Whether you’re from Hawaii or have never even been to the islands, you’ve probably heard of Waikiki Beach. Often rated as one of the best beaches in the United States, Waikiki Beach has become a premier place to spend a holiday. Waikiki Beach is known for its beautiful white sand and turquoise blue water but that’s just the beginning!
Where is Waikiki Beach?
Located on the tropical island of Oahu, Waikiki Beach gets the benefit of natural beauty as well as the glamour and excitement of being a district of Hawaii’s largest city, Honolulu. As people come to relax with the breathtaking backdrop of Diamond Head, they stay at one of the most well known hotels in the country, The Royal Hawaiian. The Royal Hawaiian, aka The Pink Palace, adds a special character to Waikiki and helped establish the beach as a hub for tourists early on.
Waikiki Beach also benefits from its location as Waikiki has grown into a thriving district. Home to world-class dining & shopping, entertainment venues such as a zoo and aquarium, and several places to stay, everything you could possibly need is within walking distance from the beach.
Where Surfing was Born
Surfing was once considered a sport only for Hawaiian Royalty until Duke Kahanamoku was able to share it with the world. Growing up in Waikiki, Duke surfed, swam, and worked as a Waikiki Beachboy. He eventually went on to win 5 Olympic medals for swimming which gave him the voice he needed.
Now a famous athlete, Duke introduced the world to surfing by showcasing the sport from the East Coast to West Coast and even in Australia! Now, Waikiki Beach surfing brings millions of tourists to where it all began as they try to surf Queens, Canoes, and Pops just as the father of surfing once did.
Famous Beach for Celebrities
(Picture source: Victorias Vintage)
While Waikiki Beach is famous for surfing and its beauty, it got a little boost from other famous icons in the early 1900s. Shortly after the first hotels were built on the beach, celebrities such as Bing Crosby, Amelia Earhart, Frank Sinatra and Joe DiMaggio rushed down to see Waikiki Beach. Not long after, Elvis Presley began performing in Waikiki as well as starring in a handful of movies that were shot at Waikiki Beach.
As the decades passed, Hollywood consistently picked Waikiki Beach to be the setting for several TV shows, movies, and vacations.
Waikiki Beach is a natural beach. The beach became famous and popular due to its naturally occurring sand stretching for a continuous two-miles along the south Oahu coast.
What is good about Waikiki Beach?
Many of the best Oahu hotels also overlook Waikiki Beach. Past visitors loved how easy this free beach is to access and its beautiful, clean water and sand. … Waikiki Beach is located less than 4 miles southeast of the city center and is accessible via multiple bus lines and the Waikiki Trolley.
Why is Waikiki a popular vacation destination?
Waikiki enjoys a reputation for being the world’s most famous beach resort, blessed with South Sea magic. … The beach has been a favorite bathing place for Hawaiians long before tourists began to flock to the area, and Waikiki beach was once used to receive royal guests.
Is Waikiki Beach overrated?
Waikiki Beach is just one of six beaches that Honolulu Magazine called overrated. There are plenty of other things to do in Oahu besides Waikiki, but that doesn’t stop tourists from flocking there.
Is there sharks in Waikiki Beach?
Sharks in Waikiki is very rare, I would not worry.
Are Hawaii beaches fake?
Most visitors may not know it, but Waikiki Beach is almost entirely man-made. … By 1950, more than 80 structures, including seawalls, groins, piers and storm drains, were counted along the Waikiki shoreline, according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report.
Is Hawaii really that beautiful?
Hawaii is a beautiful tropical vacation hot spot unlike any other in the world. From its beautiful white sandy beaches and its majestic mountains and steep valleys to its city life, there really is something for everyone to enjoy!
Is Hawaii overrated as a vacation destination?
Is Hawaii Overrated as Having Friendly, Welcoming, and Generous Locals? Yes, for sure. However, when you are friendly, welcoming, and generous first, it comes back to you in excess. So, you can see by my overwhelmingly positive review that I think Hawaii is probably way underrated as a top tropical tourist destination.
Is Oahu too busy?
The third largest island in Hawaii, and also the most populated, Oahu is home to approximately two-thirds of Hawaii’s population. And because of this, many people believe Oahu is entirely overrated – it’s too crowded, too busy, too developed, etc.
