Got Island Fever? Head for Surf City USATM Shores

Save on airfare for an Aloha experience by booking a trip to beautiful Huntington Beach.

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. October 14, 2008

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA, July 11, 2005. An ocean separates Surf City USATM shores from the islands of Hawaii and Polynesia, yet those who yearn for a taste of these exotic faraway cultures can indulge themselves without leaving the mainland at Huntington Beach, with its laid-back vibe, forever young spirit and near-perfect weather that is found in all three destinations.

With 8.5 miles of golden sand beaches lined by the newly renovated Huntington Beach Ocean Strand, Surf City USA beaches rival those of any tropical paradise. The casual luxury of this seaside resort means you won't need much more than your Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops, and unlike the South Pacific Islands, HB is easy on the wallet.

Start your Aloha excursion with a little Hawaiian culture at the "History of the Ukulele" exhibit at the International Surfing Museum, just off Main Street at 411 Olive Avenue. Here, learn about the history of Hawaii's most beloved instrument and view vintage ukuleles, photographs of early ukulele enthusiasts and popular songbooks. Don't miss significant artifacts in the history of surfing, such as legendary Duke Kahanamoku's surfboards, a Dick Dale guitar, one of the cameras Bruce Brown used to film Endless Summer and a gold record commemorating Jan & Dean's hit song, "Surf City." As a tribute to a sport that is part of the very fabric of Huntington Beach, this body of memorabilia offers insight into how the city earned its rightful claim to the Surf City USA title.

When you've worked up an appetite, there are numerous options for indulging in island cuisine on downtown Huntington Beach's restaurant row. Right on Main Street, the popular Aloha Grill serves up tasty Hawaiian plates with Teriyaki Chicken or Kahlua Pork. If you're fishing for seafood, choose from such selections as Fijian Mahi Mahi or Hawaiian Ono. Just down the block, No Ka Oi is known for exotic "pupu" samplers and such island favorites as Black Lava Java Salmon with a crust made from coffee beans imported from the restaurant's own coffee plantation on the Hawaiian Islands.

People who vacation in Hawaii flock to Duke's restaurant in Waikiki and Kauai, named after the father of modern day surfing. But you don't have to travel that far for the same true taste of the Pacific Rim, because the same friendly beach guys who opened the first of 13 restaurants in Maui 26 years ago have established a Duke's in Huntington Beach. Located at the base of the historic pier, just above the beach where Duke Kahanamoku presided over the first national surf contest in 1965, you'll find Duke's Huntington Beach. If the restaurant's casual Hawaiian beach house ambiance and endless views of the Pacific don't inspire your Aloha spirit enough, stir it up by sipping on a Hawaiian Ice Tea, Lava Flow or Beach Boy Daiquiri in the Barefoot Bar. After checking out statues, photos and paintings that pay homage to the establishment's namesake, dine on such island favorites as fresh Hula Hula Chicken, voted Honolulu's favorite and prepared hibachi-style with garlic, ginger, shoyu flowers and fresh tropical salsa. Don't leave without sampling Hula Pie, billed as "the dessert that the sailors swam ashore for." You'll understand why when you savor a chocolate cookie crust piled high with macadamia nut ice cream, topped with chocolate fudge, whipped cream and more macadamia nuts.

If it's traditional Polynesian dance or music you crave, reserve a table at the Saturday night "Dance with the Waves" at Pete Mallory's Surf City Sunset Grille at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa. At this AAA four diamond resort hotel, your dinner reservation will admit you to an authentic Polynesian luau, complete with a lei welcome greeting and a Hawaiian buffet, Huntington Beach style. With lilting strains of old Hawaii in the background, an official tiki torch lighting ceremony will launch the evening's festivities. Get into the act with hula lessons and compete in a Hawaiian shirt contest. Or just sit back and take in the Hawaiian rhythms of a Polynesian dance and music troupe following your dining experience. Performances are scheduled July through Labor Day. Make reservations by calling (714) 845-4775 or purchase advance tickets at Pete Mallory's Surf City Sunset Grille or Surf City Grocers, both located in the resort retail courtyard.

After the tiki torches are doused and the bongos are still, take a stroll along the moonlit sand and remember that this is the same ocean that strokes the shores of Tahiti or Maui or Bora Bora - yet you still have bills in your pocket and frequent flyer miles left over!