Waikīkī Beach

Waikīkī Beach is the 2-mile stretch of sandy coast along the neighborhood of Waikīkī in Honolulu. Within it are several small beaches that connect. You may hear someone talk about Kūhiō Beach, where the Duke Kahanamoku statue lives, or Fort DeRussy Beach, in front of the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaiʻi — both are within Waikīkī Beach. Here's a breakdown of each beach, from the farthest west end of Waikīkī to the farthest east end.

There are many things that come to mind when I think of Waikīkī Beach — sunset strolls, street performers and stopping for shave ice, to name a few. But the following are the signature experiences that have come to define Waikīkī Beach over the past century.

Surf Lessons

You can’t come to the birthplace of modern surfing and not take a surf lesson. Multiple ISA-certified surf schools operate right on the sand at Kūhiō Beach, with boards stacked up and ready to take you out from about 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day of the week. Canoes and Queen's surf breaks are the same gentle rides where Duke Kahanamoku and the Waikīkī Beach Boys first taught visitors to surf in the early 20th century, and that tradition has continued ever since. Group lessons typically range from $75 to $130 per person, and private lessons run $125 to $220 per person. Many schools will send a photographer out into the water to capture your first wave for you.

Outrigger Canoe Rides

This is another quintessential Waikīkī experience that began with Duke and the Beach Boys. Hop in for the thrill of catching a wave in a traditional Hawaiian outrigger canoe instead of on a surfboard. Then, learn the history behind these hand-made vessels, which brought the first Polynesians to the Hawaiian Islands. Prices range from $35 to $55 per person, and rides usually last 20 to 40 minutes — long enough to catch a few waves.

Sunset Catamaran Cruises

Just as iconic as the backdrop of Lēʻahi, or Diamond Head, are the yellow catamarans that depart right off the sand of Kūhiō Beach. I don't know what's more exciting, watching the catamarans part down the center of an ocean full of swimmers, surfers and paddlers or the view of Waikīkī from the boat as you pull away from the beach. You can also catch a catamaran cruise from Fort DeRussy Beach. These tours typically run 1.5 to 2 hours — some include cocktails, some include snorkeling. You can book same-day at the beach kiosks or online. Prices range from $40 to $150 per person.

Free Hula Shows at Kūhiō Beach Hula Mound

Every Saturday (excluding July 4, Sept. 19, Oct. 17 and Oct. 31) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., you can watch a free hula performance at the Kūhiō Beach Hula Mound, near the Duke Kahanamoku statue. The shows periodically change, but free Hawaiian music and hula in the evening have been a tradition here for more than 30 years. Bring a beach chair or a towel to sit on in the grass, weather permitting.

Friday Fireworks

Since 1988, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort has hosted a free fireworks show every Friday night from Duke Kahanamoku Beach. The show usually begins around 7:30-7:45 p.m. depending on the season and can be seen from Magic Island down to Fort DeRussy Beach.

Three things every Waikīkī Beach visitor should know before heading out: 1) Parking is expensive if you're not staying at a hotel. 2) Public access to the sand exists between every hotel, so you don't need to be a guest to use the beach and 3) Hawaiʻi state law bans any sunscreen that is not reef-safe.

Parking

If you're staying at a hotel in Waikīkī, park your car at the hotel and don’t move it unless you are leaving the neighborhood — everything here is within walking distance. Most hotels offer in-and-out validation for guests. If you're not staying in Waikīkī, plan on parking in a paid garage. Most garages run $30 to $60 a day. Metered street parking exists along Kalākaua Avenue and side streets, but it's very limited and strictly enforced. There is free public parking at Kapiʻolani Park on the east end of Waikīkī, which is an easy walk to Kaimana’s Beach. You could also park at the International Marketplace or Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and purchase something at the mall for 4 hours of free parking validation.

Public Beach Access

Hawaiʻi state law guarantees public shoreline access anywhere in Hawaiʻi. Between every hotel in Waikīkī, there's a marked public access point. You don't need to be a hotel guest to use the beach it is in front of.

Reef-safe Sunscreen

Under Hawaiʻi's Act 104, effective 2021, the state bans the sale and distribution of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, both of which damage coral. Bring a mineral-based sunscreen with zinc oxide, look for a "reef safe" or non-nano label or wear a long-sleeve rash guard instead. This is the law everywhere in Hawaiʻi, especially at Waikīkī, where the number of people in the water each day adds up fast.

Safety

Waikīkī is calm on most days. Lēʻahi, or Diamond Head, and the offshore reef protects Waikīkī’s shoreline from incoming swell, but rip currents do happen occasionally, so I'd always take a lifeguard's advice seriously if conditions look off. Roughly eight to 10 days after every full moon, you can count on seeing box jellyfish near the shallow end. Check Waikīkī Aquarium's box jellyfish calendar to find out when to stay out of the water. Lifeguards are on duty at most segments of the beach during daylight hours.

Erosion

Waikīkī Beach isn't naturally pristine. It is a man-made beach, made up of sand that was brought in from places like California, and has eroded significantly over time. The sand is replenished periodically, with the most recent major project in 2012 and smaller maintenance efforts ongoing since. Some segments, like Gray's Beach, have largely disappeared over the years despite that upkeep.

Waikīkī Hawaiian Culture

For centuries, Waikīkī was a place of rest and recreation for Hawaiian Royalty before it was turned into a resort destination. That history is still present today if you look for it. From the healing stones located near the Kūhiō Beach hula mound to the enduring legacy of Duke Kahanamoku, Hawaiian traditions are the foundation of Waikīkī Beach. I encourage every visitor to keep that history in mind when you are enjoying these beaches and seek out activities, artwork and hula performances that will teach you all about it.