? Parking yourself on Waikiki’s radiant sands and splashing about in those bath-temperature Pacific waters is a requisite.  Take a trek to the summit of Diamond Head, one of the world’s most Instagrammed volcanic craters. Time your volcanic work-out for early morning, before the daily mercury sparks up and cool down with a soothing kava drink at Diamond Head Cove.

If you’re visiting on a Saturday, the nearby farmers market at Kapiolani Community College is a crackles with colour. I’m a history hound, so Honolulu’s colonial trappings were high on my list. Don’t miss ‘Iolani Palace, former home of the Hawaiian monarchy, and the only royal palace in the United States. Across the road, a gorgeous gold-leaf statue honours King Kamehameha, the revered monarch who unified the Hawaiian islands into one kingdom in 1810.

I took in the historic sights as part of a superbly guided  sightseeing excursion with Polynesian Adventure Tours. The award-winning company operates a variety of trips across Hawaii, and their Pearl Harbour tour is a cracker. Best of all, you can skip the lines, which can be monstrous, particularly given it’s the 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.  Stand on the spot where World War II ended – an enduring, evocative reason why Pearl Harbour draws millions of visitors every year.

The recently renovated visitors centre has rolled out a comprehensive range of artifacts, newsreel footage and exhibits that artfully illustrate the events that preceded the shock attack, propelling the United States into the war. Bypassing the queues,  I took a short ferry ride out to the dove-white Arizona Memorial, built above the watery grave of the bombed battleship, as the fuel continues to eerily trickle up to the water’s surface.

American submarines were responsible for destroying half of the enemy’s ships in World War II. The USS Bowfin served with efficient distinction, and the submarine is now a museum, which you can explore to your heart’s content. The crowning “war experience” is to board “Mighty Mo”, the Battleship Missouri. Walk the decks  and see the site where General MacArthur signed the Japanese surrender, bringing the curtain down on six years of world conflict and bloodshed. www.polyadhawaiitours.com

Where to shop? From uber-posh to cheap and cheerful, Waikiki’s retail offerings cover all bases, although there’s definitely been a concerted bid to accentuate Waikiki’s up-scale offerings. But for a one-stop shop retail romp, Ala Moana Centre is the all-American mega-mall shopping experience, home to heavyweights like Macys, JC Penny and Victoria’s Secret – plus complimentary Hula shows.

Few beachside experiences can beat the buzz of waking up to the silken sands fronting the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort. Built on the site of the original Outrigger Canoe Club, the hotel is like pulsating shrine to Hawaii’s revered beach scene.  No sojourn in Waikiki is complete without a visit to Duke’s, a storied restaurant and glorified museum to the pioneering surfer, Duke Kahanamoku.  Open from dawn to late, lap up the island cuisine and lip-smacking ocean views, plus the nightly entertainment is superb. I also recommend Chuck’s Steak House for succulent prime steaks and fresh island seafood. It’s open for dinner, nightly. 

The Outrigger has a diverse range of accommodation options to suit your tastes, and despite its wealth of on-site activities and guest features, it is so refreshing not to be stung with a resort fee. All manner of complimentary value-add services are at your disposal, from high-speed WiFi to the fiendishly popular twice-weekly oceanfront Hawaiian Vow Renewal ceremony. The property prides itself on operating a Fee Free Escape programme, which includes a slew of culturally enriching activities.

There are hula and ukelele lessons and you learn to how to make a floral headpiece, ti leaf lei or kukui nut bracelets.  Guestrooms were recently refreshed with warm earth tones and deep greens and gold woven into carpet patterns.  Kitted out with all the creature comforts, you’ll fall in love with their noni-papaya pineapple scented bathroom amenities. However you choose to experience this radiant property, bag an unbeatable deal at www. outriggerwaikiki.com

Mike Yardley is Newstalk ZB’s Travel Correspondent on Jack Tame Saturdays. 11.20am