Waikiki
 

The beach across the street the Resortquest Hotel says it has a beach with a breaker wall. Is that a nice beach to spend the day at? I like the idea of the breaker wall since it should prevent waves, you can float about. Also which part of the beach is the most crowded that might want to stay away from? I do plan to explore more then 1 beach while I am there. Ok course snorkel Hanama (spell ?) Bay.

Yes it's called Kuhio Beach where the statue of Duke is. We usually get an air mattress and float there. Kailua and Lanikai are also quite popular and dependeing on the time of year Sharks Cove for snorkeling.

Hanauma (is the spelling)

Depends on the time of year. Often most of Waikiki is not all that crowded. I like the end towards Fort de Russey park myself. Waves are not typically that big either. It is a smooth beach, with generally gentle waves.

This is just a small section of the beach.

It is a good place for people who don't swim well. But, the breakwall area brings more kids because it is safer for them.

Here's a link to show you what the breakwall looks like:

http://www.waikiki.hawaii-accommodat...-pictures.html

The entire beach runs for almost two miles. Others will disagree, but I've never found the Waikiki beaches overcrowded. If you find a place that has more people than you might like, move 100 yards to a quieter area.

"Often most of Waikiki is not all that crowded"

"I've never found the Waikiki beaches overcrowded. If you find a place that has more people than you might like, move 100 yards to a quieter area."

Dream on!! Waikiki beach is CROWDED, except maybe early in the morning. Many times not only is the sand crowded but the water is also crowded.

Move 100 yards to a quiter area?? I challenge anyone to show a photo of Waikiki Beach at midday when it is possible to have nobody within 100yards of you!!!

Rusty is super anti-Oahu and thinks the whole island is like Waikiki. So, understanding that....

oops! I accidentally posted too soon. anyway, here are some webcams of Waikiki to give you an idea. There are MANY crowded spots in Waikiki, but you can find a little oasis here and there.

http://www.honolulu.gov/cameras/waik...ch/waikiki.htm

http://hawaiilive.sheraton-hawaii.com/index.cfm

http://www.seearoomhawaii.com/webcams/

Well I'll chime in as someone who never found the beach at Waikiki particularly crowded. Sure in certain sections, likek right in front of a hotel, but just walk a bit further. Especially heading down towards the direction of Diamond Head, it's reasonably peaceful.

I agree with Suze. At both the Diamond Head side, and the Hale Koa (Fort De Russy)/ Hilton Hawaiian Village side, it's not that crowded. In between, it can get pretty packed. I was there at Spring Break once, and it was a zoo on the weekend.

Oh yes, Fort de Russey is a very nice place to hang around too. You can lounge on grass in the shade instead of sand in the sun.

There's a supposedly famous & popular beach called San Souci towards the Diamond Head end that I'd heard about. It's just a small square down past the natatorium... I had to ask a grounds keeper if in fact I was at the right place because there wasn't ANYONE there the time I walked down that way to explore.

I supose it depends on one's definition of "crowded". Melissa is right that you can find "a little oasis here and there" but who wants to spend there time looking for a little oasis. And Suze says it may not be "all that crowded" but she doesn't say that it isn't crowded. But I don't think anyone can argue that Waikiki is the most crowded beach in all of Hawaii (that is, the most people per square foot).

Waikiki Beach is the most famopus beach in Hawaii (and one of the most famous beaches in the world) but it does not deserve its reputation. It is not even close to being the best beach on Oahu, let alone one of the best beaches in the world. In fact two thirds of Waikiki beach is man made.

It isn't crowded. OK, I said it.

And that was true for one week each, one two occasions I've been there (once November once February).

The Sans Souci area, right in front of the New Otani hotel, is great, and wasn't too crowded when we stayed at the hotel. I love the gentle water there ... like a warm, sloshy bathtub.

The web cams (links provided above by MelissaH) show that Waikiki beach is already getting crowded at 8:30 in the morning. The live pictures show that it would not be possible to be less than 10 feet away from the nearest person at 8:30 am. Will check again at mid day.

OK Rusty, I give ;-)

How about this instead?

If you want a beach with no other people on it, Waikiki is not the place for you.

Now 11:30 am in Hawaii. And the web cams show that Waikiki Beach isn't crowded. It is overwhelmed with a sea of humanity!! You might be able to find a place to sqaeeze in a towel on the sand

suze!! don't take the bait!!

Thanks Melissa for the web cam links. All of the web cams show that at 1pm Waikiki Beach is full. Not even room to spread a towel. Hard to believe that some people actually enjoy this.

