Waikiki Beach
Although Waikiki Beach is approximately two miles long, the “heart” of the beach fronts four hotels – the Sheraton Waikiki, the Royal Hawaiian, the Outrigger Waikiki, and the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotels – and Kuhio Beach Park. This is where the highest concentration of sunbathers and swimmers is found, along with most of Waikiki’s beach concessions, and this is where Waikiki’s famous surfing waves are located. The concessionaires rent surfboards and bodyboards and offer surfing lessons and outrigger canoe and catamaran rides. Waikiki Beach includes many individually named beach sections that primarily recognize the adjacent hotels or parks. From west to east these sections are Kahanamoku Beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel, Kahanamoku Beach Park at the end of Paoa Place, Fort DeRussy Beach, the Outrigger Reef Hotel, Gray’s Beach fronting the Halekulani Hotel, the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel, the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel, Kuhio Beach Park, The Wall, Queen’s Surf Beach, the War Memorial Natatorium, Sans Souci Beach, the Outrigger Canoe Club, and the Elks Club.
Waikiki means “spouting water,” a reference to the springs, ponds, and marshes that comprised much of the resort area prior to its development. In 1922, a major project was started to fill the Waikiki wetlands and transform them into residential tracts. It was called the Waikiki Reclamation Project and included 0dredging the Ala Wai Canal and pumping all of the dredged material, mostly coral, into the low-lying areas between the canal and the beach. This massive landfill project is the foundation of the resort area as we know it today.
Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world. Its warm waters and rolling surf have been attracting large numbers of visitors since 1901, when the first large tourist hotel, the Moana, opened for business. The Moana is still standing today (now named the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel), and the Waikiki resort area has grown around it to include approximately three square miles of hotels, condominiums, and shopping centers, bordered on the east by Diamond Head, on the north and west by the Ala Wai Canal, and on the south by Waikiki Beach.
A few of the many activities at Waikiki Beach are boat rides, bodyboarding, fishing, kayaking, outrigger canoe surfing, sailing, snorkeling, surfing, swimming, and windsurfing.
During the summer months Waikiki Beach experiences high surf at all of its surfing sites. Inexperienced swimmers and surfers should stay close to shore during these seasonal periods of high surf. Lifeguards are on duty daily. Check with them before going in the water. Fishermen should also be aware that the waters at Sans Souci Beach fronting the New Otani Kaimana Breach Hotel are periodically closed to fishing. Signs detailing the regulations are posted in the park.
When you are staying in Oahu you can check out 4beachnuts for great vacation beach rentals or try these vacation rentals on Goin2Travel.
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