...honeymooners and explorers, water enthusiasts and beachcombers. For some, the island is the perfect vacation isle for families. If we were a visiting family new to Oahu, we'd sample its varieties by dipping into its corners.

Sand and water on our own beach are welcoming, but a seven or eight minute walk west takes the visitor to excellent, though gentle, board surfing and boogie boarding. To the east, Goat Island, a nature preserve with an especially sheltered beach, can be crossed to easily, preferably using reef-walkers or tennis shoes.

Sports available within a short distance are golf (Turtle Bay Hilton-- phone 293.8574, Kahuku Golf Course-- phone 293.5842), Tennis (Turtle Bay Hilton-- phone 293.6024), horseback riding (Kualoa Ranch-- phone 237.8515, or nearby Beach Riding with Linda-- phone 293.8081), windsurfing (Kualoa Ranch), jet skiing (Kualoa Ranch), day sailing trips (North Shore Catamaran-- phone 638.8279), surfing (try TT's Surf Shop-- phone 293.5363) and hiking.

Elsewhere on the island, we'd try snorkeling at famed, and crowded, Hanauma Bay Beach Park, 55 minutes southeast of Maleakahana via Highway 83 (Kamehameha Highway), Highway 61 and Highway 72 (Kalanianaole Highway). Get there early, and call to insure that it's open. Highway 72 also passes Makapuu Beach, one of the world's premier body surflng locales. If there's surf, stop on the roadside and watch these sharp, steep waves. Just before Makapuu is Sea Life Park (phone 259.7933), a marine life theme park which includes a "touch tank." Closer to home, fifteen minutes northwest of Malaekahana on Highway 83 snorkeling is good at Shark's Cove, across the street from the Pupukea Foodland market. At low tide the adjoining cove has some of the best island tide pooling spots.

One of the best swimming beaches in the world is at Kailua. Take the 83 southeast, the 61 to Kailua Road until it ends, then right to Kailua Beach Park to watch superb windsurfing.

Twenty minutes south on Highway 83 is an easy one-mile nature hike on a well-marked trail into some of Hawaii's most verdant, exotic jungle, complete with ancient ruins. At Kahana Valley State Park (phone 237.7766) turn right into the parking lot where information and maps are usually available.

Honolulu itself is filled with family-friendly options. There is the Waikiki Aquarium (phone 923.9741) on the beach in Waikiki and, a short walk away, the Honolulu Zoo (phone 971.7171). Not far away access is available into the interior of the extinct Diamond Head volcano crater on a one-half mile trail located off Diamond Head Road near 18th Avenue off Kalakaua Avenue. Pearl Harbor has the USS Arizona Memorial (phone 422.0561), the USS Bowfin submarine (phone 413.1341) and tours of the USS Missouri battleship.

For nourishment on the road, local color may be the best direction. Try the fresh malasadas— round, yeasty Portuguese doughnuts covered with granulated sugar—at Leonard's Bakery (933 Kapahulu Avenue) just behind Waikiki. The reputedly best hamburgers on the island are at Kua Aina Sandwich on the main drag in Haleiwa, 25 minutes southwest of Malaekahana (we think they're over-rated, but we do love the French fries). For hikes or beach picnics, consider the traditional "bento" box, small, pre-prepared-but-fresh boxes of Japanese delicacics such as teriyaki chicken, rice, pork cutlets or fried fish, available at Japanese delicatessens and in most super markets. In downtown Honolulu's Chinatown the dishes run from dim sum to fried rice, chop suey to Vietnamese pho.

Fresh island fruits are best purchased at roadside stands between Sunset Beach and the Turtle Bay Resort, and between the resort and Kahuku are several stands featuring the outstanding Kahuku corn.

Here is a sampling of nearby restaurants: Original Giovanni's White Shrimp Truck, on the highway in Kahuku, closes at 6 p.m. but serves excellent shrimp prepared several different ways (watch the hot sauce!). Laie Chop Suey in the shopping center dishes out decent Chinese food, as does Laie Chopsticks Express, also in the center. Hukilau Cafe in Laie is a good breakfast or lunch spot. Domino's Pizza and Subway sandwiches are also in the shopping center. Turtle Bay Resort has regular evening buffets, brunch, etc. in its restaurants, as well as an excellent, stylish restaurant at Lei Lei's on the golf course. In Kahuku, Amy's by the Greene serves good Hawaiian breakfasts and Hawaiian plate lunches.

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