Oahu Villa Renters - Making the Most Out of Waikiki

By John Di Rienzo

Waikiki Beach on the Hawaiian island of Oahu has been luring visitors since the days of the Hawaiian monarchy, when it was a choice surfing spot. 

The birth of Waikiki as we know it today, the overseas tourist mecca, started in the late 1800s, when the first hotel was built along the shorefront. Two early hotels are still there in their glory, and they are both still two of the most famous and prestigious hotels on Oahu if not in Hawaii: the Moana Surfrider Hotel (Westin) and the Royal Hawaiian hotel (Luxury Collection). 

The Moana hotel is the older of the two hotels, and it has a beautiful, colonial charm, with rocking chairs on its long wooden porches and a great bar under an old banyan tree on the beach. The Royal Hawaiian hotel boasts a classic art deco look and is sometimes referred to as “The Pink Palace.” 

_{Royal Hawaiian Hotel - by John Di Rienzo}

Even though we prefer the comfort and benefits of staying in a home (an Exotic Estates Oahu villa of course), we still love this world-famous beach and hotel corridor for its many charms, old and new. Even the classic hotels help create a mystique and timeless charm, which connects us to the past.

Here are just a few of the ways that vacation home renters, from Kailua to Kahala and beyond, can enjoy this famous stretch of beach.

What Exactly Counts as Waikiki Beach?

When people refer to Waikiki, they are referring to a general area that includes beachfront, city blocks and canal-front land. This area runs roughly from the Ala Wai Canal on the west or downtown Honolulu side, to Kapahulu Avenue on the Diamond Head-side. It is basically the dense stretch of hotels, high-rise and low-rise condos and shops that dominate this part of the City of Honolulu. 

_{View of Waikiki Beach - by John Di Rienzo}

However, for the purpose of this post, we’ll also include the area at the foot of Diamond Head in our discussion, because of its proximity. This is the area located on the other side of Honolulu's great Kapiolani Park, which is home to the Honolulu Zoo and hosts weekly art fairs and large festivals.

In terms of feel and nature, the neighborhoods below Diamond Head and the small cluster of hotels that sit on the ocean, are a world away from Waikiki proper, though they are within walking distance or a short Uber ride from all the action. This Diamond Head side of the great sweeping arc that creates the coastline of greater Waikiki is referred to as the Gold Coast, and it is home to million-dollar Exotic Estates Oahu vacation villas.

_{Paul Mitchell Estate - by John Di Rienzo}

Waikiki is actually made of up several beaches, with Waikiki referring to the section of beach that runs roughly in front the Royal Hawaiian hotel down to the Moana Hotel. Moving west along the beach, towards Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach proper is followed by Kuhio, Queens and Sans Sauci (or Kaimana) beaches.

_{View of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head - by Shanon Searls}

The section of beach in front of the Reef Hotel and elegant Halekulani is Fort DeRussy Beach, and the section furthest west, near the Hilton Hawaiian Village, is Kahanamoku Beach. After that you hit the Ala Wai Canal and then Ala Moana Beach Park.

Renovation of Waikiki – a Manufactured Paradise, in Paradise

Waikiki went through a major civic renovation around 15 years ago that left it with nice stone sidewalks, polished parks and a collection of bronze statues installed to honor figures from Hawaii’s history. Included is the statue of Duke Kahanamoku, King Kalakaua and the Queen Kapiolani. The statue of Duke is often decorated with leis and it’s a wonderful place to take a snapshot, with the waves that he once rode still rolling in, in the background.

_{Waikiki Bronze Statue - by John Di Rienzo}

There is Hawaii-inspired landscaping right along the beach, which includes stylized fishponds with waterfalls and adds to the manufactured tropical paradise that is both Waikiki’s historic charm - or detractor – depending on your mood and perspective.

A lot has been done to create the feeling that you are in a Hawaiian tropical paradise, designed to play upon stereotypical concepts that have shaped Hawaii tourism dreams since its earliest days – as if blue Hawaiian waters, rolling waves, surfers, rainbows and the always regal and wild-looking Diamond Head were not enough!

Surfing Waikiki's Famous Rollers

Waikiki was a royal surf spot for the Hawaiian Monarchy, that is known for sure. However, the man who made surfing a world-wide phenomenon from California to Australia to New York, is the one and only Duke Kahanamoku.

