Waikiki Beach

Overview

Located in Honolulu, Waikiki Beach is a beautiful and extremely popular beach  with light brown sand and nearby palm trees. This beach is located in the popular touristy neighborhood of Waikiki. The beach’s name in Hawaiian means "spouting water" - the beach received this name because in the past multiple springs and rivers used to flow around this beach – as another fun fact Waikiki Beach was used by Hawaiian nobility for surfing. Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the United State and was named the 4th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.” It is important to note that Waikiki Beach is a part of a larger beach area that stetches for almost two miles that is also called Waikiki Beach – in addition to Waikiki Beach, this larger beach area is composed of seven other beaches including Duke Kahanamoku Beach (also called Kahanamoku Beach and Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Beach Park), Fort DeRussy Beach (also known asFort DeRussy Beach Park, Gray’s Beach (also known as Grays Beach, Halekulani Beach, Kawehewehe, and Grey’s Beach), Royal Hawaiian Beach (also known as Waikiki Beach Center and Royal Moana Beach), Kuhio Beach (also known as "The Ponds", Kuhio Ponds, and Kūhiō Beach), Queen’s Beach (also known as Queen Kapiolani Beach , Queen’s Surf Beach, and Kapiolani Beach Park), and Kaimana Beach (also known as also known as Kaimana Beach Park, Kaimana’s Beach, Waikiki at San Souci Beach, Sans Souci Beach, and San Souci Beach).

Waikiki Beach is constantly threatened by erosion – some of Waikiki Beach’s parts have been significantly reduced in size due to erosion. There are multiple rocky jetties and seawalls near Waikiki Beach – the beach’s southwestern portion particularly has many rocky seawalls near it. Although most of the portions of Waikiki Beach have lifeguards, there are some portions that do not have lifeguard deployment – these portions are located near 2055 Kalia Road, in front a hotel named the Halekulani Hotel, and adjacent to another hotel named Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort.  In addition to lifeguards, Waikiki Beach has many other amenities including showers, restrooms, and nearby watersporting equipment rental facilities. In addition, portions of Waikiki Beach also have picnic areas – the portions of Waikiki Beach that have picnic areas are located at 2055 Kalia Road, near 2815 Kalakaua Avenue, and near 2365 Kalakaua Avenue. In addition, some of the portions of Waikiki Beach also have nearby grassy recreational areas, concession stands, and nearby water sporting equipment rental facilities – the portion of Waikiki Beach that is located near a park named Kapiolani Regional Park also has a pavilion and a nearby beach chair rental facility. It is important to note that the potion of Waikiki Beach in front of the Halekulani Hotel does not have any amenities, so please plan accordingly.    

Getting to Waikiki Beach is easy – this beach is easily accessible from Kalakaua Avenue and its northern portion is also easily accessible from Ala Moana Boulevard. There is a parking lot near the northern end of Waikiki Beach – this lot has both paid and free parking areas.  In addition, there are multiple free and paid street parking spaces near Waikiki Beach. If you are visiting the central portion of Waikiki Beach, you can park at the parking lot of a shopping center named the Royal Hawaiian Center - you can also get your parking validated here by purchasing ten dollars worth of goods from their shops and restaurants. You can visit the Royal Hawaiian Center’s website for more information regarding their validated parking rates.   

The southern end of Waikiki Beach has a parking lot near it – this lot is located near 2863 Kalakaua Avenue and it is adjacent to a war memorial named  Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial at 2815 Kalakaua Avenue. In addition to these parking spaces, please also note that there are many upscale, moderately priced, and modestly priced hotels adjacent to Waikiki Beach - you can also park at the parking lot of one of these hotels near Waikiki Beach. In addition, if you are visiting the the south-eastern portions of Waikiki Beach, you can park your  car at the free and paid street parking spaces near a regional park named Kapi’olani Regional Park – there is also a free parking lot near the park along Monserrat Avenue and you can easily walk to the beach’s southern part after parking here. 

