March 11,  a silver Ford Mustang was allegedly stolen from a car dealership on Leach Highway in Myaree the same Mustang was allegedly used in a home burglary on Sida Street in Wandi CCTV shows two offenders allegedly force their way into the property before they flee with several stolen items police spotted the stolen Mustang which was allegedly speeding on Gilmore Avenue in Kwinana The driver allegedly failed to stop and shortly after the Mustang was found abandoned on Nottingham Parkway in Orelia Detectives have since charged a 36-year-old Waikiki man with 11 offences including aggravated home burglary possessing a prohibited drug and possessing drug paraphernalia He is next due to appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on May 16 A 32-year-old woman from Orelia has been charged with stealing a motor vehicle She is due to front the Perth Magistrates Court on May 2 As a tourist destination, Waikiki can be one of the most expensive area of Honolulu, Hawaii to eat in but it is also where a lot of hotels are located so it's likely that you may be staying there But if you're looking for cheap eats in Waikiki there are plenty if you know where to look friendly aloha service and prices for around $20USD per main or less all collated through weeks of personal research Where else can you get a steak dinner right on Waikiki Beach for a mere $12.80USD There's a reason why Steak Shack is so popular and you'll find a line snaking around the beachside eatery We first came across Steak Shack on our last visit to Hawaii and I had mentally bookmarked it to come back and try their steak It's open all day until 7pm or 7:30pm Friday to Sunday so head there 45 minutes before sunset for a meal with a view The menu is simple and has two options: grilled steak plate or grilled chicken plate Service is friendly and they'll give you an accurate indication on when your meal will be ready We take a seat at one of the tables and wait and 15 minutes later the steak and chicken plate are ready The steak is tender and comes with a pot of steak jus steamed rice and organic greens with ranch or Italian dressing The first couple of pieces are a bit chewy (it's cooked more medium to well done than medium rare that we asked for) but the rest is good and it's a very generous portion of 6ozs or 180g of steak Out of the two we both preferred the chicken plate with the caramelisation of the grill The chicken is very tender and delicious and I really love the organic greens dressed simply with ranch dressing Before you go: Time it to get there half an hour before sunset What To Order: The Signature steak plate and the chicken plate are both delicious and yes those prices are real as of January 2024 I also ordered an extra side salad for $4USD and I did not expect much for that price but we got a container of salad and more steak Malasadas (Portuguese donuts) have a long history with Hawaii as they were introduced by Portuguese migrants And while a stop at Leonard's is de rigeur it's location outside of Waikiki means that you have to either take the 50 minute walk or an Uber If you're looking for your malasada fix a bit closer to Waikiki Penny's Malasadas are a worthy contender (some prefer these to Leonard's) Each order is made to order so you'll wait around 10-15 minutes for your donuts The malasadas are not available as a single donut the smallest quantity is 3 for $10.5USD for the custard filled donuts There are also plain unfilled donuts available too The two most popular are the original custard filled donuts and coconut cream filled donuts For my third I choose the daily special strawberry guava The pile of napkins that they give you has a purpose not enough to burn your mouth but enough for you to know that they are fresh And they are light as air (without doing a side by side comparison they're lighter than my memory of Leonard's) The custard is wonderful and not overly sweet given the sugar coating These take around 10-15 minutes as they come out FRESH What to order: The custard filled malasadas-the most popular are original custard and ube https://www.instagram.com/pennyswaikikimalasadas/ Sometimes you need a good old fashioned toasted cheese sandwich. And Aloha Melt has quite a following for their toasted cheese sandwiches. This cute little store along Royal Hawaiian Avenue is set among massage shops and other outdoor eateries Aloha Melt has two things on the menu: toasted cheese sandwiches and a cup of tomato soup The most popular is the Bacon Patty Melt made with beef mince bacon and aioli but we love the Aloha Patty Melt or A.P which is the spicy version of the Bacon Patty Melt just with pickled jalapenos and Sriracha aioli The soup has a wonderful intense tomato flavour to it and they add the croutons bacon and grated cheese just before serving We found sharing one soup and one toasted cheese sandwich plenty for us What to order: Bacon Patty Melt or the Aloha Patty Melt if you like things spicy https://www.instagram.com/alohameltwaikiki/ A hundred metres or so away from Aloha Melt is Topped This is a Korean rice bowl restaurant that is seriously cheap and good Here you can get lunch for less than $10USD (not including tip) They've also got a range of freshly made smoothie drinks for $5.99USD The pineapple mango and strawberry is great and not overly sweet The best seller is the Kalbi steak and egg on a bed of steamed white rice The steak is cut up so that it is easy to eat with a sunny side up egg and a green salad with a honey mustard dressing I recommend sharing an Aloha melt and soup and then the Kalbi steak and egg here if you're on the hungry side Before you go: Everything is made to order so expect to wait around 10 minutes or more during busy times Also if you're a K-pop fan look out for some autographs The chicken bibimbap was fine but the kalbi steak was definitely the pick Stix Asia Food Hall in the basement level of the Waikiki Shopping Plaza is a real treasure trove of eateries If you're looking for