What is there to do in Oahu on a budget?
Free and Cheap Things to Do in Oahu
- Look for accommodations on the North Shore.
- Go beach-hopping on the bus.
- Shark’s Cove.
- Eat in and around Chinatown in Honolulu.
- Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki.
- Diamond Head Trail.
- Pearl Harbor.
- Hawaii State Art Museum.
How much does it cost to go to Hawaii per person?
A vacation to Hawaii for one week usually costs around $1,880 for one person. So, a trip to Hawaii for two people costs around $3,760 for one week. A trip for two weeks for two people costs $7,521 in Hawaii.
Is Waikiki safe?
Although tourist areas are generally safe, visitors should always stay alert, even in laidback Hawaii (and especially in Waikiki). If you’re in doubt about which neighborhoods are safe, the island tourist office can advise you. Avoid deserted areas, especially at night.
Can you swim at Waikiki Beach?
Eight Sections of Waikiki Beach
There is a man-made swimming lagoon that is sandwiched between the Ilikai Hotel and the top of Duke Kahanamoku Beach. … The beach itself is one of the more popular and busier of Waikiki Beaches because it offers a calm swimming area with a protected seawall.
Is Waikiki beach safe to swim?
Waikiki Beach is pretty safe since it borders lots of hotels but Waikiki is a public beach and you know…if you are worried, just leave your valuables in your hotel and go minimalistic to the beach just like your swimwear I hope:)haha Seriously, there probably won’t be an incident if you place your stuff and take …
How much does it cost to get into Waikiki Beach?
There are no ticket prices for Waikiki Beach. However, if you choose to stick on to some tour, it will offer you the advantage of other activities along with the main attraction.
Is the road to Hana overrated?
The Road to Hana is known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world due to its lush forest, coastal views, and stunning beaches but it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. It’s extremely crowded, touristy, and can easily be an overrated attraction if you don’t do it right.
What city is Waikiki Beach in?
Located on the south shore of Honolulu, the world-famous neighborhood of Waikiki was once a playground for Hawaiian royalty. Known in Hawaiian as “spouting waters,” Waikiki was introduced to the world when its first hotel, the Moana Surfrider, was built on its shores in 1901.
How is Hawaii so beautiful?
The warm water, the plentiful reefs, fish, turtles, whales, and barracuda make the beautiful Hawaii islands a great place to spend a lot of time in the water. With all the different things Hawaii has to offer, it surely ranks as the most beautiful place on Earth.
What are the bad things about living in Hawaii?
Choose 3 Worst Things About Living in Hawaii
- High cost of living (71%, 37 Votes)
- Illegal drugs epidemic (37%, 19 Votes)
- Traffic (29%, 15 Votes)
- Low pay (27%, 14 Votes)
- High unemployment (19%, 10 Votes)
- Isolation from other places (19%, 10 Votes)
- Too many tourists (15%, 8 Votes)
Why is everyone so nice in Hawaii?
The Aloha spirit is strong, which means that people from Hawaii are always willing to offer friendship and assistance when needed. 2) According to a national well-being survey, Hawaii is the least stressed state in the states – naturally, everyone has a little more patience and empathy.
Is Hawaii worth going to?
If you’re willing to hop in your car in the morning and do lots of exploring and really want to see some incredible things you can’t see anywhere else in the world, then Hawaii is definitely worth it!
Does Hawaii have natural sand beaches?
Waikiki’s Sand – Hawaii Sand
There is no Hawaiian beach more well known than Waikiki beach in Honolulu, Oahu. There is also perhaps no stranger origin than that of the sand there.
How will Hawaii disappear?
Study: 40% of Hawaii’s beaches could disappear in 30 years due to sea level rise. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) – A new study by published out of the University of Hawaii predicts that as much as 40% of Hawaii’s beaches could be lost by the year 2050 because of sea level rise.
Is Waikiki Beach a natural beach?
Most visitors may not know it, but Waikiki Beach is almost entirely man-made. It has had erosion problems since the late-1800s when developers began erecting hotels and homes too close to the natural shoreline and building seawalls and other structures that blocked the natural ebb and flow of sand along the beach.
Source by moviecultists.com