With its famous beach and world-class shopping and dining, Waikīkī is the ideal place to start your holiday. It’s approximately 30 minutes’ drive from Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, where flights from Australia and New Zealand arrive, so within hours of stepping off the plane you can be lying under a palm tree with a coconut drink in hand
Waikīkī Beach
Located on the South Shore of Honolulu, the neighbourhood of Waikīkī was once a playground for royalty. Now, it’s tourists from around the globe who come to enjoy its myriad of attractions. Undoubtedly, Waikīkī’s biggest drawcard is its beach, with calm waters ideal for sports such as surfing, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), outrigger canoeing, kayaking, sailing, snorkelling, scuba diving and even SUP yoga. You can also explore the underwater world on a glass bottom boat tour or an environmentally-friendly submarine to see honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles), coral gardens and a shipwreck. Sunset cocktail cruises are a great way to end a day of fun.
Waikīkī Aquarium
Opposite beautiful Kapi‘olani Park, Waikīkī Aquarium showcases more than 500 marine species and maintains more than 3,500 marine specimens, with a focus on the unique aquatic life of Hawai‘i and the tropical Pacific.
ʻAuana Cirque du Soleil
Don’t miss the captivating ‘Auana Cirque du Soleil show in the theatre at OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel, which tells the story of Hawai‘i across eight chapters — from the days of Polynesian migration to the birthplace of surfing, “the golden age of tourism” and beyond — with spectacular acrobatics, dance, and music.
Honolulu Zoo
Nearby Honolulu Zoo is also worth a visit – especially for the twilight experience on a Saturday night.
Lē‘ahi (Diamond Head State Monument)
For panoramic views over Waikīkī, hike to the top of Lē‘ahi (Diamond Head State Monument) – a 230m-high extinct volcanic crater and National Natural Landmark. Advance reservations are required for visitors without a Hawai‘i State driver’s licence to help protect the environment.
Visit dlnr.hawaii.gov
Venetian-style gondola cruises
For something a bit different, Hawai‘i WOW Tours offers Venetian-style gondola cruises along Ala Wai Canal, which was built in 1928 to drain the taro fields and swamps on what would eventually become Waikīkī.
Visit hawaiiwowtours.com
Waikīkī Historic Trail
To learn more about the neighbourhood’s past – from ancient times through to its more recent history – follow the surfboard markers along the Waikīkī Historic Trail.
Visit waikikihistorictrail.org
Polynesian wa’a kaulua (double-hulled canoe)
You can also discover more about Hawaiian culture by booking a sailing tour on the only US Coast Guard-certified Polynesian wa’a kaulua (double-hulled canoe) in the world, Kamoauli. It offers hands-on activities such as ku‘i kalo (traditional taro preparation), live kī hō‘alu (slack key guitar) and ‘oli (traditional chants).
SHOPPING
Shopping is another huge pastime in Waikīkī – especially for Australian and New Zealand visitors keen to grab a bargain.
International Market Place
Shopping is another huge pastime in Waikīkī – especially for Australian and New Zealand visitors keen to grab a bargain. International Market Place has more than 100 shops showcasing local and international brands and eateries. Stores include Anthropologie, Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic, Honolulu Cookie Co., Kona Coffee Purveyors, Burberry, Vince, Christian Louboutin, Sunglass Hut, Target and MCM.
It also hosts a range of free on-site experiences, including open-air fitness classes, lei-making classes, a free cultural audio tour, and a free hula show on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays honouring Hawai‘i’s beloved Queen Emma as told through Hawaiian and Polynesian song and dance.
The centre also has many small, locally-owned businesses, fantastic dining options on its Level 3 Grand Lānai, and if you are missing your pets back home you can cuddle feline friends at Cat Café MOFF.
Royal Hawaiian Center
Spanning three blocks on the beach side of Kalākaua Ave, the Royal Hawaiian Center has more than 90 shops and restaurants across four levels. They include luxury and lifestyle retailers such as Fendi, Hermès, KITH, Saint Laurent, Stüssy, Tiffany & Co., Valentino, and Moncler. Recent additions, including flagship and exclusive boutiques like Kahala, KOHO Chocolates, YUMI KIM, LAKI Hawaiian Design, Island Snow and the Pearly Gates pop-up store, further enhance its reputation as a must-visit destination.
Visitors to the Center can also enjoy live hula and Hawaiian music performances at The Royal Grove, as well as participate in cultural activities such as ‘ukulele lessons, hula classes, and lei-making workshops.
DFS Waikīkī
Enjoy duty-free shopping at DFS Waikīkī, where a wide range of high-end items are available, including clothes, beauty products, perfume, watches, jewellery, wine and spirits. Stores include Burberry, Bvlgari, Calvin Klein Beauty, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs Fragrances, Michael Kors, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada Beauty, Swarovski and Tiffany & Co.
Waikīkī Beach Walk
Shops can also be found all along Kalākaua Ave and Kūhiō Ave, and the two-level Waikīkī Beach Walk, which has more than 40 stores and eateries.
GETTING AROUND
O‘ahu has a comprehensive public transport network incorporating TheBus and the hop-on, hop-off Waikīkī Trolley. Waikīkī Trolley has four routes: The Blue Line, which goes to Lē‘ahi (Diamond Head); the Pink Line, which goes to the Ala Moana Center; and the red line, which incorporates historical and cultural locations, such as Honolulu Museum of Art and ‘Iolani Palace; and the green line, which takes in some of the best local eateries, including Leonard’s Bakery and Da Ono Hawaiian Food. Taxis and rideshare services, including Uber, Lyft and Holoholo are also available.
