Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
Places to visit > Waikiki - More in this category > Honolulu > Haleiwa > Hanauma Bay > Kailua > Kaneohe > North Shore > Pearl City > Pearl Harbor > Sunset Beach > Wahiawa > Sea Park > Honolulu Zoo > WaterfallsWaikiki means "sprouting water" in Hawaiian, named after the wetlands just behind the now famous strip. Waikiki was a long time favorite residence of the chiefs of Oahu. Today it is a tourist hotspot. The area covers only seven-tenths of a square mile and yet on any given day 110 000 people crowd its beaches and streets, making Waikiki one of the most densely populated areas on earth. All these tourists and business mean one thing: be prepared to enter into a spirit of rampant commercialization. There is little here to remind you of the real Hawaii.
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Part of Waikiki's attractions is world-class people watching. You could sit for hours and never tire of the visions and sights! People from all over the world, with different tastes and cultures mingle here, wanting their own little piece of Waikiki.
Hawaii's Infamous Beach
Waikiki Beach is worth a look due to its well-known name and just to say you have been there. However, the beach itself is overrated and pretty low on the list of Hawaii's best beaches. Generally, all beaches in Waikiki are crowded, but the swimming conditions are good and it is a good place for novice surfing. Check out Royal-Moana Beach, Gray's Beach and Sans Souci Beach.
Other then the world-class shopping, dining and sunbathing, there are some actual sights worth seeing. Diamond Head is the most prominent structure in the Waikiki/Honolulu area. It was formed by one enormous volcanic explosion more then 350 000 years ago. Its name comes from wide-eyed English sailors who found calcite crystals on its slopes and thought they had discovered diamonds! They later discovered the crystals were what were called "Pele's Tears" and were worthless. However, the name Diamond Head stuck. The ancient Hawaiians called this structure Le'ahi and was considered a power spot. Human sacrifices were offered on the western slopes to the blood-thirsty war-god, Ku. Today Diamond Head is a state monument and is definitely worth a visit. There is a half hour hike up to the rim that offers a superb view of the southern coast of Oahu.
A good family outing is a visit to Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium for a look at the great collection of animals and marine life. Fort DeRussy, the military base and the US Army Museum are also worth a visit. The museum houses massive artillery pieces from WWII. The displays trace the history of warfare in Hawaii back to the time of Kamehameha the Great.
Probably one of the last links to ancient Hawaii in Waikiki can be found on the beach outside the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel. The sacred stones of Ulukou stand on a raised stone platform. These are said to embody the healing and spiritual powers of four magician-priests from Tahiti, who set them in place before returning home in the fourteenth century.
The Kodak Hula Show is a free hula spectacular and is performed at Kapi'olani Regional Park a place where families come to escape the craziness of Waikiki.The other islands of Hawaii - Big Island - Kauai - Lanai - Maui - Molokai - Cruises
Oahu Travel Guide
