WAIKIKI

Waikiki is truly the most vibrant and exciting part of Honolulu and Oahu. It's impossible to get bored, no matter what your interests are! Surfing, boogie boarding, kayaking, nightclubs, shopping malls, restaurants of all kinds, strolls, open markets, hula shows or sunsets on the beach... Almost every activity you can do in Hawaii can be done in Waikiki! Stretching from Diamond Head Crater in the east to the Ala Wai River in the west, Waikiki is lined with coconut trees and a succession of beautiful beaches whose turquoise waters enchant tourists from all over the world. And it is quite naturally that they have earned the reputation of being the most beautiful beaches in the Pacific. On only 2 km², Waikiki gathers hundreds of restaurants, hotels and stores, the whole frequented by 5 million tourists each year! Very few locals venture to Waikiki and it is mostly a cosmopolitan population that one meets in its streets and on its beaches. If Oahu has been nicknamed the most popular island, it is because of Waikiki that it is the major tourist hub of the island. However, the desire for a bit of air and authenticity arrives relatively quickly, so it is necessary to plan excursions on the rest of the island or a stroll on Kapahulu Avenue. This enclave in the east of the city is home to antique shops and Hawaiian restaurants frequented by locals. Waikiki means "gushing water" because of the swamps that once stretched across its land and were used primarily to grow taro or rice until the late 19th century. But everything changed in the 1920s with the construction of the Ala Wai Canal, which allowed the water from the marshes to be captured and the soil to be drained. Waikiki then became a sort of artificial island, bordered on the north and west by Ala Wai. From then on, tourism developed quite rapidly and construction multiplied exponentially throughout the 20th century, giving it the modern face that we know today. It is very easy to find your way around, the streets are at right angles, American style, and the sea is never far away. The bus network is very dense, completed by the Biki, bicycles on demand, and electric scooters. Avoid driving there, parking is a headache. If the seaside has the advantage of offering spectacular views, it is also very noisy. For more tranquility, choose the back of Waikiki, between Kuhio Avenue and the canal.