Waikiki - wikipedia Waikiki `` Waikiki Beach '' redirects here. For other uses, see Waikiki ( disambiguation ). Waikīkī Neighborhood of Honolulu Aerial view of Waikiki Country United States State Hawaii County Honolulu County City Honolulu Area Total 3.4 sq mi ( 9 km ) ZIP Code 96815 Area code ( s ) 808 Waikīkī ( / waɪkiːˈkiː / ; Hawaiian : ( vɐjˈtiːˈtiː, wɐjˈtiːˈtiː ) ) ( also known as Waikiki Beach ) is a beachfront neighborhood of Honolulu on the south shore of the island of Oʻahu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Waikiki is most famous for Waikīkī Beach, but it is just one of six beaches in the district, the others being Queen 's Beach, Kuhio Beach, Gray 's Beach, Fort DeRussy Beach and Kahanamoku Beach. Waikīkī is home to public places including Kapi ʻolani Park, Fort DeRussy, Kahanamoku Lagoon, Kūhiō Beach Park, and Ala Wai Harbor. Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Geography 3.1 Main thoroughfares 4 Beach problems 4.1 Erosion 4.2 Water quality 5 Economy 6 Government and infrastructure 7 Education 8 Twin towns -- sister cities 9 Gallery 10 See also 11 References 12 External links Etymology The name Waikīkī means spouting fresh water in the Hawaiian language, for springs and streams that fed wetlands that once separated Waikīkī from the interior. History The area was a retreat for Hawaiian royalty in the 1800s who enjoyed surfing there on early forms of longboards. A few small hotels opened in the 1880s. In 1893, Greek - American George Lycurgus leased the guest house of Allen Herbert and renamed it the `` Sans Souci '' ( French for `` without worries '' ) creating one of the first beach resorts. Later that year Robert Louis Stevenson stayed at the resort ; subsequently it became a popular destination for tourists from the mainland. The area at coordinates 21 ° 15 ′ 49 '' N 157 ° 49 ′ 17 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 21.26361 ° N 157.82139 ° W ﻿ / 21.26361 ; - 157.82139 is still called `` Sans Souci Beach ''. Today, the area is filled with large resort hotels, such as the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Halekulani, the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī, Marriott Waikiki, Sheraton Waikīkī, and historic hotels dating back to the early 20th century ( such as the Moana Surfrider Hotel and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel ). The beach hosts many events a year, including surf competitions, outdoor performances, hula dancing and outrigger canoe races. Geography Waikīkī beach looking towards Diamond Head Waikīkī beach as seen from Diamond Head The neighborhood extends from the Ala Wai Canal ( a channel dug to drain former wetlands ) on the west and north, to Diamond Head ( Lē ʻahi ) on the east. Waikīkī Beach is noted for its views of the Diamond Head tuff cone, its usually warm and cloud - free climate and its surf break. The Waikīkī skyline is now dotted with an abundance of both high - rises and resort hotels. The beach is actually fairly short, with half of it marked off for surfers. For some distance into the ocean the water is quite shallow, although there are numerous rocks on the bottom. As with most ocean beaches the waves can have some force, particularly on windy days. The surf at Waikīkī is known for its long rolling break, making it ideal for long boarding, tandem surfing and beginners. Main thoroughfares Waikīkī 's main thoroughfare is Kalakaua Avenue, named after King Kalakaua, which houses most of the high - end hotels ( Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton, Hyatt, Moana Surfrider Hotel ), most of the luxury designer brand stores ( Apple Store, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Burberry, Dior, Tiffany & Co., Fendi, Cartier, Gucci, and Coach ) and popular surf clothing brand stores ( Quiksilver, Billabong, Volcom ). Waikīkī 's other main thoroughfare, Kuhio Avenue, named after Prince Kuhio, is better known for its restaurants, cafes and grocers, along with its clubs, nightlife and prostitution. Waikiki - Oahu - sunset - Janine - Sprout Beach problems Erosion Waikīkī Beach erosion in 2011 The restored Beach in June 2012 Over time, Waikīkī beach has had problems with erosion, leading to the construction of groynes and beach replenishment projects. For example, in the 1920s and 1930s sand was imported from Manhattan Beach, California, via ship and barge to Waikīkī. Importing stopped in the 1970s. Officials are looking for ways to sustain the existing sand by eliminating loss due to tidal flow. Subject to permits, a partial restoration was completed in the spring of 2012. The proposed project imported sand from nearby shoals and widened the 1,700 - foot ( 520 m ) long beach by about 37 feet ( 11 m ) between the Royal Hawaiian Hotel concrete groyne and the Kūhiō Beach crib wall. The project restored the beach to its 1985 shoreline. Water quality Waikiki Beach has had contamination problems with sewage spills. Economy This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( October 2017 ) NTT DoCoMo also has limited operations here for the convenience of Japanese tourists. Government and infrastructure District 6 of the Honolulu Police Department ( HPD ) encompasses Waikiki. The Waikīkī HPD Substation is located at 2425 Kalakaua Avenue next to Kuhio Beach Park. The United States Postal Service operates the Waikīkī Post Office at 330 Saratoga Road. Education Hawaii Department of Education operates public schools. Thomas Jefferson Elementary School is located in Waikīkī proper, while Waikīkī Elementary School is located nearby, at the makai ( southern ) edge of the Kapahulu neighborhood. The Hawaii State Public Library System operates the Waikīkī Public Library at 400 Kapahulu Avenue. Twin towns -- sister cities Waikiki is twinned with : Freshwater, New South Wales, Australia Bixby, Oklahoma, United States Gallery Surfboards in Waikiki Waikīkī Beach facing Diamond Head, 1958 Waikiki Beach view Aerial view of Waikiki Beach and Honolulu, Hawaii. Statue of Prince Kuhio in Waikiki. A zebra shark swimming at Waikiki Aquarium. See also Hawaii portal List of leading shopping streets and districts by city Save Our Surf Waikiki Trolley References Jump up ^ Lloyd J. Soehren ( 2010 ). `` lookup of waikiki ``. in Hawaiian Place Names. