About Waikiki > Introduction to Waikiki

Waikiki is the largest resort zone in the State of Hawaii. It’s Honolulu’s seaside neighborhood next to Diamond Head volcano crater, 15-minutes east of Downtown Honolulu & Chinatown. Waikiki was once the site of a famous battle, later housed the summer residences of Hawaiian royalty, and evolved into the location of Hawaii’s first hotels. Today, Waikiki Beach is an iconic beach and a beloved holiday destination.

Find 90% of Oahu’s total accommodation in Waikiki. The area is a vibrant mix of hotels, resorts and vacation rentals, bars, restaurants and food trucks, shopping hotspots, historical sites and statues, tropical parks and gardens, activity desks and tour operators, live entertainment, events and festivals, and Hawaiian cultural experiences. The number one attraction, Waikiki Beach, offers watersports accessible straight off the sand.

This destination in Honolulu has undergone incredible change over the last few decades with revitalization projects occurring at Waikiki Beach Walk, Royal Hawaiian Center, and International Market Place, to name a few. Waikiki is a well-established urban center so it’s rare for new buildings to pop up, instead, there’s a constant stream of hotels and resorts undergoing renovation.

Waikiki Highlights

  • is located on the South Shore of the island of Oahu in Hawaii, USA
  • is a seaside town of Honolulu, Hawaii’s capital city
  • has an iconic (hike-able) backdrop, Diamond Head crater
  • is made up of seven different beaches
  • is the birthplace and spiritual home of surfing
  • houses Kapiolani Park, Honolulu’s “central park”
  • offers 300+ hostels, hotels, resorts, apartments and vacation rental properties
  • offers a choice of around 350 restaurants and bars
  • encompasses 12+ major shopping hotspots
  • has many luxury designers and signature brand stores
  • provides an abundance of ocean activities
  • conveniently, the majority of island tours pick-up and drop-off here
  • weather averages 27-33°C (82-88°F) year-round
  • stay at least 5-7 nights

READ NEXT // Navigating Waikiki

Image Credit: Waikiki Beach Stays/Ashlee Galea