Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Beach is a 1.5-mile crescent of golden sand on the south shore of Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, backed by a dense line of hotels, resorts, and the green ridge of Diamond Head volcanic crater rising 761 feet at its eastern end. The beach is divided into named sections with different characteristics: Fort DeRussy Beach at the western end is less crowded and fronts the US Army's historic recreation area. The central sections below the Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton hotels see the densest concentration of surf lessons, outrigger canoe rides, and surf board rentals. The eastern end near Kapiolani Park and the Honolulu Zoo is broader and popular with local families. Waikiki's waves are gentle and consistent, generated by offshore reefs that break and diminish swell before it reaches the shore — conditions that have made this one of the world's premier beginner surfing destinations for more than a century. Hawaiian kings surfed here, and Duke Kahanamoku, the 'Father of Modern Surfing' and Waikiki's most famous son, introduced surfing to the wider world from this beach in the early 20th century. A statue of Duke stands on the beach near the Moana Surfrider hotel. Outrigger canoe rides, offered by concessions along the beach, provide a traditional Hawaiian water experience distinct from surfing. The Moana Surfrider, opened in 1901, is the beach's most historic hotel; its beachside Banyan Court hosts afternoon high tea beneath a giant banyan tree. Diamond Head crater, a short drive or bus ride east, offers a 1.6-mile round-trip hike to a summit with panoramic views over Waikiki and the Honolulu coastline. Sunset from the beach itself, with Diamond Head silhouetted to the east, is a defining Honolulu image.