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library. Retrieved December 13, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Longboards used by royalty ''. Hawaii-post.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2012. Jump up ^ Helen G. Chapin ( 1981 ). `` The Queen 's `` Greek Artillery Fire '' : Greek Royalists in the Hawaiian Revolution and Counterrevolution ``. Hawaiian Journal of History. 15. Jump up ^ `` Sans Souci Beach Park ''. Government, Official Web Site for The City and County of Honolulu. Honolulu, HI, USA : City and County of Honolulu. August 15, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2012. External link in work = ( help ) Jump up ^ `` Waikiki Historic Trail - Map ''. Hawaii Tourism Authority. Retrieved October 1, 2012. Jump up ^ Young, Peter T ( May 11, 2012 ). `` Ho'okuleana : Waikīkī -- Before the Ala Wai ''. Retrieved October 1, 2012. Jump up ^ Ejiri, Masakazu ( 1996 ). `` 1 : Introduction ''. The Development of Waikiki, 1900 -- 1949 : The Formative Period of an American Resort Paradise ( Thesis ). Honolulu : University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. p. 1. Retrieved October 1, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Queens - Surfing in Oahu, United States of America - WannaSurf, surf spots atlas, surfing photos, maps, GPS location ''. wannasurf.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Canoes - Surfing in Oahu, United States of America - WannaSurf, surf spots atlas, surfing photos, maps, GPS location ''. wannasurf.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015. Jump up ^ `` City to beautify Kuhio Avenue ''. The Honolulu Advertiser. January 26, 2004. Retrieved September 3, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Prostitution shifts from Waikiki ''. The Honolulu Advertiser. August 31, 2003. Retrieved September 3, 2012. Jump up ^ Bonnie Beckerson ( 2001 ). `` City of Manhattan Beach History ''. Retrieved April 26, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Where 's Waikiki 's sand ? ''. CNN. Atlanta, GA, USA : Turner Broadcasting System. July 5, 2003. Archived from the original on July 7, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Beach to be rebuilt with recovered sand - Hawaii News ''. Staradvertiser.com. June 30, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2012. Jump up ^ CNN, Jason Hanna. `` Hawaii 's Waikiki beaches shut after sewage spill ''. CNN. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 31. Jump up ^ `` Investigation Of Waikiki Beach Sewage Spill Closes ''. www.wateronline.com. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 31. Jump up ^ Savage, Sam ; Venzon, Nel C Jr ( 2008 - 01 - 30 ). `` Massive Discharge of Untreated Sewage into the Ala Wai Canal ( Oahu, Hawaii ) : A Threat to Waikiki 's Waters ? ''. Redorbit. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 31. Jump up ^ `` Sewage spill fouls Waikiki Beach - Wikinews, the free news source ''. en.wikinews.org. 2006 - 03 - 31. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 31. Jump up ^ `` Local Overseas Support ( Free Battery Charging Service etc. ) Services NTT DOCOMO ''. www.nttdocomo.co.jp. Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 30. Jump up ^ `` HPD Community ''. Honolulupd.org. Retrieved April 26, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Contact HPD ''. Honolulupd.org. Retrieved April 26, 2015. Jump up ^ `` `` Waikiki USPS Location Details ''. United States Postal Service. Retrieved April 27, 2015. Jump up ^ `` School Information. '' Waikiki Elementary School. Retrieved on May 22, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Waikiki Public Library ''. Hawaii State Public Library System. May 22, 2009. Archived from the original on November 30, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2016. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Waikiki Beach. Find more aboutWaikikiat Wikipedia 's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Wikimedia Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Travel guide from Wikivoyage Learning resources from Wikiversity Waikiki Info Waikiki Duke Statue Webcam Surfing areas of Hawaiʻi Banzai Pipeline Holualoa Bay Hoʻokipa Jaws Kahalu ʻu Bay Mākaha Makapuʻu Beach Pūpūkea Sandy Beach Sunset Beach Waikīkī Waimea Bay Coordinates : 21 ° 16 ′ 31 '' N 157 ° 49 ′ 52 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 21.2752 ° N 157.8312 ° W ﻿ / 21.2752 ; - 157.8312 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Waikiki&oldid=817205983 '' Categories : Waikiki Neighborhoods in Honolulu Hidden categories : CS1 errors : external links Use mdy dates from January 2017 Articles to be expanded from October 2017 All articles to be expanded Articles using small message boxes Commons category with local link different than on Wikidata Coordinates on Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage Afrikaans Asturianu Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Boarisch Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Hawaiʻi Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Simple English Suomi Svenska ไทย Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 26 December 2017, at 22 : 02. 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Question: where does the sand in waikiki come from
Answer: Manhattan Beach, California