something grab and go head to Nana Musubi which is actually onigiri with a range of rice (white They can be as simple as an umeboshi plum or as delicious as char siu and mayo filling and tasty and my favourites were the ones with hot fillings like char siu and chicken karaage Before you go: Don't forget to order the nori as each onigiri doesn't automatically come with it Also they have a monthly special only available at night and during the month that we visited it was chicken karaage which was DELICIOUS What to order: I loved all of the rice types especially the purple one and my favourite fillings were the char siu and mayonnaise and the chicken karaage (special only at night) https://www.instagram.com/nanamusubi_waikiki/ Tempura Kiki is located right next to Nana Musubi at Stix Asia Market and they specialise in one thing only: tempura You know that it's good when a Japanese restaurant is full of Japanese people eating The staff are lovely and recommend the Kiki (short for Waikiki) set for lunch This gives you a piece of each of the tempura and it is all cooked fresh to order miso soup and unlimited pickles in your own personal pot for the table The prawn or shrimp tempura is delicious of course and a classic but so is the fish and squid There is also a tasty range of vegetables where our favourites are the sweet kabocha pumpkin and soft and melting eggplant Before you go: I had seen a lunch set online but when we went there at lunch it was just the regular menu so perhaps they've done away with the lunch specials What to order: the kiki set gives you a bit of everything Don't forget to try the matcha salt or chilli salt (on the table) on your rice or tempura https://www.instagram.com/tempurakikihonolulu/ Sometimes when I travel all I want is a big healthy salad because when I'm at home I eat salad every day and I miss it If you are in need of a healthy fix head to Pai's Deli slightly hidden away in the Outrigger Waikiki (near the hotel's coin laundry) This tiny little deli is beloved for its friendly service and reasonably priced Having chicken salad and egg salad together on the same sandwich is just genius and it comes with all of the salad (lettuce We upgraded it with avocado for $1.25USD extra and there was a good amount of avocado on it All sandwiches include a couple of pieces of fresh Wash it down with a fruit smoothie-the mango pineapple is delightful and just the right amount of sweetness tasting just of sweet fruit Before you go: everything is made to order so expect to wait 10 minutes or so There is a small table to eat on; otherwise take your meal to the beach nearby What to order: Captains salad for a big salad or the Chicken and Egg Salad sandwich on wholewheat If you love matcha then head to Junbi in the International Marketplace Here they combine matcha lattes (or soft serve) with a taste of Hawaii with guava puree lilikoi or passion fruit taro or POG (passion fruit I ordered mine with less sweetness and with minimal ice and with oat milk and it was absolutely delicious If you don't even like matcha these might change your mind - Mr NQN doesn't like matcha but he really loved this drink It was our second last night on holidays and we were craving some ribs Ty's BBQ and Grill is a food truck that just happens to sell some of the most delicious ribs you will eat Ty's BBQ and Grill is run by Todd and his dad also helps out The menu is short and sweet and the prices reasonable particularly when you see the amount of food that you receive Their pork ribs can come with a side of tater tots (potato gems) fries or mozzarella sticks but we went with fries on their recommendation The size is generous enough to share but I will warn you: you won't want to share they're THAT good Before you go: Ty's is a little hidden away You can't really find it on google maps if you put their name in but they're at Suzie Wong's hideaway which is where you can eat the ribs as there is no seating near the food truck The atmosphere at Suzie Wong's is like a friendly chilled dive bar and the prices for a cocktail can't be beat at $8USD What to order: the pork ribs and fries although you may not want to share them.. which makes sense as the boats used to bring in the fresh catch in the morning and by mid morning poke would start being sold But what if you're in the middle of Waikiki it's Sunday night at 7:30pm and the craving for poke hits Or you're shopping at Ross (haha my favourite store in Waikiki) and you want some poke Kai Poke sells poke bowls all made to order along with inari boats The inari was all sold out when we got there but the poke bowls were absolutely delicious the mini is really tiny and the Kai rice is like a Korean style rice with nori and sesame flavour Before you go: go to Ross next door and shop to your heart's content What to order: any combo works here but especially the Hawaiian ahi with sea asparagus which adds a delicious texture https://www.instagram.com/kai_poke_waikiki/ a sports bar where the food ranges from delicious poke tacos blackened ahi tuna to wings and onion rings Monday to Friday 2-5pm is Happy Hour so it's great for a late lunch or early dinner Be prepared for a wait depending on the time that you go Ordering can be done via your server or via the tablet on the table There are many apps (appetisers) for half price as well as pizzas We try the Kona Big Wave Beer ($7.99USD-$2USD) which Mr NQN loves For food we share the poke tacos which are fantastic The blackened ahi tuna is nice although quite strong in flavour with a lot of black pepper flavour to it Oh and the famous stack of onion rings are $4 off at $14.80USD instead of $18.80USD during happy hour Before you go: the Happy hour is from Monday to Friday 2-5pm only Be prepared to wait (the shops nearby are good for browsing) What to order: poke nachos and beer and the onion ring stack Poke is ubiquitous around Waikiki and some of the quiet back street stands and food trucks sell the best poke Five star poke is one of