YOU get a slight sensation of dAcopyrightjA vu as you travel around Hawaii. It could be jet lag, but surely you know those dramatic mountains and that plunging waterfall from somewhere? Could you possibly have sat on this sandy beach before? That forest looks familiar too.

And so it should, for the Hawaiian islands have been the location for many famous films and TV series. Included in the line-up are Hawaii Five O, Jurassic Park, From Here to Eternity (Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr rolled in the surf for that famous kiss on Oahu), George of the Jungle and now Lost.

The variety of films should give you a hint as to the diversity of the islands' landscapes: from a bustling city to a sleepy seaside town, lush tropical rainforests to desolate volcanoes and beautiful beaches.

But if the mention of Hawaii brings to mind images of swaying palms, surfers riding the waves and the distinctive sound of a ukulele, you won't be disappointed. In parts of Honolulu that's exactly what you'll find.

The capital city of the newest of America's states is as cosmopolitan as they get, with the massive Ala Moana shopping centre and sprawling suburbs stretching up the slopes of the surrounding mountains.

Waikiki is where you'll find the hotels, restaurants and shops, all within walking distance of the world-famous beach.

The promenade is busy during the day and at night the area throbs with music and bars.

The hotels range from large, clean self-catering apartments to family hotels and luxury resorts. Some of the best nighttime views in the city are from the upper floors of the ResortQuest Waikiki Sunset condos, which comfortably sleep four and provide all the amenities of a hotel for a great price. If cooking is not on your agenda then try it's sister property, Waikiki Beach Hotel, where guests can take their buffet breakfast across the road to eat on the beach - the hotel even provides the towels.

It's worth exploring beyond the city as there's much more to Oahu. A visit to Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial is a must, where the details of the attack on the US naval base during the second world war are explained in a moving and informative presentation.

There are plenty of organised tours on offer but since entry is free you're really only paying for the coach ride. Instead use a taxi, public bus or hired car to get there.

If surfing action is your thing the North Shore is the place to go. Many of the scenes from Lost are filmed on this side of the island. The Polynesian cultural centre is located here too and provides great entertainment for all the family.

The most popular of Hawaii's seven main islands are Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. Many people choose to stay only on Oahu but to get a real flavour of Hawaii it's worth moving to one or more of the others, which are less commercialised and a bit more exotic.

All are defined by their volcanic landscapes, with towering mountains, lush vegetation and black lava fields or red earth.

Maui is the most popular destination with fantastic sporting facilities - including golf, whale watching (between November and April) and cycling or hiking on Haleakala, the world's largest dormant volcano. The vast crater measures over seven miles long and over two miles wide.

The pretty town of Lahaina on the west of the island is a popular spot with art galleries, restaurants and historical attractions to be explored at leisure. The top hotels and resorts in the region are in two main areas - Ka'anapali to the west and Kihei-Wailea to the east.

For a really luxurious holiday stay at the Sheraton Maui Resort in Ka'anapali.

Every evening as the sun sets an ancient cliff-diving ceremony is re-enacted to honour the last chief of Maui, Kahekili (Thunderer), who proved his spiritual strength by leaping from sacred rocks into the Pacific. The views over the beach to the islands of Moloka'i and Lana'i are breathtaking - as are the views form the nearby Royal Lahaina hotel where, during the winter months, you can sit on your private balcony and watch the humpback whales play unbelievably close to the shore.

Ka'anapali Beach Hotel is ideal for families, with great facilities and daily activities for all ages. This is also where you'll find "Kupanaha", Maui's answer to Jury's cabaret: a dinner and superb magic and illusions show that will have even the most hardened cynic applauding by the end of the evening. It's definitely one for the kids though as the show starts at 5pm.

Kihei on the east of the island is a bit less formal and offers a wide range of condominium hotels. There's a great variety of shops, bars and restaurants along the main street which follows the line of the ocean. A word of caution though: the seas around Hawaii can be dangerous and there are plenty of warning signs which should be heeded.

There's plenty to explore in Maui, by air, by car, by bike or on foot. If you've hired a car and are exploring the north coast, Maui Grown Market on the Hana highway is the place to pick up a delicious picnic lunch. In an enterprising move they'll even lend you one of their friendly poi (Hawaiian for mixed breed) dogs for the day.

Further south, the Big Island of Hawaii is almost twice as large as all the other islands combined. It is home to Mauna Loa, the largest single mountain mass in the world, if measured from its peak to its base on the ocean floor. A big mountain covered in rainforest inevitably means a high waterfall nearby and, with a drop of 31420 feet, Akaka Falls does not disappoint.

This island is where you can still see active lava flows or walk over the cooled lava fields that have smothered some of the island's roads. A visit to Volcanoes National Park explains the geological phenomenon which formed the islands and which actively continues to do so today.

If you don't have time to stay on the Big Island, Polynesian Adventure Tours offer a day-long guided tour, including flight from the other main islands, which is well worth the early morning start.

Heading to the northern end of the chain is Kauai, one of the more exclusive islands. Made famous in the classic film, South Pacific, Kauai (pronounced Koowy-ee) is just as you imagine a tropical isle should be. With stunning waterfalls, the Fern Grotto (a hauntingly beautiful cave literally dripping with ferns), the Waimea Canyon State Park (often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific) and beautiful beaches, it's no wonder Kauai is known as Hawaii's 'Island of Discovery'.

Of course, all this lush vegetation doesn't happen without a certain amount of rainfall. This is of the 'little but often' variety rather than a miserable rainy season. Hawaii is blessed with a year-round pleasant climate with daytime temperatures averaging around 30AdegreesC accompanied by balmy sea breezes, making it an ideal all-year destination.

Jenny Guy travelled to Hawaii as a guest of Aloha Holidays GETTING THERE Getting to Hawaii from Ireland can either be tackled all in one go with back-to-back flights (it takes around 24 hours) or by stopping off in mainland USA along the way.

Hawaii specialists Aloha Holidays create customised holidays and honeymoons.

Sample packages for next summer include:

one week in 3-star self-catering in Oahu from A 1528 per person or five nights in Oahu and five nights in Maui in 3-star hotels from A 2264 per person (upgrade to 5* hotels from A 2743 per person).

Aloha Holidays, 01 2108391, www. aloha-holidays. ie www. gohawaii. com www. resortquesthawaii. com www. kbhmaui. com www. sheraton-maui. com www. polyad. com www. budget. com