As they hit the offshore reefs they rise into huge walls of water and crash mercilessly into the shore

As they hit the offshore reefs they rise into huge walls of water and crash mercilessly into the shore.During the winter months, when waves can reach near-unbelievable heights, this natural phenomenon is a fantastic sight. With no gently shelving seabed to slow incoming ocean swells, the great Pacific swells arrive as massive, fast-moving mounds. His supremely fit figure is dressed only in board shorts and fresh leis, his arms outstretched in a welcome gesture.Curiously, though, his back is turned to the water, out of which, he said: "I am nothing."I want to have a go tooBecause the Hawaiian Islands are the tops of submerged mountains, they have no continental shelf. Everyone stops at his statue as they walk along the seafront at Waikiki beach. Born in Honolulu in 1894, Duke earned his name not from lineage but because his birth coincided with the day of the ceremonial visit to Hawaii by Queen Victoria's second son, Prince Alfred, then Duke of Edinburgh.Duke Kahanamoku was a supreme waterman, breaking three swimming world records at the age of 17 and enjoyed athletic success right up to the age of 42, when he won a water polo bronze medal at the Los Angeles Olympics.Always a devoted surfer, Duke used his sporting achievements and growing fame to travel and to introduce the world to the ancient Hawaiian art of surfing - before returning home to become Honolulu's county sheriff and later Hawaii's official "Ambassador of Aloha", welcoming celebrity visitors to the islands.Today, Duke is remembered fondly and not just by the surfing fraternity, although he still holds the record for the longest ride in surfing history (estimated to be more than a mile, from the outer breaks at Waikiki all the way to the shore).

Page & Moy (0870 010 6456), for example, has 14-night, three-island deals from pounds 1,279, and Kuoni (01306 742888) offers a 14-night, four-island Hawaiian Explorer package from pounds 1,318.For written information about accommodation in Hawaii, contact the Hawaii Visitors' and Convention Bureau in London (0181-941 4009): Alternatively, visit: www.gohawaii .Who's this Duke fellow?If Hawaii has a national hero, it is Duke Kahanamoku, a surfer. You can find private and rental agencies and get a good view of properties on the Internet (try: www.hawaii-vacation-homes /accommodations).If you would rather travel as part of a package, Air New Zealand (0181- 741 2299) has a "Pacific Islands Go As You Please" brochure that includes Oahu from pounds 23 per person, per night, but many of the major tour operators also offer multi-island packages. Although they seem pricey at first glance, they can work out to be good value if you are travelling with a family or group of friends. More homely options include a good selection of B&Bs (mainly inland).

You can find an excellent directory of accommodation at www.accommodations.gohawaii which has an online database where you tailor your search to fit your requirements.There is also a growing number of an array of self-catering properties for rent, including some fantastic oceanfront houses. Although quite strenuous and with some alarming drops, your efforts are rewarded with stunning views.It is real edge-of-the-world stuff, spoilt only by the relentless clattering whine of helicopter tours buzzing in and around the cliffs.What about those beaches?Most of us don't want to spend our entire holiday hiking, camping or indeed charging around the sights and, unsurprisingly, the islands cater well for those who just want to relax on the sand.Most of the major hotel chains are here, along with vast resorts, blocks of condos and a network of hostels. There are also excellent hiking and cycling excursions into the Waimea Canyon, a kind of baby Grand Canyon.If you aren't equipped to camp, there are also some fantastic day hikes spidering out from the Kokee State Park Headquarters that will take you down to the Na Pali coast. If you've got time, there are some superb overnight trails with simple campsites along the way.Consistently rated as Hawaii's most spectacular, the Kalalau Trail clings to the huge, deeply furrowed cliffs along a 13-mile stretch of the Na Pali coast.