From Teresa Plowright,
Your Guide to Family Vacations.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Where is Waikiki Beach?

Waikiki Beach is a legendary tourist zone on the south shore of Oahu in Hawaii: a 2-mile sweep of surf and shore below Diamond Head.

What's special about Waikiki Beach:

Waikiki Beach is the most-developed tourist area in Hawaii, with:

• rich history
• beautiful sea, and views of Diamond Head
• perfect surf for beginners, and good surf year-round
• a loveliness that persists even with concrete and high-rises

Waikiki Beach History:
Waikiki Beach has been inhabited since Polynesians arrived in these islands, and has seen much of the tumult of Hawaii's history: warrior kings, whaling ships, terrible epidemics, displaced Hawaiians, a deposed Queen, and of course tourist development starting over a century ago. Two venerable hotels still sit on the beach: the Moana Surfrider and the pink Royal Hawaiian. Around them tower high-rises, and Kalakaua Avenue-- by Waikiki Beach-- is busy with shops and restaurants.

Yet Waikiki Beach is still a lovely place. Dozens of surfers play off-shore all day. Kalakaua Avenue's winding wide sidewalk is dotted by pools, fountains, statues, and snippets of history on surfboard signs. Beachside Kapiolani Park has walkways and picnic tables.

What's special about Waikiki Beach for families:

• many family-friendly hotels including suites and affordable choices (see below)
• sheltered beach with breakwater (Kuhio Beach area)
• great sand for castles
• beginner surf lessons for kids
• convenience of familiar fast food brands
• close to Waikiki Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium
• look for the four "Wizard Stones". ( Read about their legend.)

Three fun activities:

-Walk the wide sidewalk along Kalakaua Ave., pose your kids for a photo by the statue of "the father of modern surfing" Duke Kahanamoku (who revived this ancient sport of Hawaiian royalty), digest a little history from surfboad signs along with your favorite ice cream from Kalakaua's shops. You can walk to the Honolulu Zoo or Kapiolani Park.

-Splurge on High Tea at the Moana Surfrider: a classy hotel with a period-style verandah that faces the sea and a spectacular century-old banyan tree. Yes, tea: no mere drink but a ritual done in full British colonial style but with a kids' menu too. (And kids can go play and still be in view.)

-Take in local events that give concrete Waikiki a human face:

• "Sunset on the Beach" at Waikiki Beach's Kapahulu Pier: the beach becomes an outdoor movie theatre, with food booths, free movies on a giant screen, other entertainment
• "Brunch on the Beach": once a month, traffic stops on busy Kalakoa Avenue by Kuhio Beach, and the street becomes an outdoor cafe with delicious food by island chefs, at bargain prices; entertainment, too.

More about Waikiki Beach:

• photos of Waikiki Beach
• for sightseeing, see Visit Oahu
• 101 Free Things to do in Oahu- at About's Hawaii for Visitors site; many of these activities are in Waikiki Beach.
• for more history, see Parkshore Waikiki and the unorthodox Historic Waikiki.