Waikiki Beach is the most famous beach in Hawaii, a mile-long crescent of sand fronting Honolulu's hotel district with iconic views of Diamond Head crater. The reef-protected, south-facing shore creates calm, beginner-friendly surf; tidal range is small, so conditions are good at any tide.
Hawaii's tidal range of about 1–2 ft means conditions change very little between tides; the reef-protected, south-facing shore is warm (78–82°F) and beginner-friendly at any tide level. Swimming is excellent year-round; gentle rolling waves make Waikiki the ideal place to learn longboard surfing, best at mid to high tide when the reef is covered and waves have more shape; shelling is essentially absent on the manicured beach; fishing is not a primary activity here. Local note: the Duke Kahanamoku statue at the east end is the traditional meeting point; outrigger canoe rides and surfboard rentals are available directly on the beach; Kapiolani Park behind the beach has open lawn for picnics and a path around Diamond Head.
Nearby Beaches