The most remote island chain in the world, lying about 2500 miles from the US mainland. The 50th state feels both foreign and familiar at the same time, the ambience tropical, the texture asian (with shinto shrines, sushi takeaways, Chinese tatooists and buddhist temples) but the amenities are distinctly American.

The temperatures remain on a fairly even keel year round but the winter tends to be wet, even on the relatively dry southwest coasts (which is where most of the resorts wisely put themselves). At Waihiki on Oahu, the tourist hub of the US archipelago, there is less rain in the summer months than anywhere, anytime in the UK.