Waikiki Beach Info
Waikiki Beach Info
Location
Waikiki is located in Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, the biggest city at 352,000 residents. Honolulu lies on the island of Oahu.
Activities
swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, outrigger canoeing
Amenities
lifeguards, picnic tables, rentals, eateries, restrooms, accommodations, showers
Waikiki Beach, one of the world's most famous beaches, receives over 4 million visitors each year. The beach provides stunning views of Leahi, or Diamond Head. The Duke Kahanamoku statue greets you as you arrive.
It's a great place in Hawaii to learn how to paddle a canoe or surf because of its small long-lasting wave break. There are surfing lessons given here.
Extending a two-mile stretch, Waikiki Beach really consists of a number of beaches like Fort DeRussy Beach to the west, Kuhio Beach, and Queen Surf Beach, home to calmer stretches on the Diamond Head side of Waikiki.
All above mentioned beaches in Waikiki are all little beaches interconnecting into one bigger beach. Realistically, you could enjoy many of these beaches in just one day if you wish.
Please read my list of 11 best tips for improving your vacation at Waikiki Beach. You won't be sorry!
11 Best Tips to Improve Your Vacation at Waikiki Beach
1. Can strangers touch a Hawaiian green sea turtle?
Never! If you do, you risk going to prison or having a local shouting at you.
Actually, it's both a federal and state crime just to touch or annoy Hawaiian green sea turtles, for they are an endangered species and you could be fined and also go to jail.
These creatures are regarded as a personal family god and so locals revere them. They are much more than only animals to islanders. So treat them with due respect and do not touch nor play with them.
2. Purchase your floaties and snorkel set when you arrive
In Hawaii, you can buy from snorkel sets, floaties to towels around town. Reef booties are not absolutely necessary, but helpful as certain areas of the Waikiki Beach are filled with rocky or gretty sands as you enter the ocean.
Boogie board and surf board are available for rent at beaches nearby.
3. Buy or rent beach chairs
If you are thinking of renting a chair on the beach, know that such a chair rental isn't cheap through your hotel.
Although beachfront hotels offer lounge beach chairs in great spots in front of hotels, their rental fee may be about $60 per day. Or consider buying a cheap fold out chair at your hotel store or local shops like ABC Stores and Longs Drugs.
4. Find parking in Waikiki
Locating parking in Waikiki could sometimes be extremely difficult, for hotel parking is not cheap. Locals also want to know the cheapest places to park in Waikiki. If you do not want the pain of driving around, just use an Uber or Lyft.
Some good places to park in Waikiki are the following:
- Street parking: Ala Wai Canal (But not weekdays 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM), Kapiolani Park, Ala Moana Beach Park
- Metered parking: Honolulu Zoo, Kapiolani Park
- Nearly free: Ross for Less parking lot (1 hour free with a purchase)
- Paid (below $35/day): Sheraton Waikiki Hotel Garage, Fort DeRussy Garage, Ala Wai Boat Harbor (metered)
5. Make it a point to read beach signs, always
There are warning signs for such things as strong undertow, strong currents, high tides, and man-o-war warnings. Locals pay close attention to them, and you should as well. They are warnings since the chance of injuries or accidents is rather high.
6. Man-o-war warnings
Portuguese man-o-war warnings are the beach's most unpleasant signs. They resemble jellyfishes and are clear blue bubble with stingers. Right after a storm they could be seen washed ashore on the sands or floating on the surface of the water. Although it's not a deadly sea animal, the sting is painful and might last for hours. There are 2 methods to treat the pain: urinate on the affected stung area and a meat tenderizer. If you observe this sign, it's a good idea just to avoid that beach.
7. Only swim if there's a lifeguard on duty
Although Waikiki Beach is a rather safe beach with calm waters and mild, little undertow currents, always ensure that you swim where you see an on-duty lifeguard.
8. Sun protection
Because of global warming, the Hawaiian sun is even hotter than ever. This is no joke, for even locals feel the difference in heat, which is further proven by the fast tan you get by only hanging your right arm out of the car window while sitting in traffic.
So, it's not all odd to be driving around Waikiki and spot a lobster-red tourist walking slowly and unable to swing their arms. A burn isn't a tan! Many Waikiki stores sell sunscreen. Be sure to purchase it and use it. Even cloudy days and shaded areas require some sunscreen to protect you from harmful UV rays.
Reapply every 2 hours, particularly if you are sweating or swimming. If you happen to suffer a burn, ABC stores provide post burn lotions to soothe and add moisture back into sunburn skin.
9. Reef safe sunscreen only permitted
In January 2021, the state of Hawaii banned certain sunscreens which harm the ocean, coral, and marine life. Here is a list of reef safe sunscreens:
- Manda Organic SPF 50 Sun Paste
- Kokua Sun Care Hawaiian SPF 50 Natural Zinc Sunscreen
- Thinksport SPF 30 Face & Body Mineral Sunscreen Stick
- Raw Love SPF 35 All-natural Mineral Sunscreen Paste
10. Keep your valuables dry
Buy a waterproof Mobile Phone bag to keep your cellular phone and money dry. These waterproof pouches let you dive with your camera phone. The majority permit one to submerge it in shallow waters. But it's not intended for deep dives. Test yours initially by putting a tissue in it and drowning it in your hotel sink. If the tissue is wet after you have sealed the pouch and put it in the sink's water, there's obviously a hole.
11. Don't litter
Wherever you go, be respectful of all beaches and do your part to keep it clean. Don't litter and remove all the trash you bring with you. As beautiful as the beaches are in Waikiki, they could have a ton of micro plastics because of the careless and irresponsible visitors. Debris in the beaches and oceans hurts and kills wild and marine life. So, if you find litter, please remove it and throw it in the closest trash receptacle. Hawaii's beach parks are loaded with many trash cans.