them and is located along Kuhio Avenue The poke here comes in three sizes: regular with one topping combo with two and large with two types for $21 We opted to share a combo and wash it down with a cup of House Made Ginger Lemonade for $4.20 We both love spicy so we went for the two spiciest pokes available: Spicy Mayo Salmon Poke and the Spicy mayo ahi poke bowl Both taste quite similar and the tuna has their signature spicy mayo sauce on top of the fresh ahi with crispy onions and ocean seaweed salad while the salmon poke uses Scottish salmon with our signature spicy mayo sauce ,onion topping and seaweed salad Next time I would opt for perhaps the spicy yuzu one with the salmon or tuna just for a bit of variety Before you go: go hungry and check out all of the food trucks in the area Also the ginger lemonade is not too sweet which is a nice change from the sweet drinks that you tend to find and it is also strong in fresh ginger If you find yourself craving some of Oahu's North Shore's garlic shrimp but don't want to make the trek out to the North Shore, then head to Amy's Shrimp and Poke. It's located right near the Hilton Hawaiian Village at the Ohana Hale food truck park The garlic shrimp are enormous and served on a generous bed of rice with greens and sesame dressing The shrimp can be served head on or off and it still has the shell on it But the sauce on it is wonderful although the spicyness is mild Before you go: If you need a coin laundry there is a place right across the road What to order: Garlic shrimp or spicy garlic shrimp and the pineapple juice then head to Sansei Sushi on the third floor at the Marriott Waikiki for their Happy Hour which is renowned for its half price sushi and sashimi from 4:45pm-5:30pm Sundays and Mondays It's very popular so you have to arrive early though as the queue starts forming before 4pm and there is a limited number of tables We arrived at 4:26pm and were literally the last people to get a table and everyone else after us got turned away drinks and anything non sushi or sashimi are full price so it can add up unless you stay focused on the sushi Their signature dish is the Panko crusted Ahi tuna a roll of tuna loin coated in tempura batter and panko and served with the most delicious soy butter wasabi sauce The DK crab ramen with truffle butter broth is also worth ordering and is fragrant in truffle with perfect textured ramen and just enough crab on top The Sansei sushi roll is rolled urumaki style (in a triangle) with a spicy crab cucumber and avocado filling and is served with a Thai sweet chilli sauce (they like things sweet here) The Spider roll is 8 pieces of tempura soft shell crab masago aioli and kaiware sprouts with an unagi glaze and Thai sweet chilli sauce I have to admit I wasn't a huge fan of the sweet chilli sauce with the sushi but overall it's half price and decent My favourite items were the crab ramen and the Panko crusted ahi tuna The 50% off offer is strictly only sushi and sashimi There is an automatic 20% gratuity added onto the bill A couple of streets away is Double Fat Ice Cream a food truck that is as hard to find as it is delicious It's at the side of the Alohilani hotel perpendicular to the beach The food truck is by Chef Brandon Lee and is a small batch artisan and locally made ice cream with unique Hawaiian inspired flavours The flavour that sells out consistently of the brown sugar vanilla - it's nice and a classic vanilla with brown sugar mixed through it and has the distinct licoricey flavour of brown sugar But I much prefer the banana with salted caramel that doesn't hold back on the salt Before you go: the hardest thing will be trying to find the food truck Go to the Kalakaua Avenue exit of the Alohilani then turn left on Kealohilani Street (past the Haagen Daaz) and follow the signs up a ramp on your left The hotel will also validate your parking for up to 2 hours for free with purchase What to order: the Crack Seed Delight Sundae is delicious https://www.instagram.com/doublefaticecream/ Some say that Pit Stop is their favourite burger spot in Honolulu and this unprepossessing food truck delivers in charm Their bestseller is the crispy cheeseburger and the double fried fries Service is super friendly and there's an adjoining restaurant area in the building adjacent to the truck Cheeseburger slider $9USD Kalua Pork Fries $15USD The Horchata hawaiiana is made with macadamia milk Mexican vanilla and coconut milk and is sweet and strong in cinnamon The 1/4 lb/113g cheeseburger slider comes out with a skirt of crispy cheddar cheese on a Hawaiian sweet roll with grilled onions The crispy cheddar really gives this burger a nice crispy texture to it while still being soft and melting in the centre A lot of things here specify the weight of items - like the fries involves 1lb or 454g of fresh hand cut double fried fries bacon and cheese with sour cream or the Hawaiian choice of Kalua pork The pork is meltingly tender and roughly shredded on top of the fries along with some cheese They bring out a couple of hot sauce options: a mild Li Hing hot sauce (the salted plum powder is popular here) and a Hot AF sauce that is housed in a glass grenade I love the Hot AF one that gives it a resounding but not overly fierce heat to the fries Before you go: be hungry if you get the fries The slider is like a mini burger (not as small as Australian sliders) What to order: Cheeseburger slider and kalua pork fries with hot sauce Most Hawaiian hotels do not stock a mini bar It's just one of those things but if you want something snacky tasty or more substantial head to Waikiki Market This is actually a supermarket by the Foodland chain where most stores are located outside the main area of Waikiki (the closest Foodland is at Ala Moana shopping centre) There's nothing about it that says Foodland but you'll recognise the products I'm not joking - for some of the best poke head to Waikiki market or the Ala Moana location of Foodland There is a range of