My family and I are stopping off in Hawaii for five days on the way to Sydney. People talk about Oahu being overdeveloped, so should we be thinking about hopping over to one of the other islands? Jane Haddon, Colchester

Doc Holiday responds: The year round good weather, magnificent scenery, and south sea island vibe of the Hawaiian archipelago, make them a terrific stopover on the way to Australia and New Zealand. International flights use Honolulu on the island of Oahu as the gateway, and the conundrum is always whether to stay there, or hop on to somewhere else.

With the amount of you time you have, I'd say that Oahu has plenty to keep you occupied, and don't worry too much about the over-development, as there are still large chunks of the island which have great scenery and unspoilt beaches.

It's true that Honolulu does have a city buzz about it, and yes there are lots of high-rise condos and hotels, but it's a terrific base from which to explore the island, and there are good diversions for the kids too.

The most famous area is the beach suburb of Waikiki, with the dramatic Diamond Head peak as a backdrop. In fact, Waikiki is the main tourist centre and accounts for over half of all the states tourist income, so as you can imagine, there are lots of bars and restaurants. Of the city beaches though, try the Moana Beach Park. It's where the locals go for a laid back swim and sunbathe.

In the downtown area, historic buildings include the Iolani Palace, built for King Kalakaua in 1882, the lovely 1838 coral-built Kawaiahao Church, and the Mission House Museum (entry £5), which charts the history of the Christian missionaries on the island. For an insight into Polynesian customs and culture, a visit to the excellent Bishop Museum (www.bishopmuseum.org, entry £8) is a must. Great for kids are the Aquarium, Zoo, Kodak Hula Show, and Maritime Centre Museum.

The ambience out of town is much more South Pacific, and you'll definitely need a car to get around. Pearl Harbour (entry is free) is only a short distance away. There is a good visitors centre, but most memorable is the floating memorial. It's reached by boat and is directly over the ghostly superstructure of the USS Arizona, in which over 1,000 sailors perished during the 1941 attack.

There are great views from the Punchbowl, the bowl-shaped remains of a volcanic crater that now contains the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Scenic Highway 61 cuts through spectacular mountain scenery to the Windward coast beaches and parks. And then there is the North Shore, not good for relaxed bathing, as massive Pacific waves crunch ashore here, but it attract surfers from around the world and is well worth the drive.

For more information, visit www.gohawaii.com and www.visit-oahu.com. Also, Lonely Planet and Rough Guides also publish guides to Hawaii.

Times recommends

• The 10 best South Pacific Islands
• The world's coolest hotel rooms
• US entry still down to the border guard