Duke was a strapping Hawaiian man born in the waning years of the Hawaiian monarchy.  He was an Olympic swimmer for the US team in the early part of the 20th century and he traveled around the world showcasing his swimming prowess, and, thankfully, introducing people to the noble Hawaiian sport of surfing.  

_{Surfing on Waikiki Beach - by John Di Rienzo}

Waikiki Beach was the home break, and he and his club of fellow watermen were known as the Waikiki Beach Boys. These guys were the stuff of lore from the 1920s until the middle of the century. They worked Waikiki and serviced the hotels, teaching surfing and outrigger canoeing to visitors. They hobnobbed with many socialites of era, and had a famous protégé in Doris Duke, who (I was told on a tour of her estate Doris Duke's Shangri La – see Post for details) was one of the first haole (non-Hawaiian/western) women to learn the sport of surfing.

Since Duke’s time, many people have learned to how to surf on Waikiki’s famous rollers (including yours truly). South facing, the waves are very mellow (if nonexistent) during the winter months, but the breaks in front of Waikiki come alive when the summer swell hits. It can get big so be careful and heed warnings! (Tip! Certain areas can have jellyfish at times – see jellyfish calendar by Waikiki Aquarium).

Renting a Board

It’s easy to rent a longboard on the beach for an hour or a day, and even get a lesson if it’s your first time. The cost runs around $10 - $15 an hour. We recommend walking over to Hawaiian Oceans Waikiki, which is a stand located on the beach, just across from the Hyatt, on the side of the beach close to the banyan tree that’s on Kalakaua (there are also hula shows there regularly).

Hawaiian Oceans Waikiki also offers private and group surfing lessons for a reasonable price. We rented from them when we were touring our villas on Oahu and they could not have been nicer and easier to work with!

_{Surfboard Rentals - by Shanon Searls}

Make a day of it and join the many people throughout history who discovered their love of surfing on the beach that gave birth to modern-day surfing.

Shopping in Waikiki

Waikiki used to be dominated by simple tourist-oriented stores selling clothing and, of course, trinkets to take or send home from paradise. One can still find those stores, the T-shirt shops and memorabilia hawkers, however, the arrival of upscale international brands has made a profound impact on the streetscape. 

You’ll see Prada, Tiffany, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Apple. If you don’t want to splurge on clothes or technology, have no fear, as there is a Ross and plenty of other places to pick up items you may need or want at a decent price.

_{Waikiki Shopping - by Shanon Searls}

The luxury shops are concentrated on the western end of Kalakaua Avenue, near Fort DeRussy.  For a variety of shops in one spot in Waikiki, including an Apple store and Tumi (for the extra bag you'll need to buy to take home all your items), you’ll want to visit the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.

International Marketplace – Redone for Modern Tastes

Further down Kalakaua Avenue, towards Hyatt, an iconic spot that epitomized the tiki-bar chic of old Waikiki was the International Marketplace. The International Marketplace used to be a confusing collection of stands and shops selling endless tchotchkes and souvenirs under a massive banyan tree that added to the tiki-room vibe; think mall designed by Walt Disney and Gilligan. Some miss the old stands and tick-tacky paradise it hawked, but the new shops offer a lot of options, from Intermix to Saks to Crazy Shirts, a local T-shirt establishment that sells high-quality Hawaii-themed shirts and other items.

ABC Stores

One chain has a dominant, strangely ubiquitous presence in Waikiki: ABC Stores. ABC stores are Hawaii’s tourist-oriented convenience store. The shops vary in size from store to store, but each one tries to offer a little bit of everything. At these shops, you can find a quick breakfast on the run, macadamia nuts packed in travel cartons, endless selections of Hawaiian tchotchkes, beer, liquor and candy. You’ll also find swim trunks, snorkels and other beach essentials in a pinch – at decent prices. They seem to be on every corner and in every storefront, which can seem annoying at first, but they really come in handy. Make use of them!

Something Unique - Hats Made to Order - Newt at The Royal

Treat yourself to the ultimate panama-style hat at a charming store located in the Royal Hawaiian hotel. The store has a wonderfully vintage feel, along with photos of royals and others wearing hats of the same style.

_{Newt at the Royal Window - by John Di Rienzo}