poke available and it's super fresh and delicious It's slightly cheaper than the poke at a poke store too 1/2 or full pound and they can also make up a poke bowl with rice and toppings The poke here is delicious and very satisfying (ask which poke is made from fresh fish vs frozen too) Before you go: Do all of your mini bar shopping here so bring a bag along Maguro Spot is another poke place located one block away among a rich cluster of food outlets Their poke is entirely customisable so take your time looking at the menu There's also a small outdoor section that gets busy but turnover is quick and any additional ingredients such as ginger and spring onions along with the size What to Order: Our favorites include tuna and salmon on sushi rice with a blend of volcano sauce and spicy mayo Also the marlin (a fish you don't see much in Australia) with house shoyu was delicious I love the stuff and so do the people at Musubi Iyasume Musubis are like extra large nigiris topped with a range of things from a slice of fried SPAM They're a great post surf snack and are inexpensive The hardest part will be deciding which one to order Before you go: there are a few branches of Musubi Iyasume in Waikiki so check for your closest one What To Order: All of the musubi are delicious https://www.instagram.com/musubi_cafe_iyasume/ The consistent and lengthy queue outside Marugame Udon from its 11am opening to the 10pm closing attests to its popularity Marugame Udon effortlessly combines the familiarity of a high school cafeteria setup with the well-known Japanese udon chain concept churning out fresh udon throughout the day with just an additional $1 for the latter which I suspect is part of the reason it is so popular Before you go: go hungry and be prepared to queue and bus your own trays What To Order: The curry nikutama is their signature udon served with sweet and savory beef If you want something lighter go for the beef nikutama with a broth rather than curry sauce Also try the tempura going for either the classic prawn tempura or the tamagoyaki tempura with the springy https://www.instagram.com/marugame_udon_usa/ One of former President Obama's favored spots is reportedly the Rainbow Drive-In known for its plate lunch These originated with sugar cane workers from various parts of the world including Japan A plate lunch typically comprises two scoops of rice Rainbow Drive-In was established in 1961 by Seiji Ifuku who honed his cooking skills while serving in the US Army Rainbow became popular for serving substantial wholesome meals to both workers and beachgoers Both tourists and local continue to flock to this iconic establishment Before you go: Rainbow Drive-In is great for eat in or take out Place your order at the counter and within minutes your meal will arrive in a square take out box suitable for either on-the-spot consumption or takeout What To Order: Mix Plate BBQ + Mahi + Boneless Chicken with tartar sauce Their house-made gravy is a distinguishing factor receiving frequent praise with some customers opting for the common request of "gravy all over." So it's the afternoon and you're looking for a sweet fix Over the years Liliha has expanded to multiple locations including one on the third floor of the International Marketplace in Waikiki with an attached café the bakery eventually changed hands to restaurateur Peter Kim ensuring its continued legacy Liliha Bakery is renowned for its cream puffs This consists of choux pastry balls filled with chocolate "pudding" and topped with what they call chantilly Before you go: The Coco Puffs are made fresh all throughout the day so you don't have to get there super early I've been told Australians are obsessed with the Cheesecake Factory because of The Big Bang Theory and I was so curious to go when I first saw it. I even did a deep dive into the business here and it is so interesting The Cheesecake Factory isn't expensive but it isn't cheap either especially once you figure in the tax tip and exchange rate but if you're craving their avocado egg rolls (and sometimes I do) Between 3-5pm Monday to Friday they have a wide range of their dishes half price including the Avocado Egg Rolls Roadside Sliders and a Happy Hour double patty and double cheese burger and cocktails It is also the time where you won't have to join a massive queue Before you go: Happy Hour is in the bar area from Monday - Friday from 3:00pm - 5:00pm What To Order: the avocado egg rolls and hot spinach and cheese dip https://www.instagram.com/cheesecakefactory/ Founded in 1989 in the tranquil fishing village of Paia, Paia Fish Market has become known for its fish tacos, burgers and "fresh catch" plates. It is located on Kuhio Avenue (below the Laylow Hotel and opposite Marugame Udon) Their grilled fish tacos are a healthier alternative to battered fish We got a generous serving of two fish tacos with a choice of fries or rice and a side of hearty potatoes The savory herby potatoes stand out for their taste Before you go: Paia Fish Market is located on the upper level so it's not strictly on the ground level We walked past it a few times before looking up 1- Go to eateries one block away from the beach and not on the beach promenade There is one beachfront exception (Steak Shack) Eateries and food trucks are usually clustered together 2 - If you haven't been to Hawaii (or America) since COVID you may be surprised when you go to buy a coffee at the counter and they spin around the tablet and ask you to select which percentage you'd like to tip even places where you are walking up to the counter and collecting the food or drink yourself It's the new normal so you just have to add tax and tip to your budget You can also choose to tip zero and then add a few bills to the tip jar 3 - Americans really love ice and drinks are totally full of ice: the regular level of ice is where more than half of the drink is ice (which is excessive for me personally as I drink slowly and the ice waters down the drink) while