Waikiki Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, picnicking, beachcombing, wildlife watching, hiking, volleyball, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, paddleboarding, scuba diving, surfing, kitesurfing, bodysurfing, skimboarding, bodyboarding, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, surf-skiing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, parasailing, wakeboarding, and boating.  The water at Waikiki Beach is immensely renowned for its fun and manageable surfing waves and this makes the beach popular with all kinds of surfers – the portion of the beach near Kapiolani Regional Park is particularly ideal for surfers and the northern end and there is also another popular surfing site near Waikiki Beach’s northwestern end.  This site is named Kaisers.  As an interesting fact, Waikiki Beach was also the place where renowned surfer and Olympics athlete Duke Kahanamoku honed his surfing skills - a statue dedicated to Duke is also located near Waikiki Beach. 

If you like bodyboarding and bodysurfing, the portion of Waikiki Beach that is located near Kapiolani Regional Park has a seawall near it - the water around this seawall is popular with bodyboarders and bodysurfers.  This bodyboarding and bodysurfing area is named “Waikiki Walls” and it is ideal for beginner and expert bodysurfers.  Beginner bodyboarders and bodysurfers visit the left side of the Waikiki Walls while expert bodysurfers and bodyboarders visit the right side of this bodysurfing and bodyboarding area.  

If you are looking for a beach with really calm water, we recommend visiting the northern end of Waikiki Beach because this portion has relatively calm water and this makes it ideal for beginner swimmers.

Waikiki Beach is also popular with snorkelers and scuba divers who often visit this beach to explore its vibrant biodiversity – the portion of Waikiki Beach near Kapiolani Regional Park and the southern end of Waikiki Beach are ideal for scuba divers and snorkelers.  The water at both these portions has reefs that  are home to many kinds of tropical fish and sea turtles. 

Depending on the time of the year, you can see many other kinds of animals in the water near Waikiki Beach including rare Hawaiian monk seals, migrating whales, and dolphins. It is important to note that monk seals and sea turtles are protected under a law named the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and harming them can result in a fine of up to $50,000 and possible imprisonment. If you are planning to swim, surf, snorkel, or kayak near Waikiki Beach, we recommend being careful because  the water here is known to have rip currents, especially during summers. In addition, the water here can also get significantly crowded because of Waikiki Beach’s popularity. It is also important to note that jellyfish are often found in the water near Waikiki Beach - these creatures can cause painful stings if disturbed. Please also note that parts of the ocean bottom near Waikiki Beach can also be rocky and cause injuries – in addition, please also note that the water at the northern part of the park can also be colder as compared to other parts of Waikiki Beach. 

It is also important to note that while children often climb on tope of the seawalls and the breakwaters near Waikiki Beach to play on them, this could be a dangerous because these rocky breakwaters and the seawall are slippery and can cause serious injuries. It is also important to note that surfing is not allowed within a portion of the water near Waikiki Beach – this no-surf area is located around a seawall named Kapahulu Groin.  

If you don’t like swimming in the ocean, there is a popular water body near the northernmost part of Waikiki Beach named the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon - this manmade  five-acre saltwater lagoon has relatively calmer water conditions and it offers many fun activities including swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, and surf-skiing. 

If you like submarines, Atlantis Submarine Adventures Hawaii offers interesting submarine tours near the northern end of Waikiki Beach - these tours provide a unique insight into the marine biodiversity and landscape in the water near Waikiki Beach.

If you like birdwatching, you can see many kinds of birds around a nearby park named Fort DeRussy Beach Park including parakeets and egrets. There is a concrete seawall near Waikiki Beach that is known as the Kapahulu Groin (it is also known as "Waikiki Wall").  If you like taking pictures and beautiful views, you can walk along this concrete seawall and enjoy amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Oahu shoreline. 

If you are planning to fish near Waikiki Beach, please follow the local fishing regulations that can be found at the website of the Division of Aquatic Resources (which is a part of the State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources ) - it is also important to note that fishing is prohibited in the coastal area between the Kapahulu Groin and the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial because  the water here is a part of Waikiki Marine Life Conservation District.    