2:30 pm and even the water is crowded with people on Waikiki Beach. It looks like it is so crowded that the people have to alternate between the water and the beach because there is not enough room for eveybody on the beach all at the same time. I am not kidding. The web cameras don't lie. Now where are all those people who claim that Waikiki Beach is not crowded?

Sorry Crusty......Instead of spending my day in front of a webcam trying to prove to the world that my opinion is supreme, I spent a lovely day at the beach. Time for dinner. With friends, of course--since I'm not bitter & lonely or in need of validation!

Rusty...I bet you'd have no problem with people staying 100 yds from you on Wakiwaki! :))

DARNNIT!!!

<i>kinder...gentler Kal....kinder gentler Kal </i> @-) @-) @-)

I've never found Waikiki too crowded; it's a great place to watch people. There are definitely a lot of people there, but you can also learn to surf there, ride an outrigger canoe, take a cruise, and of course sip a mai tai at the Royal Hawaiian or any of a number of other bars.
Lanikai and Kailua are great beaches and less crowded but with less to do in terms of renting equipment and/or getting instruction.
Don't miss the North Shore beaches either, though the waves get pretty treacherous pretty soon.

MelissaHI- Yup, I'm a dope. Just that I never bumped into this poster before... on Waikiki beach or elsewhere!! Yuk yuk.

I know... Don't like Waikiki? don't go there, Rusty. I don't get why it is such a big deal to you to belabor this point.

Everytime we have gone to Waikiki we stay near the HHV and there are very few people on the beach.....(this is in May and October) I found it much more crowded in Maui...

Below is a link to a web cam on Kaanapali Beach, Maui (probably the busiest beach on Maui). Anyone can check the web cam on Waikiki beach and the web cam on Kaanapali Beach and compare. You will NEVER find a time when Kaanapali Beach is more crowded than Waikiki Beach (or close to it). Some poeple sse what they want to see but the camera doesn't lie.

http://www.seearoomhawaii.com/index.cfm?contentID=245

I spent two weeks in Honolulu at the Hale Koa &amp; did the beach for a period every day. They groomed the beach each morning - we watched them from the veranda each morning over breakfast. After breakfast we headed for the beach &amp; had a choice of any spot we wanted in that area. We never found it crowded. Waikiki Beach is quite long &amp; someplaces do get crowded but it is not crowded over most of its length.

I didn't check the web cam Rusty is referring to because I know what I experienced. The web cam is probably focused on the most crowded section.

Dawn, it depends on your definition of &quot;crowded.&quot; I love all of Oahu that I've had the good fortune to visit thus far. That includes Honolulu ( a GREAT international city) which includes Waikiki.
Waikiki's beaches never seemed that crowed --even in peak tourism summer months. The so-called tranquil Seven Pools in Maui--now THAT was crowded. Loads of bodies per squae foot, no room to move.
Maybe, as Rusty says, pix don't lie, but perhaps becuase of the expanse of ocean in front of me, or the joy of being there, it nnever feels packed with people.
Folks who are disappinted with Waikiki perhaps anticipated a tropical island paradise a la Bora Bora. Well, it's NOT that. It has a character all its own, like no where else. Some don't like that character, others love it.
I think the Resortquest Hotel you're referring to is Waikiki Beach hotel? Friends have stayed there and loved its location. I think the hotel gives a picnic breakfast to take to the beach.
The walk from Outrigger Reef end over to where you'd be( if staying at Resortquest property) is magnificent at night, as you pass the torches, feel the ocean breeze, enjoy sounds of t beachfront hotels' bands, accompanying hula (eg in front of Halekulani) performance. Note too that there is a nightly (i think?) hula performance at Kuhio Beach, by Duke's statue.

I would love to stay at the Resortquest Hotel but it will kill my budget. The price I am getting is $152/night but with tax it is more like $175. I am hoping to find someplace close by for less. Been reading Trip Advisor &amp; Expedia travel reviews on many of the hotels and you get good ones but then you get the nightmare reviews so now I am scared to book a place. My one problem is too is that I am getting in 11:50 P.M. Will getting a taxi that late and checking in a problem at most places?

Dawn if you want to free up your budget and admit you'll probably only sleep and change clothes in your hotel. Than some options are Resortquest Waikiki Circle I believe you can get a room for $125 a night, if you want to save more and it is two short blocks to the beach. The Royal Grove it's older and the furniture is quite dated but you get a kitchen a small lanai for sunrise coffee for $64 and the evening entertainment in the lobby is free. Another one I've read about is about a block from the Grove Waikiki Prince I think the rates were around $70-80.

Dawn

You won't have any problem getting a cab or a shuttle to Waikiki at that hour.

