Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach
4
About
This iconic landmark in Waikiki is one of Hawaii’s most famous beaches, located on the south shore of Oahu. Waikiki Beach is the birthplace of modern surfing culture—look out for the statue of renowned waterman Duke Kahanamoku, who popularized the sport internationally. Once the playground of Hawaiian royals, today the beachfront is lined with resorts and some of Hawaii’s most historic hotels. Surfers, swimmers, and sunbathers flock to this beach all day long. Boat tours in Waikiki are a great way for admiring the coast away from the crowds. Neighboring Kalākaua Avenue has plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. – Tripadvisor
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  • Donna T
    Poway, California333 contributions
    Warm, calm ocean but crowded
    We arrived at Waikiki beach late morning on Jan 28th. It was crowded when we arrived after parking at a nearby hotel that offered pay parking. When we left about 1 pm, groups of people were spaced at most 3 feet apart on the sand or nearby grass. The water was warm and calm when I waded. I am happy to have seen Waikiki, the famous statue of Duke Kahanamoku, and viewed Diamond Head from the beach. But I was not impressed.
    Visited January 2020
    Written February 18, 2020
  • NorCal-traveler08
    Orangevale, California1,895 contributions
    Tons of people, Great Vibe
    The vibe on Waikiki Beach is always fun and is filled with all kinds of people. We visited on a Saturday in the afternoon and it was difficult to find a place to sit. We wanted to watch the sun set. We ended up just standing but the sunset was amazing and we enjoyed it with hundreds of other people. I love to watch the people trying to surf and see everyone having such a great time. If the beach isn't your thing the shopping is amazing on Kalakala St.
    Visited January 2020
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 2, 2020
  • Tommo
    Melbourne, Australia49,414 contributions
    World famous beach
    This beach is world famous and that has been one on my bucket list for many years. It didn't disappoint. Whilst it has a beautful whte sandy beach its not the best beach that I have seen. I loved White Beach in Boracay Philippines better but the atmosphere is similar. Waikiki Beach is very busy and vibrant, with musicians playing at the many atmospheric beach front bars and restaurants. Sunset is beautiful at this location and we also enjoyed a sunset cruise which departed from Waikiki Beach. Certainly should be on everybody's bucket list.
    Visited March 2020
    Written March 20, 2020
  • Kim Z
    3 contributions
    They really need to clean up this community
    The beach is small, smells like urine, major homeless issue, covid killed a ton of businesses and it just seems dirty. The most the restaurants we ate at were over priced with bad food, and you have to make a reservation or you're not getting in unless you're willing to wait an hour and a half. Cheeseburger in Paradise, Hy Steak house and a food truck were the only 3 places I would recommend eating at. Hy steak is a very classy restaurant with a dress code. Truly enjoyed this experience. If you're staying in Waikiki I recommend planning in advance the different excursions out of the town.
    Visited April 2021
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 10, 2021
  • MG444
    Bucharest, Romania23 contributions
    It’s really just average!
    The beach was just too crowded for me to like. The water was dirtier than I thought as well. Finding restaurants along the Waikiki main road is also very painful, now after COVID, prices have drastically risen! If you want to watch the sunset I do not recommend it as much as I would the other west coast beaches, because on Waikiki the whole sunset is blocked by a small mountain.
    Visited May 2021
    Traveled with family
    Written May 31, 2021
  • TweedleDee
    Huntsville, Alabama412 contributions
    Beautiful Beach
    Very nice beach but not all that large and can get crowded. If you plan on being out there for the day there are chair and umbrella rentals that are a good idea as even on nice temperature days the sun can still be quite brutal. Very nice water and stays relatively shallow for quite a way out. Not a lot of sand area, but there is also a lot of food and shopping venues just across the street. You can also go further down towards the south side of the beach and there is a large shaded park area that can be explored. Parking is at a premium so you might have to pay a meter or park at a nearby parking garage but the bus is also a good option as the stop is right in the middle of the beach area!
    Visited February 2020
    Written March 8, 2020
  • ChrisH
    Frederick, Maryland498 contributions
    Waikiki is very nice but an extremely expensive area--the rest of Honolulu, not so much