asking for "light ice" is a quarter of the drink as ice tiny bit of ice like 6 ice cubes and drinks were perfect - still cold but they didn't water down quickly 4 - If you're looking for edible gifts to take home or plane snacks Their bags of lollies are a fraction of the price you'll find elsewhere at around $1.29USD You may see a lot of Japanese people buying their Omiyage (souvenir gifts) there because they know the prices are good 5 - ABC stores are everywhere and are generally not the cheapest place to buy things as they're more about convenience fruit and salads and if you're after a dashboard Hawaiian figurine My friends and I are seasoned layover day trippers we tend to schedule flights so that we can break up the long travel schedule A few months ago on a work trip to the Pacific island chain we had a day layover in Waikiki epic day that saw us nearly miss the connecting flight The four of us arrived in Oahu around five in the morning and took an Uber to Ala Moana A buddy of ours from California knew a charter fisherman that would take us out for a few hours to fish As the sun rose and cleared the fog from the sky rainbows danced and we marveled in the magic of nature that is Hawaii My favorite part of fishing with a local charter is the precise technique (and lures) they use to target a given fish at a given depth Our guide Kaipo had a jigging formula: once on bottom reel 10 times as fast as you can then three slow reels with a pull/jiggle motion you just rip ‘er up to surface to try again My buddy got a big bite that put up a hell of a fight The fish tired our inexperienced forearms out as we all took turns on the reel Eventually Kaipo — excited about the fish — hopped on the rod and finished the job Out of the depths appeared an 80-pound giant trevally Since we couldn’t keep the fish we gave it to our charter With the sun high in the sky, we laid our eyes on the surf, which was clean and fun sized. In the midst of the hotels of Waikiki is Quality Surfboards Hawaii the most excellent surf shop for travelers who will gladly pull up Surfline and shoot the breeze about which part of the South Shore is looking good And after verifying you’re not going to destroy their boards The shop has everything from a Matt Album 5’3″ twinnie to my personal favorite Lost Not Found 6′ 9 ” single fin With an entire quiver of local and brand-name boards of every size and shape necessary all four of us found a board we liked and trotted off to Rockpiles but it’s even better when your buddy is making his maiden voyage on a surfboard He smiled ear to ear as we embarked on the long paddle out of the inlet We pushed him into his first wave and he popped up to his feet He was so stoked that it was hard to get him out of the water We surfed for hours until our arms were tired the sun was beginning its fall into the horizon and a few of the guys started talking about just chilling at the bar before heading back to the airport One friend suggested we head to a cliff jumping spot called the Spitting Cave When we took the hike down the cliff towards the Spitting Cave we realized that the wind had picked up dramatically and the cave was actually spitting like a barrel One by one we jumped off the cliff and into the ocean traffic was on our side and we made it to our gate just as the last group started boarding but would anyone really be mad about getting stuck in Waikiki Editor’s Note: You can find more essays covering the surfing life from Nicklas Balboa, here.  Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Just in time for Lei Day The Lei Stand Waikiki is officially open inside Romer House Waikiki’s only adults-only neighborhood clubhouse and creativity that made the original Chinatown location a hit — now reimagined for the heart of Hawaii’s busiest visitor district “This next chapter at Romer House is about continuing that tradition The Lei Stand is known for its cheeky drink names and commitment to keeping experiences hyper-local Signature drinks like the Soup Soup and Clifton’s Curse return in Waikiki The bar’s new home also pays homage to the area’s past Once a place of gathering and nourishment for Native Hawaiian communities — with fishponds and natural resources sustaining generations — the land now houses Romer House a mid-century-inspired boutique hotel built on that same spirit of connection “This location was meant to bring people together,” said Ramona Sidlo Director of Experiential Marketing and the unofficial ‘Mayor of the Block’ at Romer House Waikiki “The Lei Stand is a perfect partner because they share our belief in community-first hospitality.” The space itself glows with tropical foliage Patrons can sip cocktails under soft lighting and even pick up a handwoven lei from local artisans like Dale Acoba - all part of what The Lei Stand calls the “Good Neighbor Experience.” “We wanted to create more than just a bar,” Shimooka said and meet the people who make this community what it is.” For more information on hours and reservations at The Lei Stand Waikiki, click here InStyle Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today Unlocked: Jai Glindeman’s Stab Edit Of The Year Entry Stab Interview: WSL CEO Ryan Crosby On The Tectonic Shifts Coming To The Championship Tour Ramzi Boukhiam’s Season In Jeopardy After Injury Isabella Nichols + Jack Robinson Win Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach The Electric Acid Surfboard Test With Dave Rastovich 177.2 square mile surf cultural hub of Honolulu Welcome back to No Contest — Stab and Red Bull’s travel series diving into the culture and customs of surf communities around the globe host Ashton Goggans teams up with Red Bull surfer Jamie O’Brien and local longboard World Champion Kai Sallas to explore the rich surf heritage of Oahu’s South Shore — from Waikiki’s mellow ankle slappers to the punchy reef breaks of Ala Moana Bowls.  “Waikiki is the birthplace of surfing,” says 2004 Pipe Master and surf media trailblazer Jamie O’Brien the slopey A-frame just 200 meters from the iconic Duke Kahanamoku statue in central Waikiki He reflects on the cultural significance of the ‘Beach Boys’ — skilled watermen who mastered surfing O’Brien stresses their role in preserving surfing’s roots and introducing newcomers to the sport Adding depth to the discussion is Kai Sallas Sallas clinched his maiden world title at 42 with both finalists riding boards he shaped and that’s how I learned to surf,” he says “He took tourists surfing or out in the canoe You’re kind of walking in the footsteps of Duke by continuing that Beach Boy tradition.” we dive into the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of Honolulu’s 300,000-strong population visiting local institutions like Sailor Jerry’s historic tattoo parlor in Chinatown Town & Country Surfboards in Pearl Harbor and the eclectic and hip Honolulu Pawn Shop in downtown Waikiki After watching Ashton get tattooed at Sailor Jerry’s Old Ironside Parlor — founded by Norman Collins one of the most iconic tattoo artists ever — the crew heads to Town & Country Surfboards Founded by Craig and Ryan Sugihara in 1971 T&C has left an indelible mark on surf culture They cross paths with shaping royalty Dennis Pang and airbrush artist Gavin Hasegawa uncovering stories like how Dennis Martinez’s famous slash in a swimming pool landed T&C its first cover (spoiler: it wasn’t in a surf mag) They also check out Jonah Hill’s latest custom order and discuss how Nintendo Games’ release of Town & Country Surf: Wood and Water Rage in 1988 became the world’s first action sports video game the profits of which helped build their star-studded team that came to include: Dane Kealoha Bruce Irons and Jamie O’Brien over the years The episode wraps with a visit to Kekoa Cazimero founder of Avva brand and sponsor of the iconic “Surf Into Summer” event at Ala Moana Bowls shares how he’s giving back to the competition that launched countless Hawaiian pro surfing careers Watch previous episodes of Red Bull No Contest here: Sydney, San Francisco + Morocco Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Will McGough writes about travel destinations and outdoor adventures.Follow AuthorFeb 25 09:10pm ESTShareSaveComment@font-face{font-family: "Schnyder"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/schnyders/schnyders-bold-webfont.woff2") format("woff2") url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/schnyders/schnyders/schnyders-bold-webfont.woff") format("woff"); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Merriweather"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/merriweather/merriweather-bold-webfont.woff2") format("woff2") 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.bg-accent{background-color: #FFFFFF;} #article-stream-0 .quote-embed.color-base #article-stream-0 .quote-embed .color-base{color: #000000;} #article-stream-0 .quote-embed.bg-base #article-stream-0 .quote-embed .bg-base{background-color: #000000;} #article-stream-0 .quote-embed.font-accent #article-stream-0 .quote-embed .font-accent{font-family: Schnyder,"Noto Sans","Droid Sans","Helvetica Neue",Corbel,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;} #article-stream-0 .quote-embed.font-size p #article-stream-0 .quote-embed .font-size p{font-size: 36px;}The pods at First Cabin International Hawaii provide small living areas within a capsule for guests with common areas including shared bathrooms and workspace Hawaii is notoriously an expensive destination not only in terms of the cost of flights to get here not going to make things easy for budget travelers when I saw that a pod hotel was coming to Waikiki this spring it replicates a model that’s popular in Japan where guests forgo a traditional hotel room in favor of staying in a small capsule come with just enough room for a bed and some modest storage for luggage and operate as a hostel of sorts with shared bathrooms and common spaces which will begin taking reservations soon for the spring will rent 103 pods across three categories The majority—90 in total—will be “Premium Economy” rooms that offer a living area of 27 square feet The 13 remaining rooms will be “Business Class” or “First Class” rooms with a max area of 47 square feet and slightly larger beds will be at or above $100 a night for “Premium Economy,” with increases for Business and First Class pods business and first class will be a little bit higher Pods lined up at the First Cabin International Hawaii with common spaces outside the capsules Room rates will start at or above $100 per night and always applaud the chance to experience a unique concept it’s cheaper than a lot of what you can find in Waikiki it’s not that much cheaper—and on a cost per square foot basis it may be one of the worst deals you can find and many others often have deals for less than $200 a night with room sizes of 200-400 square feet (or more) Some of these options are even more or less beachfront while First Cabin will be several blocks from the beach I won’t draw any final conclusions until the First Cabin International Hawaii actually opens and we see where the nightly rates end up day-use rates will also be available for those flying out or passing through which could prove useful in certain circumstances it seems this concept is not truly for budget travelers anti-hotel concept that are willing to pay up for the novelty The phased renovation will include upgrades to guestrooms and suites The lobby will be reimagined with a new bar as its centerpiece The 38-story hotel will remain fully operational throughout the process "This renovation marks a new chapter for Ka Lai Waikiki Beach," said Jason Grosfeld, chairman and CEO of Irongate Group "Our reinvestment reflects our deep commitment to Waikiki and elevates the standard for luxury hospitality in this iconic destination By blending timeless design with contemporary elegance we are creating an unparalleled experience that will define bespoke luxury in the heart of Waikiki."  