Dawn, please don't despair of finding an affordable hotel!
First, as Dusty said, you'll be fine in a cab late at night in the Waikiki area. (I've never felt unsafe at that hour in Honolulu).
Second, check ALL Resortquest hotels/condos in Waikiki on their web site. They frequently honor the Entertainment card which you can buy for about $30 on line or in a local store. Justas an example, there aed codos at the Banyan, a block or so from the beach on the zoo side of Waikiki, in a lovely garden setting.
Also check Ohana Hotels www.ohanahotels.com. The budget btranch of Outrigger. RIght now they have a $99/night special in ome of teir Lewers Stthe area nr the Outrigger Reef. There's presenty lots of construction there, but again--how much time will you be in your room? Or see their Ohana East hotel, which I've stayed in, and is clean and adequate and a 3 minute walk( take a detour via the Sheraton Moana Surfrider lobby, if you want to get a taste of history) to the beach.
See Tripadvisor. There's a hotel, about #7 on the list, for $70/night (the Prince) that gets rave reviews . Or check expedia, orbitz, etc and you are sure to find reasonably priced (less than $100/night) decent places between Kalakaua (the main drag that borders Waikiki Beach) and the Ala Wai canal, a few blocks north.
If you're not sure which are ok, narrow your choices and pose the question here. There are Fodors local folks, and visitors who will have wise feedback on your choices.
Good luck!

Thanks!

Hello,

Has anyone stayed at the Waikiki Sands. I found out that they have a hospitality room where we can store our luggage and take showers. Our flight doesn't leave until 10 PM which would be great for us. How long will it take to walk to the beach? I have read 2 to 3 blocks but I don't know how long the blocks are.

Last year we bid on Priceline for our late arrival and got the Raddisson Prince Kuhio for $65..it was an easy 3 blocks to the beach and a very nice hotel!

If the Waikiki Sands is the one I think it is (is it the Sand Vila, perhaps?) it's right by the Ala Wai canal, maybe three blocks up (north) from where the Sheraton Moana Surfrider and flagship Outrigger front Kalakaua Ave. As i wrote above, that is a good area for decent, convenient, lowpriced hotels. The three block walk from Ala Wai to Waikiki should take no more than 5 minutes. You can walk to the beach via the alleyway next to the Outrigger, or inside via the lower lobby /shops level of Outrigger, or go to the left of the hotel (Moana Surfrider )with the big white columns, and voila!! Waikiki Beach!
BTW, the Prince Kuhio mentioned by travelina is lovely: gorgeous lobby and surrunded by small park-like area (was there when it was part of Outrigger chain) and with some high level rooms with stunning views. If you can get it for travelina's great deal on Priceline--GO FOR IT!

Dawn, as CaliNurse suggested, try calling the Aston and Outrigger hotel chains for entertainment card discounts. We've gotten great deals that way. Also, try VRBO for studios at some of the Aston condos like Pacific Monarch. Great locations and kitchens will help on the budget. Most properties have the hospitality rooms too.

We've also been lucky with priceline and caught the Radisson Prince Kuhio. Agreed, great property and location. They even gave us an ocean view :)

Re: the whole crowded debate...it really does depend on what your definition of crowded is. The beach in front of Hilton Hawaiian Village has an exansive area of sand, calm turquoise waters and plenty of space for everyone. But you can also go to the Kuhio side and get fun people watching, that's the beauty of Oahu..it has it all :)

I was talking about the Waikiki Sand Villa. I would love to stay at the Raddison. Unfortunately they are not accepting reservations for November. Anyone stay recently at the Park Shore Waikiki? There does not seem to be as many hotels in that exact area (by the ResortQuest Hotel. That is actually the area where I would like to be. Close to the park. I know the rooms are really small but what is the condition of the rooms like.

I also got on the Entertainment Card's website and the rates that we given were the same as the internet. Maybe you do have to call them to get an even better rate. I was considering the Queen Kaprolani but read some really bad reviews. Anyone stay there recently? Same for many of the AAA rates too. I did find the Park Shore for $10 less but that was it. Also a lot of places were not available for my AAA rate.

I know the Queen

We did stay at Waikiki Park Shore but it was only for 1 night in March 2005. I will say it was the worst room we've ever stayed in. It was through priceline so I think it was before rennovations and designated as their 'priceline' cheapie! Extremely small, drab rooms but good location.

References to Radisson were if it could be won on Priceline at less than $100, otherwise probably wouldn't pay the regular rate.
If you want to try your luck with priceline, check out www.biddingfortravel.com or www.betterbidding.com
Happy planning!

In May of this year we met a couple of people that had rooms at the Queen and were quite happy with it. I don't remember if both had the Diamond Head view or not though. There is also the Resortquest Waikiki Banyan and few others in the same area. These are close to Kapiolani Park and the Waikiki Shell also the zoo and aquarium.