Hawaii

[perth seagull]

A shark conservationist, Jimmy Hall, reported and documented his personal encounter with a very large great white shark, nicknamed as Schatzi, on December, 2005, in waters of Hawaii.

http://www.cdnn.info/news/safety/s080628a.html

That doesn't look like a real shark.

 

[robbie c]

stayed at Turtle Bay Resort but against future expansion as the surrounding countryside is paradise

http://keepthenorthshorecountry.org/

 

[seagullsslimjim]

Waikiki Beach is a major no no. If staying on Oahu get a car a drive upto the North Shore. You can do a stunt glider flight from the small airfield which has the Lost tv series set next to it. You can also see the sharks by going 3 miles out and then snorkel in a shark cage. Saw a tiger shark which was pretty amazing and was responsible for attacking a surfer a few days earlier

Another option is fly in a light aircraft over 6 of the islands and land on the 'Big Island' - fly around the volcano and see the observatory.

Have to agree that its a long way for very little compared to other parts of the world