Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

Waikiki Beach in the district of Waikiki in Honolulu is on Oahu Island and boasts of being one of the world’s best-known beaches. In the 19th century, Waikiki was a favorite playground for Hawaiian royalty at a time when it was just a wetland area served by some streams originating from Honolulu valleys. Today, Waikiki white sand beach is a 1.5-mile stretch that has become the heart of the tourism industry of Hawaii. The beach features high rise hotels that guarantee you a top-notch experience. Even though the beach is highly criticized due to the large crowds that give it a less touristy feel and its appearance of a concrete jungle, Waikiki is a place where you can experience a lot if you know your way around.

Waikiki beach is a combination of the vibrant recreational Hawaiian community and natural beauty. Alongside the numerous attractions found on this gorgeous beach, the great clubs and restaurants will make you feel at home. Some of the popular activities that you can engage in Waikiki beach are such as sailing, snorkeling, parasailing, golfing, shopping, and board boarding. Most tourists on the beach also enjoy hiking at Diamond Head and others will spend their time visiting Waikiki Aquarium or Honolulu zoo on the beach. Hotels nearby are first class and priced moderately to suit your budget.

Waikiki beach is highly accessible thanks to the direct flight connections available at Honolulu International airport located nearby. Regular flights to Canada, Asia, Australia, and the US mainland are available. Nevertheless, most visitors arrive at the beach by cruise ships thanks to the nearby Honolulu Harbor. Also regular inter-island flight connections are available to other Hawaiian Islands and Maui.

At Waikiki, you will get to see the Diamond Head Crater which is a defining landmark of Hawaii that seems to dominate the whole area. At the crater, you can enjoy breathtaking views over Oahu Coast and hiking is quite easy and eventful. Kapiolani Park in Waikiki is a public park that houses the famous Waikiki Shell as well as Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium are just a stone throw away from it.

Honolulu zoo is a place where you can see the big games including elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes, and zebras. At the aquarium, you will be fascinated with the vast marine life species like sharks, jellyfish, octopus, and coral and the colorful reel fish as well as Hawaiian monk seals.

Waikiki beach is a series of several beaches which is the most famous attraction in the state of Hawaii. Unfortunately, due to its popularity, it is highly crowded even though it is an excellent place where you can learn surfing especially if you are a beginner.

Being a collection of beaches, the specific beaches that makeup Waikiki beach are Kahanamoku Beach, Fort DeRussy Beach, Royal Manoa Beach, and Kuhio Beach as well as San Souci Beach and the Queens Surf Beach. The beach is also a great shopping spot for jewelry and eateries especially in the duty-free shops.