Waikīkī or Waikiki (pronounced /waɪkiːˈkiː/ in English and [vɐiˈkiːˈkiː] or [wɐiˈkiːˈkiː] in Hawaiian) is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City & County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī.

Waikīkī beach looking towards Diamond Head

[edit] Etymology

The name means spouting fresh water in the Hawaiian language, for springs and streams that fed wetlands that once separated Waikīkī from the interior.^[1]

[edit] Geography

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The neighborhood extends from the Ala Wai Canal (a channel dug to drain former wetlands) on the west and north, to Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) on the east. Waikīkī Beach is noted for its views of the Diamond Head tuff cone, its usually warm and cloud-free climate and its surf break.

Aerial view

The Waikīkī skyline is now dotted with an abundance of both high-rises and resort hotels. The beach is actually fairly short, with half of it marked off for surfers. For some distance into the ocean the water is quite shallow, although there are numerous rocks on the bottom. As with most ocean beaches the waves can have some force, particularly on windy days. The surf at Waikīkī is known for its long rolling break, making it ideal for long boarding, tandem surfing and beginners.

[edit] History

A statue of Duke Kahanamoku, a local Hawaiian credited with popularizing the sport of surfing

The area was a retreat for Hawaiian royalty in the 1800s. Much like the locals and tourists of today, Hawaiian royalty enjoyed surfing at Waikīkī on early forms of longboards.^[2] A few small hotels opened in the 1880s. In 1893, Greek-American George Lycurgus leased the guest house of Allen Herbert and renamed it the "Sans Souci" (French for "without care") creating one of the first beach resorts. Later that year Robert Louis Stevenson stayed at the resort; subsequently it became a popular destination for tourists from the mainland.^[3] The area at coordinates 21°15′49″N 157°49′17″W / 21.26361°N 157.82139°W / 21.26361; -157.82139 is still called "Sans Souci Beach".^[4]

Today, the area is filled with hotels like the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Halekulani hotel, the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī, the Sheraton Waikīkī, and historic hotels dating back to the early 20th century (such as the Moana Surfrider Hotel and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The beach hosts many events a year, including surf competitions, outdoor performances, hula dancing and outrigger canoe races. Over time, Waikīkī beach has had its problems with erosion, leading to the construction of groins and beach replenishment projects. For example, in the 1920s and 1930s sand was imported from Manhattan Beach, California, via ship and barges to Waikīkī.^[5] The importing of sand is said to have stopped in the 1970s and officials are looking for ways to sustain the existing sand by eliminating loss due to tide flow.^[6]

Waikīkī is home to public places of note, including Kapiʻolani Park, Fort de Russy Military Reservation, Kahanamoku Lagoon, Kūhiō Beach Park, and Ali Wai Harbor. Since 2001, there have been free movies on the beach. Many tourists from around the world can view a movie on an outdoor 30 foot screen. This particular free movie event in Waikīkī is called "Sunset on the Beach".^[7]

[edit] Economy

China Airlines operates its Honolulu Branch Office in Waikiki.^[8] NTT DoCoMo also has limited operations here for the convenience of Japanese tourists.

[edit] Government and infrastructure

The United States Postal Service operates the Waikiki Post Office at 330 Saratoga Road.^[9]

[edit] Education

Hawaii Department of Education operates public schools. The district operates Waikiki Elementary School.^[10]

The Hawaii State Public Library System operates the Waikiki Public Library at 400 Kapahulu Avenue.^[11]

[edit] See also

• List of leading shopping streets and districts by city
• Save Our Surf

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Waikiki Beach

• Waikiki.com
• Waikiki Duke Statue Webcam

Coordinates: 21°16′31″N 157°49′52″W / 21.2752°N 157.8312°W / 21.2752; -157.8312