Why not seize the pleasure at once, how often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparations.  Jane Austen

Hawaii is not called 'paradise' and rainbow state for nothing. It is considered the wedding capital of the world, and the most romantic. More than 20,000 marriages are performed annually on the islands. The islands natural beauty is perfect for tying the knot, and after the ceremony, you're already on your honeymoon. And the members of the wedding party will be more than delighted, since they have been given the perfect excuse for their own island vacation.

Thirty years ago we came here for a week's stopover, and the 'hopeless romantic's' we are, we were immediately 'lovestruck' with the Islands. We stayed at the charming Sheraton Hotel overlooking Waikiki Beach, and I remember pulling my husband to go shopping for swimsuits at The Marketplace. We didn't waste time to join the beach crowd, a nice mix of people, many were tourists like us. We took our little spot in the nice warm sand, sprayed our bodies with Hawaiian Tropics oil, ordered our drinks, and layed there just imbibing the beautiful scenery of clear blue skies, swaying palm trees, admiring the beautiful tanned bodies swimming and surfing, and you know all that.

Waikiki Beach is perhaps the world's most famous and most filmed beach. There's a popular local saying that goes, "Lucky you live in Hawaii", and now that it has become our home, we can only agree and give our thumbs up. There is what is called the commercial Hawaii, and you do the tourist thing. Which pretty much works for many, that's why some 4.5 million visitors come every year. This number may have gone down some due to the recession. But, there is the paradise Hawaii that, if you are a serious curious explorer, you have to spend more than a few days to discover how awesome and magnificent it is. But, lets take a little trip to Waikiki and why it still lures us.

Waikiki offers the perfect climate for one of the world's most popular vacation destinations. It has some the fairest weather you will ever find. Most days the temperature is between 75°F and 85°F with light breezes. The temperature of the ocean varies from a summertime high of approximately 82°F, to a low of about 76°F during the coolest winter months. It consists of nine individually named beaches stretching along the two miles from Kahanamoku Beach near the Hilton Hawaiian Village to the Outrigger Canoe Club Beach near the foot of Diamond Head.

Waikiki Beach is a popular surf spot, especially for beginners because the waves are more gentle.

Waikiki is a peninsula jutting out from Kapiolani Park to the southeast and enclosed by the Ala Wai Canal on the east and northwest and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It is approximately two miles long and a little over a half mile at its widest point. The 500-acre Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head Crater mark the southeastern boundary of Waikiki.

Waikiki is has over 100 lodging establishments. These include over 60 hotels and 25 condominium hotels. The first hotel in Waikiki was the Moana Hotel, now the Moana Surfrider - A Westin Resort. The most famous hotel is the Royal Hawaiian, home to the Mai Tai Bar.

Note: The much anticipated Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beachwalk is the latest addition to the landscape of Waikiki, and will be opening on November 2009. The brand new hotel, commonly referred to as the "Trump Tower Waikiki" is considered an"ultra-luxury" hotel with such amenities as an infinity pool and waterfall at the 6^th floor, koa, granite and marble stone finishes in the rooms; gourmet kitchens with Wolf, Sub-Zero and Bosch appliances; and nightly turndown service.

Waikiki comes alive at sunset. Hundreds of restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisine from all over the world. Kalakaua Avenue teems with street performers and most hotels offer live music, luaus and partying. It is a shopper's paradise, filled with numerous designer boutiques and almost all of the hotels have their own shopping areas.

Kapiolani Park is the site of historic Diamond Head, the 42-acre Honolulu Zoo, and the Waikiki Shell, venue to many outdoor concerts and shows. There are lots of art shows and craft shows. Diamond Head is Hawaii's most famous landmarks. A hike to the summit is moderately difficult but is rewarded by amazing views of Waikiki and eastern Oahu.

Waikiki is a very special place for us because it is where my husband and i renewed our marriage vows, as witnessed by friends and family. It was our dream wedding come true after our long separation. Love is a beautiful thing, but when extras and surprises come your way, the joy is in the exceeding. Celebrating our (re) union in Hawaii was all that and more. As if it were not enough, the skies delighted us by splashing two rainbows that Easter day of our wedding, we took it as God's double approval and blessing for our life. It could not have been more picture perfect. We can't help but feel we have indeed regained our paradise.

For some, pleasure is a fever they can't shake.  For others, it's a disease they cannot seem to catch.  -Nathaniel LeTonnerre, translated