Unspecified/General

Stretching for roughly two miles along the southern shore of Oahu beneath the unmistakable profile of Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach is the most famous beach in Hawaii and one of the most visited stretches of sand in the world. Once a quiet retreat of Hawaiian royalty, the area was transformed in the early twentieth century by the construction of the great pink Moana and Royal Hawaiian hotels, the building of the Ala Wai Canal that drained the surrounding wetlands and the gradual rise of the wider Waikiki resort district behind it. The beach itself is in fact a sequence of named stretches, each with its own subtle character. Kuhio and Duke Kahanamoku beaches close to the great hotels are gentle and family-friendly, with breakwaters that calm the surf, while Queen's and Canoes farther east are the historic home of Hawaiian surfing and remain the place where most visitors take their first lesson on a long board. Sans Souci and the foot of Diamond Head are quieter, often favoured by locals at sunset. Conditions are generally welcoming. Warm year-round water, modest, beginner-friendly waves and abundant board, snorkel and outrigger canoe rentals along the shore mean visitors of every age and skill level find a way into the water. A long, palm-shaded boardwalk lined with shops, restaurants and beach bars runs the length of the sand, drawing crowds well into the evening. In the wider area, the statue of Olympic swimmer and surfing ambassador Duke Kahanamoku, the historic Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the daily torch-lighting and hula performances at Kuhio Beach lend a strong sense of Hawaiian heritage to what could otherwise feel like a generic resort beach. For visitors to Honolulu, Waikiki remains the inevitable starting point, an accessible, lively and almost effortlessly photogenic introduction to island life. The beach is free and open at all hours, with public showers, restrooms and lifeguard towers at regular intervals along the length of the shore. Visitors are advised to apply reef-safe sun protection, stay aware of the gentle but persistent currents, and consider an early morning or late afternoon visit to avoid the densest mid-day crowds along this famously busy stretch of Pacific sand.

Type: Beach

Address: Waikiki, Honolulu, United States