Waikiki Overview
Waikiki Community Profile
Located on O’ahu’s south shore between Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor, today Waikiki is one of the tourism capitols of the world. Waikiki is a place to have fun, eat out, shop, or watch a show. While permanent residents in Waikiki number less than 28,000, over 4.5 million of Hawai’i’s 6 million annual visitors come to O’ahu each year, most of these staying in Waikiki. But it wasn’t always that way. The land that is now home to dozens of resorts, nightclubs, and restaurants was once marshland used for farming taro, rice, and fishponds. Waikiki, which literally means “spouting waters” in Hawaiian, was once a place where ali’i (Hawaiian royalty) came for healing, vacation, and surfing. It also provided many of the most abundant fishing yields in the islands. While it is still home to some of the world’s best summer waves, the beaches at Waikiki are no longer owned by ali’i--instead, visitors and locals hang out here, sunning, swimming, and learning to surf. Waikiki’s permanent population is older than average, with a median resident age of over 43 years. This shrinking, older population is indicative of the high cost of living in one of the tourist capitols of the world:
In response to concerns about overcrowding and rising crime--particularly prostitution--in Waikiki, the Waikiki Improvement Association consistently launches programs and initiatives such as the Waikiki Business Improvement District, beautification projects, and other community-building events.
Popular Waikiki attractions include the Waikiki Aquarium and the Honolulu Zoo, the ‘Strip,’ or row of shops and restaurants lining Kalakaua Avenue, and of course, the beach! Waikiki Beach is arguably the most famous beach in the world, with thousands of visitors a day arriving to swim, surf, or simply lie out in the sun. Annual Waikiki events such as the Honolulu Marathon, King Kamehameha Day Parade, and more frequent events--such as popular Sunset on the Beach movie showings every weekend--have helped to make Waikiki a destination for locals and visitors alike. Some historic sites of interest include the Moana Surfrider Hotel, the oldest resort in the area, the Wizard’s Stones of Kapaemahu at Kuhio Beach, and the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium, a saltwater pool built in honor of World War I veterans. An historic Waikiki trail was recently established, describing significant areas and events at designated points throughout town. The most famous Waikiki native is probably Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, an Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer who took surfing--and the Aloha spirit--to the mainland. He was one of the original world-famous Waikiki Beach Boys, skilled watermen who taught surfing and water sports to tourists in the early 1900’s. He also served as Waikiki’s Sheriff from 1934-1960. Waikiki is a place of fusion--where modern amenities, shopping, entertainment and dining meet a rich cultural history and unique tradition of hospitality--all tied up together in the aloha spirit.
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