Why go
The beach is long, the water is warm all year, and the gentle rolling waves are made for beginners and for outrigger canoes. Diamond Head stands at the eastern end, and the walk up to the crater rim is short and worth the early start.
It is also the practical base for seeing the rest of Oahu: Pearl Harbor, the windward coast and the North Shore are all day trips.
When to go
Any month works. April to June and September to early December are quieter and often better value. Winter brings the big surf to the North Shore, which is something to watch from the sand.
Where to base yourself
Stay on the beach itself if you can; a few of the grand older hotels sit right on the sand and have the best positions. The Diamond Head end, near Kapiolani Park, is calmer than the centre.
What we would build into your trip
A private surf lesson, a sunrise walk up Diamond Head, and a day out to the North Shore with stops for shrimp trucks and shave ice. For Pearl Harbor we book timed tickets ahead, because they run out.
Good to know
Waikiki is the urban side of Hawaii. For empty beaches and quiet, pair it with a few nights on another island.