Hawaii, the wonderful place

Are you looking for a travel destination which features white sand beaches with a difference, plenty of activities for the adventurous and natural landscapes? Hawaii would be your best bet. Unlike the typical beach resorts with jet skiing activities on the side, I found Hawaii to be ideal for a truly well-rounded experience - whether one is a daredevil itching to try surfing or skydiving, or a nature-lover waiting to walk the heart of the volcanic lands that make up this group of islands in the Central Pacific.

Most first-timers to Hawaii would make the capital of Honolulu on the island of Oahu their first stop, with the option of venturing to the other five main islands like Big Island or Maui during the trip. My friends and I allocated about a week for Oahu, and a few days to check out the volcanic landscapes on Big Island. We kept our schedule lax, visiting just one or two places a day. This turned out to be a wise move because Hawaii is not your typical sight "seeing" place - it isa "doing" place.

Hawaii is world-renowned as a surfing paradise, particularly on Oahu's North Shore, where waves can get up to 5m to 8m during winter from November to March. We checked out two of the most popular surf beaches - Sunset Beach and Haleiwa Beach.

It was a spectacular sight indeed when we first laid eyes on Hawaii's surf beaches. Against the blue of the sky and the darker blue of the water, large strips of white foam would gather where giant waves rose and fell, engulfing the shoreline in a fierce tide of foam as they crashed on the sand. Surfers with their surf boards in hand stood in front of the waves, counting down to catch the next big swell, psyching themselves up. Those already riding the waves out in the water were a delight to watch - until they lost their balance on a giant crest and painfully "wiped out".

Surfers whom we made friends with told us that the sea was rougher that day. Even on their long boards, which were the steadiest of the surfboards and the best for beginners - "pretty much like standing on a wooden floor" they told me - took extra effort to paddle out and back again, against the tide. Body boarding would be a less strenuous alternative in such circumstances. Shorter and lighter, you lie on those to ride the waves, without needing to stand up. Less Hollywoodesque, yes, but also less stressful.

For a calmer activity out in the water, snorkelling at Hanauma Bay definitely made one of our favourites. Hanauma Bay, now a nature preserve, marks the remains of a 6,000-year-old crater with living reef spread out over its entire floor, coming up all the way to the beach at water depths of just a metre high. Snorkelling there was hassle-free, yet very rewarding - we simply had to wade out into knee-deep water to begin our snorkelling adventure, taking care not to damage the reef as we kicked our way across the expanse.

For the more adventurous (my friends abandoned me here to conquer this on my own), skydiving in Oahu would offer up an unforgettable experience and a breathtaking view unlike any other. Heading up in a tiny plane from the Skydive Hawaii centre on the North Shore, I thought, "Why am I doing this?" as my tandem skydiving instructor checked the ropes to make sure I was well-secured. The doors opened, and I was the first to make the tandem jump. "Count to three and I'll push us off!" my instructor yelled over the sharp hiss of the wind.

The jump was disorienting at first as my instructor leapt out of the plane and somersaulted in the air with me in tow, followed by a free fall that came fast and furious. When the parachute came up, however, that was when I was able to take in the full glory of the Hawaiian landscape - from the air, an endless expanse of shoreline beaches lay to my right, with green mountain ranges stretching further inland before me, framed by a blue sky with clouds close enough for me to touch. It was an expensive jump at US$225 ($303.90), but well worth every cent.

If you're seeking a good hike, a trek up to the Diamond Head Crater for a panoramic view of Oahu is a must. We opted to take a short plane ride to Big Island too, touted to feature the best of Hawaii's volcanic formations. Hawaii is formed entirely from volcanic activity, and the guided tour on Big Island was nothing short of eye-opening as we ventured through lava tubes at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, glimpsed the grey smokey interior of the impressive Halemaumau Pit Crater, and walked the black sand beaches that lined the coast.

To many, Hawaii is simply a beach destination worthy of just a week-long visit. But take a second look, and it'll offer up a whole slew of adventures waiting to take your breath away.