The redesign will blend heritage and modernity under BOS Studio's vision, with support from Brooklyn-based Guerin Glass Architects The project will feature custom-designed furniture and Hawaiian-inspired design elements throughout The transformation will introduce spaces where Hawaiian heritage meets international sophistication. Areas such as the lobbies, Wai'olu Ocean Cuisine guestrooms and suites will feature neutral tones handcrafted furniture and colorful ceramics Design elements will include light oak paneling the hotel has been a home away from home for travelers from around the world," said Scott Ingwers "As we embark on this exciting transformation and our valued guests remains unwavering."  Ka Lai Waikiki Beach is located above Fort DeRussy Park with views of the Pacific Ocean and Diamond Head The property features residential-style guestrooms and suites As part of LXR Hotels & Resorts' portfolio, which includes properties in destinations such as Kyoto and Seychelles, Ka Lai Waikiki Beach is a member of Hilton Honors offering guests benefits across Hilton's brands Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI based on a press release distributed by Ka Lai Waikiki Beach It has been fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor Copyright © 2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000 Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Hawaii’s signature food festival centered on Hawaii’s favorite protein is here — the annual Waikiki SPAM JAM® will take over Kalakaua Avenue with all your favorite flavors and tons of fun Named as one of USA Today’s Top Ten Best Cultural Festivals for the third year in a row this uniquely Hawaii event is all about the salty a full lineup of vendors will have a selection of SPAM®-focused dishes A sampling of vendors includes Buho Cocina Y Cantina Attendees can also enjoy homegrown entertainment on three stages beginning at 4:30 p.m. — Outrigger Resorts stage in front of the Outrigger Waikiki, Southwest Airlines stage fronting the Royal Hawaiian Center, and Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement stage in front of the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort. Visit the event website for a full schedule of performances A highlight of this year’s event is its first-ever drone show at 9 p.m One of the best views will be from the entertainment stage fronting the Hyatt Regency Waikiki also find local businesses selling unique items as well as Spam Shops in front of the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani selling only found-here event merchandise The public can also join in the community effort to make a financial or canned goods donation to Hawaii Foodbank at either of the two tents set up at the festival Waikiki SPAM JAM® also donates to the Waikiki Community Center and Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii Although Hawaii is known for its love of SPAM® a museum dedicated to it is located in Austin which opened in 1991 and has welcomed roughly 500,000 visitors since that time the newest being SPAM® Maple Flavored that was introduced in 2023 Sold in over 48 countries and served in more than 750 American restaurants Kalakaua Avenue will close to all vehicle traffic at 12:30 p.m for event set up and all traffic lanes and sidewalk areas will close along Kalakaua from Seaside Avenue to Liliuokalani Avenue at 1:30 p.m Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group has unveiled the newly reimagined OUTRIGGER Waikiki Paradise Hotel This property follows the brand’s first craft hotel the transformed hotel merges modern amenities with cultural authenticity to offer guests a truly unique and immersive Hawai’i experience Built on the historic land that was once part of Princess Ka’iulani’s esteemed Waikiki estate the OUTRIGGER Waikiki Paradise Hotel draws its name and inspiration from the estate’s former title serene lakes and Hawai’i’s first banyan tree this natural beauty is integrated into the hotel’s design The hotel is now a refreshing escape for today’s travellers reflecting both the heritage and spirit of the land OUTRIGGER Waikiki Paradise Hotel blends Hawai’i’s vibrant cultural heritage with modern energy through local art and artisans,” OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group EVP and chief commercial officer “Our thoughtful design honours the deep history of this place whose legacy of compassion and leadership continues to inspire and uplift Native Hawaiians and the broader community alike.” Located steps from the beach and adjacent to International Market Place OUTRIGGER Waikiki Paradise Hotel features 433 newly renovated guest rooms and suites collectively known as “The Paradise Originals” ensuring guests are immersed in the sights and flavours of Hawai’i from the moment they arrive This talented group includes visual artists like Jack Soren mural-painting Native Hawaiian from the North Shore of O’ahu and Lauren Roth whose art graces galleries and collaborations with brands such as Hermès and Nordstrom Other contributing artists include Leslie Cariaga who designed the fun “Come Be Here” mural at the pool and JT Ojerio of Aloha de Mele the visionary behind the life-size surfboard lobby mural Lobby artwork includes pieces from large-scale muralist Kamea Hadar and contemporary visual artist Marques Hanalei Marzan Guests can learn about Hawaiian culture in their guestroom through the Lei Aloha book by iconic Hawai’i stylist and lei maker Meleana Estes alongside custom wallpaper designed by Hawaiian tattoo scholar Kalehua Krug which honors the land’s deep-rooted stories EVP and chief financial officer of Tanaka of Tokyo and Jonathan Rotmensch CEO and founder of Hawaiian Aroma Caffe alongside The Gallery Waikiki who bring their unique expertise to the hotel’s dining scene Guests can savour the flavours at Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar and experience the artistry of Teppanyaki at Tanaka of Tokyo These dining venues