    Waikiki Beach and the surrounding area is ok but the rest of tourist and working class Honolulu is no better than third world (unless you visit the multimillionaire areas). Spent a week at one of the high rise hotels on Waikiki beach in early February. Waikiki is very nice but an extremely expensive area. Totally unimpressed with the rest of Honolulu though. More like being in a third world city than our perception of Hawaii from TV shows. Dirty, rundown, noisy and way too much traffic and pollution. Constant traffic jams and speeding vehicles make walking hazardous. Used the Waikiki Trolley as our main means of transportation and saw many areas of the city where we would not have gotten off the trolley to wander around without feeling totally unsafe, especially Chinatown. The city has changed for the worse since we were here in the 1980s. Honolulu International Airport restrooms near the American/United check-in areas are also horrendous at 230pm in the afternoon. Dirty, smelly, trashy and pee all over the floor. Another example of Hawaii state not caring about its number 1 industry, Tourism.
    Visited February 2020
    Written March 1, 2020
  • Diane D
    Naples, Florida160 contributions
    Dodging Crowds and the Homeless
    I never got tired of the view from our balcony high above the beach watching the surfers, sunbathers, sailboats, and sunsets. Once down on the street, however, the crowds on the beach, lines at every shop and restaurant, homeless people approaching, and traffic made the street level less appealing. Waikiki, an urban city with a beach running along the edge, is not representative of the relaxed, tropical island paradise atmosphere Hawaii is famous for.
    Visited June 2021
    Written July 2, 2021
  • Eric S
    Saint Louis, Missouri115 contributions
    The most iconic beach in the world
    My wife and I stayed at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort for our anniversary. The beach is stunning in its beauty. I recommend staying in one of the few hotels that are actually on the beach as most are across the street. We went to the beach early and late in the day. The morning and near sunset are lovely times to be on the beach and it is not too crowded at those times. The beach does get very crowded during the main time of the day, but it is an exciting vibe. The surfers are fun to watch as are the sail boats. Diamond Head on the one end is breathtaking. The sand is soft and the waves generally are calm. It is fun to people watch as well. There is so much to do in the Waikiki area we had no need for a rental car.
    Visited June 2021
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 20, 2021
  • StacyInDC2012
    Alexandria, Virginia898 contributions
    Smaller than Expected, but Very Pretty!
    We enjoyed Waikiki Beach because we didn't go for a traditional beach day. Our first visit was during our first night in Hawaii, just before sunset. It was still crowded, but not nearly as packed as I imagine it was during the height of the day. We returned the following morning shortly after sunrise (thanks East Coast jet lag) and enjoyed the beach for about an hour before the crowds showed up. The proximity to the city is convenient and the view of Diamondhead impressive, but for a "day at the beach" I'd prefer something a little less central & crowded!
    Visited September 2021
    Written September 12, 2021
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Kim Z
3 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
The beach is small, smells like urine, major homeless issue, covid killed a ton of businesses and it just seems dirty. The most the restaurants we ate at were over priced with bad food, and you have to make a reservation or you're not getting in unless you're willing to wait an hour and a half.
Cheeseburger in Paradise, Hy Steak house and a food truck were the only 3 places I would recommend eating at. Hy steak is a very classy restaurant with a dress code. Truly enjoyed this experience.
If you're staying in Waikiki I recommend planning in advance the different excursions out of the town.
Written April 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MG444
Bucharest, Romania23 contributions
May 2021 • Family
The beach was just too crowded for me to like. The water was dirtier than I thought as well. Finding restaurants along the Waikiki main road is also very painful, now after COVID, prices have drastically risen! If you want to watch the sunset I do not recommend it as much as I would the other west coast beaches, because on Waikiki the whole sunset is blocked by a small mountain.
Written May 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TweedleDee
Huntsville, AL412 contributions
Feb 2020
Very nice beach but not all that large and can get crowded. If you plan on being out there for the day there are chair and umbrella rentals that are a good idea as even on nice temperature days the sun can still be quite brutal. Very nice water and stays relatively shallow for quite a way out. Not a lot of sand area, but there is also a lot of food and shopping venues just across the street. You can also go further down towards the south side of the beach and there is a large shaded park area that can be explored. Parking is at a premium so you might have to pay a meter or park at a nearby parking garage but the bus is also a good option as the stop is right in the middle of the beach area!
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ChrisH
Frederick, MD498 contributions
Feb 2020
Waikiki Beach and the surrounding area is ok but the rest of tourist and working class Honolulu is no better than third world (unless you visit the multimillionaire areas).

