Honolulu

America has exactly one royal palace, and it sits in downtown Honolulu. Iolani Palace got electric lights in 1887, years before the White House had them, because King David Kalakaua had toured the world and wanted his home as modern as any palace on Earth.

His sister Liliuokalani inherited the throne, but not a fairytale ending. In 1893, a group of businessmen backed by US troops overthrew her, and she was later locked for months in one room of her own palace. While imprisoned, she wrote songs Hawaiians still sing today.

Honolulu had been a royal city long before that. King Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian Islands by 1810 after years of war, and in 1845 the kingdom moved its capital here, drawn by a deep, calm port whose name means "sheltered harbor."

After the queen's overthrow, the United States took Hawaii, and Pearl Harbor grew into a massive navy base. That base changed world history.

On the morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor without warning. More than 2,400 Americans died, and the United States entered World War II the next day.

Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, just as jets began landing in Honolulu. Almost overnight, the beach town of Waikiki turned into one of the most famous vacation spots on the planet.

Waikiki had already given the world something else: modern surfing. Local hero Duke Kahanamoku won Olympic gold medals in swimming, then traveled the globe teaching people to ride waves. His statue stands on the beach, arms wide open, usually draped in flower leis.

Visit Pearl Harbor and take the boat to the USS Arizona Memorial, which floats above the sunken battleship. Then tour Iolani Palace and stand in the room where the queen was held.

Hike up Diamond Head, an old volcano crater, for a view over the whole coast. Afterward, learn to surf the gentle rollers of Waikiki, just like Duke taught.

End the day with a rainbow-colored shave ice and a warm malasada, Hawaii's sugar-coated donut.