Waikiki Beach hosts many fun events throughout the year. Zumba, yoga, and crossfit classes are frequently organized at the southern end of the beach. The portion of Waikiki Beach that is located near Kapiolani Regional Park hosts amazing movie screenings sessions on weekend evenings named Sunset on the Beach - this event also sees live music performances being performed in Waikiki Beach, along with plenty of food options. The movie screening starts around 7 pm, while the musical performances start a couple of hours earlier at 4 pm. In addition, this portion is also popular with  the members of the LGBTQ community.  In addition, many fun cultural events are organized in another portion of Waikiki Beach that is located near a hotel named Aston Waikiki Beach – these cultural events include the Pan-Pacific Hula Festival and the Kuhio Beach Hula Show.  

In addition, there is a landmark near Waikiki Beach named the Stones of Life (which is also called Kapaemahu) – this landmark has four large stones that signify four legendary Ancient Hawaiian healers.  

Attractions

There are many attractions near Waikiki Beach. Diamond Head State Monument is a state-managed area which is set in a volcanic tuff cone named Diamond Head (which is named Lē‘ahi in Hawaiian) that was formed due to volcanic activity around 300,000 years ago - this monument is spread over 475 acres and you can explore this unique geological wonder via the hiking trails present here. In addition, this site also has many prominent military installations including a Fire Control Station, which was built in the early 20th century to direct artillery fire from nearby coastal batteries. Diamond Head State Monument also has a lighthouse and a bunker, and Diamond Head’s summit also offers Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and the Oahu shoreline. If you like golfing, Ala Wai Golf Course is an 18-hole golf course that offers a fun and challenging session of golf. Lucoral Museum offers a unique insight into Hawaii’s natural and geological history and it also has a vast collection of rocks, fossils, precious stones, and sculptures. The museum also offers interesting jewellery-making workshops on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you are looking for another attraction near Waikiki Beach, Amelia Earhart Marker is a historical marker that was installed to commemorate aviatrix Amelia Earhart’s feat as the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the mainland United States. The area near this marker is a prominent observation area (which is also known as Amelia Earhart Lookout) that offers amazing views of the Oahu shoreline and the Pacific Ocean.

Restaurants

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Waikiki Beach. Hy’s Steak House Waikiki is an upscale restaurant which is famous for its delicious steaks. In addition, the restaurant also serves amazing soups, salads, and seafood. As another upscale option, Hula Grill Waikiki serves amazing Hawaiian-inspired gourmet dishes for lunch, breakfast, and dinner including loco moco, French toasts, poultry dishes, seafood, burgers, and steaks. Duke’s Waikiki is a popular restaurant which is named after the legendary surfer Duke Kahanamoku and serves amazing dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner including pupu platters, eggs, granola, steaks, seafood, pork chops, salads, tacos, sandwiches, burgers, and poultry dishes - many of the restaurant’s dishes exhibit local Hawaiian and international culinary influences.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Waikiki Beach, Marugame Udon Waikiki offers amazing udon noodles, along with delicious tempura and savory bowls.

Hotels

If you are looking for a hotel near Waikiki Beach, many great nearby options are available. The 5-Star The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki offers many amenities including a spa, multiple pools, a saltwater pool, a private beach area, two restaurants, and a bar. Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star Sheraton Waikiki which offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, two pools (including one with a waterslide), a spa, an infinity pool, and a cocktail bar.Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort's Rainbow Tower is another great upscale hotel. This hotel also offers amazing views of the Oahu shoreline and the Pacific Ocean and is also conveniently located close to some of Honolulu’s major attractions. The hotel also has a beautiful 200-foot-tall vividly colored mural on one side of the hotel. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Sheraton Princess Kaiulaniwhich offers many amenities including a fitness center, a pool, a bar that serves Japanese bento boxes, and a restaurant that offers nightly entertainment. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Waikiki Beach, the 2-Star Holiday Inn Express Waikiki, an IHG Hotel offers many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, a coin-operated laundry, and a sundeck.