Spent a week at one of the high rise hotels on Waikiki beach in early February. Waikiki is very nice but an extremely expensive area.

Totally unimpressed with the rest of Honolulu though. More like being in a third world city than our perception of Hawaii from TV shows. Dirty, rundown, noisy and way too much traffic and pollution. Constant traffic jams and speeding vehicles make walking hazardous.

Used the Waikiki Trolley as our main means of transportation and saw many areas of the city where we would not have gotten off the trolley to wander around without feeling totally unsafe, especially Chinatown.

The city has changed for the worse since we were here in the 1980s.

Honolulu International Airport restrooms near the American/United check-in areas are also horrendous at 230pm in the afternoon. Dirty, smelly, trashy and pee all over the floor. Another example of Hawaii state not caring about its number 1 industry, Tourism.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Diane D
Naples, FL160 contributions
Jun 2021
I never got tired of the view from our balcony high above the beach watching the surfers, sunbathers, sailboats, and sunsets. Once down on the street, however, the crowds on the beach, lines at every shop and restaurant, homeless people approaching, and traffic made the street level less appealing. Waikiki, an urban city with a beach running along the edge, is not representative of the relaxed, tropical island paradise atmosphere Hawaii is famous for.
Written July 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Eric S
Saint Louis, MO115 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
My wife and I stayed at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort for our anniversary. The beach is stunning in its beauty. I recommend staying in one of the few hotels that are actually on the beach as most are across the street. We went to the beach early and late in the day. The morning and near sunset are lovely times to be on the beach and it is not too crowded at those times. The beach does get very crowded during the main time of the day, but it is an exciting vibe. The surfers are fun to watch as are the sail boats. Diamond Head on the one end is breathtaking. The sand is soft and the waves generally are calm. It is fun to people watch as well. There is so much to do in the Waikiki area we had no need for a rental car.
Written June 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

StacyInDC2012
Alexandria, VA898 contributions
Sep 2021
We enjoyed Waikiki Beach because we didn't go for a traditional beach day. Our first visit was during our first night in Hawaii, just before sunset. It was still crowded, but not nearly as packed as I imagine it was during the height of the day.

We returned the following morning shortly after sunrise (thanks East Coast jet lag) and enjoyed the beach for about an hour before the crowds showed up.

The proximity to the city is convenient and the view of Diamondhead impressive, but for a "day at the beach" I'd prefer something a little less central & crowded!
Written September 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

HillaryDawn
Paphos, Cyprus48 contributions
Dec 2019
We mostly swam at the end of the beach nearest the Duke statue and near Waikiki Zoo. Wouldn't really recommend. Was packed and one side was too rocky, where the other side, while being protected and great for little kids, felt dirty. If you go up the strip and swim in front of some of the nicer hotels, you'll have a better time. All in all, it's a stunning beach with crystal clear waters and near-white sand, but parts of it are nicer than others!
Written January 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

VeeLee4
Arlington, VA145 contributions
Jan 2020
We have visited the other islands, and I had hesitated to come to Oahu because I thought Waikiki would be too touristy. Well, it is very touristy, but not in the sense of an Ocean City or Orlando. It's very pretty, with the hills in the background, and lots of green space. It was cloudy and rainy the last few days of our vacation but it was still pleasant, and we enjoyed the Iolani Palace, Bishop Museum and Honolulu Museum of Art.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kyliethefabulous
Batemans Bay, Australia5 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Not sure why there’s so much hype about this beach. It’s crowded, very built up and the coral under your feet once in the water isn’t the best experience. It’s pretty to look at in spots, the water is clear (although the rubbish in the water at the nearby marina is disappointing), and it’s suitable for small kids as there’s almost no waves.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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