Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

4 more images

WAikiki Beach is the reason why tourists flock to Honolulu. The area has nearly flawless weather, gentle surf, great views of Diamond Head, plenty of hotel rooms, and lots of nightlife in Waikiki. The surfing here is excellent for beginners, due to the long rolling break of the waves.

In the 1800s Hawaiian royalty maintained a residence at what is Waikiki beach, due to their love of surfing. In the 1880s the first guest houses began opening along the beach. Waikiki area expanded rapidly after the swamps and marshes were drained in the 1920s, and major hotels sprung up in the area. Until the 1970s, the sand was actually imported from Manhattan Beach, California, but today the city has a number of anti-erosion project aimed at retaining the wide sandy beaches.

4 more images

Never has a beach been as fabled as Waikiki. Since the 1950s, this beach has been a tourist destination extraordinaire. While much of it has been eroded, trampled by millions of feet, or encroached upon by towering skyscrapers, hints of its original beauty can still be seen in the crashing waves and the warm sand. Come night time, the hipsters strut their clubwear on the beachwalk, and lovers find peaceful little nooks under the cover of sweeping palm trees.

Waikīkī extends from the Ala Wai Canal (a channel dug to drain former wetlands) on the west and north, to Diamond Head or Lēʻahi on the east. The name means spouting water in Hawaiian for springs and streams that fed wetlands that once separated Waikīkī from the interior. Waikīkī has long been a place of relaxation. In particular, the area was a retreat for Hawaiian royalty in the 1800s. Today it is considered the center of the tourist industry in Hawaiʻi, with an abundance of both high-rise resort hotels (including the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Halekulani hotel, the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, and the Sheraton Waikiki) and historic hotels dating back to the early 20th century (such as the Moana Surfrider Hotel and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel).

Since 2001, there have been free movies on the beach. Many tourists from around the world can view a movie on an outdoor 30 foot screen. This particular free movie event in Waikiki is called "Sunset on the Beach". Get a rubber raft at a nearby ABC or E-Z Discount stores and float offshore. Sea turtles frequent the area fronting the “grand dame” of Waikiki, the Westin Moana Surfrider Hotel. Cool off with a mai tai under the banyan tree where “Hawaii Calls” was broadcast for 40 years.

4 more images

I'm not much of a beach person because I don't like lying on the sand in the sun, and I've had two melanomas removed. I did not expect that my grandson would be either since he had remarked "My mother made me take swimming lessons".

We were supposed to have Pearl Harbor tours on two days but the part of the tour in an airplane fell through because the company went out of business. So we had a free day, and at one point he was going to try the beach - he said he would try surfing if I would!!!! The hotel gave us a beach bag, and it was only a short walk from there.

But we went to the Bishop Museum instead.

So all we did was look at the beach

If you want to have a low key beach dance party, head down to Duke's @ the Outrigger Waikiki
Listen to legendary Henry Kapono & Band 400pm-630p, end the night with the most amazing sunset!

One of my favorite Sunday afternoons!

4 more images

honolulu has 3 beaches and parks namely the waikiki beach, kuhio beach and the Ala Moana Beach and Park. This park is popular area for hagning around and is less congested with beachcombers and tourist than the waikiki and kuhio beach areas. This 100-acre park has a wide gold-sand beach that is over a half-mile (800 m) long. It's man-made and was created by the owner of the Dillingham Dredging Company, who was looking for a place to dispose of his dredged earth. So in the 1950s, sand was dumped at this park, which created the beach. Big grassy areas, banyans and palm trees make the park a good place to picnic, barbecue, play all kinds of ball games or go running. There are lifeguards, showers, restrooms, phones, tennis courts, picnic tables, food concessions and a music pavilion. Ala Moana Beach Park is a favorite among Honolulu residents. On the weekends, they come here with their families to picnic, swim and spend time together.

2 more images

The beaches of Waikiki are world famous because of their location...which is great...right along the main strip of Honolulu where all the fancy hotels reside. But the beach itself are rather basic, in fact the beach is really just a long strip of beach that aren't very wide and usually very crowded. In other words there isn't a lot of room to build sandcastles. However that said the location is wonderful and nothing beats swimming in the ocean with a view of Honolulu and a beautiful blue sky! The waves at Waikiki are nothing to write home about but they are big enough to have fun with...you will see far more body boarders than surfers. Which actually is a good thing...surfers are like snowboarders, obnoxious and pretentious! The best part of these beaches are the setting, sand and palm tree's and a thriving shopping/hotel district running perpendicular with the beach. It makes for some wonderful pictures and memories!

1 more image

Waikiki is the extremely touristy area of Honolulu. I typically try and avoid the touristy areas but it seems like you can't stay away from Waikiki. Many hotels are lined along this beach as well as hundreds of "abc Stores" and other gift shops.
In the evening this area is bustling with bars and clubs and of course the best part, Street performers. Some of these people are very interesting and worth the time to see what they are doing.
As for me, I did find that the Diamond Head Lighthouse was nearby and their were some interesting buildings. For more information on these interests go to my Waikiki Page.

It is a dream come true to stroll along this world famous Wakiki beach.

Overlooking is the Diamond Head - a reminder of the volcanic origin of this archipelago of islands rising in the middle of Pacific Ocean.

There are many tourists, young and old, sunbathing. I was hoping to hula hula dancers and pineaples being served under the coconut palms but no such thing.

Surprised that there are so many Japanese and Japanese owned property here.

4 more images

So first things first. Be safe. My friend was learning to surf and didn't put the ankle strap on. Needless to say his board shot out from under him and flew through the air and landed on another person arm... Breaking it. No your limits and attempt to stay a safe distance from others.

PRICE
1-Day, 1-Hour Group Surf Lessons
With 5 or more students - 15 & older
$49.00

RENTALS
You can also rent a board. You will see the locations on the beach as you walk it. The price of renting a board will differ so shop around. If you don't need lessons then it's the best price.

IF YOU LIKE MY POST PLEASE GIVE POSITIVE FEEDBACK, THANKS.

4 more images

Actually, Waikiki beach isn't very good for sunbathers and those who want to body surf. The course coral sand is uncomfortable, the coral reef below the water dangerous, and the undertoe, even more dangerous. However, sand has been imported in places, and the people watching at Waikiki is as good as it gets. What makes the beach famous in term of the water sport of surfing is the regular cycles of waves which can be ridden for a long time. On the other side of the island are the big waves, but here with a long board, a novice rider can catch a wave and ride forever. Meanwhile, body watching along the beach is the main action on shore. Unfortunately, the width of the beach is narrow in some places due to overbuilding by big hotels, but then the verandas of these hotels do provide great places to lunch and watch the surfers. Further down the beach, lawn invades the beach a bit, providing a comfortable place to lay under the palm trees that line the street. There's a protected swimming area about midway down the Waikiki strip that's a good place to take the kids.