The PayPal API is not listed?

The PayPal API is not listed in the plugin like it is in the documentation. Without it PayPal will not work. What is going on? I have combed through the settings to see if I had to turn something on but I could not find anything?

I don't know what you're talking about.
The PayPal standard plugin is integrated with the PayPal standard API and all the necessary fields are present in this plugin.
The documentation of that plugin has the same fields listed. You can see it if you click on the help button on that screen.

Negatory. When I click the help link above like you suggest it clearly shows an API field. I can take a snapshot if you like.
Regardless, I just want it to work and it doesnt. I go through the checkout process but it does not take me to the paypal site. At the last stage it just keeps refreshing the page. (?)

There is no API field. I can assure you. There is a "PayPal API URL" field which has been recently renamed to "URL" in the plugin options.

But that is not linked to your problem.
If you can't finicsh the checkout, it means that either your shipping methods or your payment methods are not configured properly.
We have a FAQ which lists all the possible causes:
www.hikashop.com/en/support/documentatio...ins-listing.html#faq
Please review each point and you should find what is the problem.