Waikiki

Waikiki is a crowded beachside extension of Honolulu. It is the largest tourist destination in Hawaii. Waikiki has a marvelous white-sand beach, just southeast of downtown Honolulu. The 3 km (2 miles) stretch of white sand that runs from the Hilton Hawaiian Village to Kapiolani Beach Park is commonly called Waikiki Beach. It is actually a series of distinctive smaller beaches, from Kahanamoku in the north to Sans Souci in the south. During the day it is packed with sunbathers, but early in the morning it's a wonderful place to enjoy sunrise. Kahanamoku Beach, fronting the Hilton, is one of the calmer swimming areas. It was named after Duke Kahanamoku, a local swimmer and surfer who won the 1912 Olympic 100 m freestyle. To the southern end of Waikiki Beach, at Kapahulu Groin, you will see numerous boogie boarders, as well as onlookers watching their daredevil wave riding.

One of the main sights in Waikiki is the Moorish Royal Hawaiian Hotel, with its pink turrets. It dates from the times, when only the happy few could afford to visit Hawaii by luxury liner. Kapiolani Park features the Waikiki Aquarium and the Honolulu Zoo, as well as several bandstand and hula show grounds. It's at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki and it was a gift to the Hawaiian people from their last king, David Kalakaua.

To the southeast of the city is the tuff cone of Diamond Head. The crater was formed by a violent steam explosion and its 228 m (760 feet) high summit is one of the most famous landmarks on Oahu. The top can be reached by a good hiking trail and the panoramic views are excellent.

There are many places where hula lessons are given, as well as possibilities for outrigger canoeing. The area's national beauty is striking. The sunsets are spectacularly orange and there are bath-warm waters and night skies overrun with stars. Waikiki Aquarium is at Kapiolani Beach Park. It is home to cuttlefish, wrasse, bearded armorheads and reef sharks. The neighboring Honolulu Zoo has a large section devoted to native birds like the Hawaiian goose (nene) and the forest-dwelling apapane.

Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, some 10 km southeast of the city center. There is a wide variety of hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops. Waikiki's Hawaiian-style entertainment ranges from Polynesian extravaganzas with beating drums and hula dancers to mellow duos jamming on ukuleles or slack-key guitars. The area around the hotels is the best place to look for nightclubs and bars.