A visit to Oahu means that you’ll be spending plenty of time exploring the island and having an experience that you will never forget. Likely, you will be staying along the island’s south shore on Waikiki Beach, the famous tourist district that is home to a vast majority of the island’s hotels and one of the most well-known beaches in the entire world.
The gentle waves are the perfect place to learn to surf, and the powder white sand offers the most ideal spot to lay down a towel and relax, the ocean just a few steps away when you need a refresher. The beach itself is the launch point for a handful of evening dinner and cocktail cruises, and is one of the most frequented destinations in all of Hawaii.
But wouldn’t it be nice to know a little history about the area prior to your trip?
Originally, Waikiki was a swampy marshland, where streams and rivers flowed and emptied. The name translates to spouting water (“Wai” meaning water; “Kiki” meaning spouting), and the use of the area dates all the way back to ancient Hawaii. Through the 1800’s, the area was developed as a getaway for Hawaiian royalty, escaping the city of Honolulu for a time of seclusion near the ocean. Despite it’s close proximity to downtown Honolulu, the trip from Honolulu to Waikiki took a few hours and was taken by horse drawn carriage.
Over the years, the area has developed and been built into what it is today, a bustling city within a city that offers every amenity possible for visitors to the island. With over 100 hotels and countless restaurants, the need to leave the area only arises if one choose to. Nearly every activity on Oahu originates in Waikiki, and there are hotel pick-up locations for every tour, activity, and luau.
If you are staying in Waikiki during your visit, you’ll quickly become familiar with the sites, the beach, and everything along Kalakaua Ave. The most prominent landmark is Diamond Head, the extinct crater that sits at the end of Waikiki Beach, and welcomes visitors to the island. You’ll love your time in Waikiki and will want to stroll the streets as much as you can, taking advantage of everything that the area has to offer.
Due to the high volume of visitors traveling to Hawaii year round, our Oahu tours and Oahu activities sell out quickly. In many cases, tours sell out weeks or months in advance, especially our top seller Sea Life Park Luau. To ensure your spots on tour, we recommend reserving your tours today. Call our office or book online to take advantage of our low price guarantee today.
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