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Waikiki Beach, Honolulu
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

Things to Do in Waikiki

When visiting Hawaii, a stop in Waikiki will take your Hawaiian vacation to the next level.

By Cruise Booking Team

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Waikiki is a beautiful neighborhood located in the city of Oahu, on the southern shore of Honolulu. It is a tropical paradise for people from all over the world, especially those residing in the United States of America.

Even during the 19th century, Waikiki, whose name translates to ‘spouting waters’ in the local language, was a city that was visited by only a handful of people? Today, the city is known for its abundance of hotels, which are either on the beach or a few hundred meters away from the sea, which people can access by walking.

5 Activities That You Must Try in Waikiki

Waikiki also promises a host of activities that can be counted as some of the top things to do in Waikiki that tourists can indulge in, such as those given below:

1. Explore the Kapiolani Park and Gardens

Located near Waikiki Beach, the Kapiolani Park, and Gardens is a collection of several properties on-site, such as the Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki Aquarium, an archery range, tennis courts, a jogging track, and a soccer field. Lucky tourists strolling through the park or present in any of the other areas mentioned can also catch an art show, an ancient Hawaiian concert, etc.

The park was donated by King Kalakaua himself as a way to honor his wife, Queen Kapiolani. Tourists and people can spend hours here, which makes exploring this park one of the 5 best things to do in Waikiki. Make your way to the Kalakaua Avenue, named after the king, for a bite or more exploring!

2. Walk down the Kalakaua Avenue

Kalakaua Avenue is located along the shoreline of Waikiki Beach and is a long street lined by restaurants, shopping boutiques, etc. People often frequented the avenue at all hours of the day, especially during lunch or dinner time, or in between, for shopping, etc.

People can take back native souvenirs from home, such as the Kona Coffee, macadamia nuts, and more., along with other more contemporary items such as clothes and jewelry from Cartier, Saks Fifth Avenue, and others.

3. Be blown away by the Diamond Head Crater

Located at the edge of the shore of Waikiki Beach, the Diamond Head Crater is a former volcanic crater. It now serves the purpose of being a beautiful viewpoint. People interested in trekking or hiking up the crater to catch a glimpse of the breathtaking view can use the trail which leads to the top. Formerly it has also served as a part of the coastal defense system.

This activity makes for great exercise with a pleasing reward, which makes this activity one of the 5 fun things to do in Waikiki.

4. Ride the waves on Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Beach, apart from being famous due to its location, is also so because of a man who was from around there, namely, Duke Kahanamoku, an Olympic gold medalist in swimming.

Tourists unaccustomed to or unfamiliar with the sport of surfing can learn so from one of the several schools in the area, and surf to their heart’s content, making this activity one of the 5 best things to do in Waikiki. Before leaving the beach, they can also pay a visit to the statue of Duke Kahanamoku himself, which is garlanded in several flowers as tributes by other visitors.

5. Go back in time to the US Army Museum of Hawaii

Located near the Waikiki Beach shoreline, the US Army Museum of Hawaii was originally constructed as a military installation by the name of Battery Randolph to guard the island of Hawaii during previous wars, notably during the 20th century in 1911.

After the period of military engagement, it was re-constituted as a museum, housing various weapons, uniforms, etc., of the soldiers who fought on both sides of previous wars. This makes for a highly interesting and engaging visit as people get to know more about the history of the neighborhood of Waikiki, the city of Honolulu, the island of Hawaii itself.

Key Takeaways

For tourists wishing to explore more and beyond these top things to do in Waikiki, the neighborhood offers plenty. So, if you are planning a visit, then head over to CruiseBooking.com for all the travel arrangements.

Header Image by Michelle_Raponi at Pixabay

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