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By far the biggest news on any of the islands is the refurbishment of Honolulu’s famed Waikiki Beach. The ten-year $2 billion project has resulted in not only clusters of hotel projects but a new Beach Walk entertainment district, with added beach patrols, restaurants and shopping centers, along with subtle touches like movies on the beach and concerts under the stars. It began when tourist numbers in Waikiki started slipping in the late 1990s, due partly to a dip in the Asian economy (Asians make up large part of tourist base) and many people felt that the heart of Honolulu was growing a bit shabby, with hotels that needed serious refreshing. Even Waikiki beaches, which were artificially widened and lengthened in 1939, have gotten an influx of fresh sand. This latest replenishment, the biggest in more than three decades, is an attempt to combat erosion, which has taken about a foot of beach a year over the past five decades.

TIP: For those who want to island-hop, you can now do it without the hassle of flying (and at about half the price). The Hawaii Superferry (www.hawaiisuperferry.com), a ship about the size of a triple-decker football field, finally began running at the end of August. The ferry makes one round-trip daily between Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, transporting passengers and their vehicles; each trip takes about three hours. Prices start at $52 one-way.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In early September, before it could really launch, the Superferry suspended all service due to a court ruling that stated it required an environmental assessment. Be sure to check the Superferry’s Web site before making travel plans. To read about the controversy surrounding this new service in the New York Times, click here.