offer a culinary journey that blends traditional flavors with modern twists “Princess Ka’iulani’s enduring legacy her spirit and love for this place inspired us to reimagine the hotel as a sanctuary befitting a modern-day princess,” OUTRIGGER Waikiki Paradise Hotel general manager “We crafted a space where world-class hospitality seamlessly intertwines with the warmth As someone born and raised in Hawai’i I carry a profound sense of kuleana (responsibility) to ensure that every guest feels the grace and the spirit of Aloha that reflect her timeless influence.” OUTRIGGER Waikiki Paradise Hotel will offer exclusive experiences that connect guests with Hawaiian culture and history Craft programming will include the Ka’iulani Garden Experience which invites guests to hand-pick local flowers and create their own lei bracelets while the weekly Aloha Sunday Kanikapila will bring a lively mix of food The hotel also boasts two state-of-the-art conference rooms and an advanced fitness centre stocked with Peloton and Technogym equipment the OUTRIGGER Activities & Experiences concierge is on hand to help guests explore the best of Waikiki and beyond The unveiling of OUTRIGGER Waikiki Paradise Hotel took place on 16 October and marked an important milestone in OUTRIGGER’s drive to elevate its hospitality experience the hotel sets a new standard for authentic Hawai’i travel experiences A stay at the venerated Halekulani has been on my wish list ever since we first stepped foot on Waikiki's sandy shores I've visited Hawaii five times since and it seems like every trip has built me up for the experience of staying at the hotel that many consider to be the best on O'ahu On our last trip in 2022 we stayed at Halekulani's little sister Halepuna Waikiki across the road and this time we are staying at Halekulani It has been a wonderful 9 nights in Hawaii and we are ending off on a high at Halekulani This hotel regularly tops best hotel lists and is a luxurious retreat steeped in history It began its life in 1907 and was built by wealthy landowner and philanthropist Robert Lewers Back then it was a small collection of five small bungalows named Hau Tree named after the hau tree the property was sold to the Thurston family who expanded the footprint of the hotel It was in the 1960s that the hotel transformed into a luxury resort with the name Halekulani meaning "house befitting heaven" in native Hawaiian In the 1980's a Japanese real estate company Mitsui Fudosan enhanced the offerings and added new buildings More recently in 1984 it was sold to the Japanese company HTH Corporation who continues to own and manage the property today This is reflected in the Japanese level of service and aesthetic the sea breezes fill the lobby but the unflappable front desk gentleman checks us in quickly and then shows us around the hotel pointing out the different services and restaurants available before taking us upstairs and showing us to our room He explains the room in detail before bowing and leaving the bellhops know to bring our bags up which they do so without delay helpful and welcoming combining Hawaiian spirit and Japanese service There are 453 rooms at the Halekulani and our room #1104 is an ocean front king room in calming creams and blues to reflect the ocean outside The room spans 419 square feet (39 m²) or 520 square feet with the lanai (48 m²) The well sized balcony or lanai has a lounge chair and a set of table and chairs so that you can watch the Pacific Ocean outside Look down and you'll see Halekulani's 82 feet/25m oval pool with its emblem of an Cattleya orchid rendered in 1.2 million pieces of shimmering glass tiles in front of Waikiki Beach Or close the plantation style shutters for the best night of sleep ever There's a comfortable lounge and a king sized bed with thick A tablet shows all of the hotel's information from dining to spa services A welcome gift arrives for every guest upon arrival and it's fresh papaya The closet can slide open between the bathroom and main bedroom with full sized mirrors on the bathroom side The rooms are high tech and well thought out with lights that illuminate when you enter a room - even the pre-warmed toilet seat opens the lid when you approach flushes and closes the lid automatically when done There are charging points at every point you would need one Privacy and maid service is requested electronically by the press of a button and lighting settings including a daylight and a warm sunset mode The bathroom has a marble topped vanity and a standalone bath and shower A comprehensive range of Halekulani spa amenities are included Bathrobes and slippers sit in the closet along with an oversized safe Water is provided in recyclable and reusable containers that are restocked daily We head downstairs to the pool area as the glistening crystals of the orchid beckon me down from my room A friend told me that when she was staying at a neighbouring resort as a child she was so obsessed with the crystal orchid pool that she snuck into the hotel to take a peek at it and a quick swim The staff there are friendly and when we choose our lounge chairs they outfit them with a monogrammed terry cloth covering We take a quick dip into the pool before it closes at sun set - apparently visitors to Halekulani's restaurants have a habit of jumping in the pool after dinner (or perhaps small Australian children We slumbered until 10am but if you do get up early head to the pool at 9:30am for complimentary introductory surf or stand up paddle board demonstrations Halekulani has a range of restaurants on site and is known for its dining options Halekulani Bakery has reopened after COVID and is located in the lobby of Halepuna Waikiki across the road Get in early to nab the popular ham and cheese croissants or the New York style spiral croissants or classic European croissants You can eat inside or at one of the outdoor tables Next to the Halekulani Bakery is Umi by Vikram Garg, a fantastic seafood restaurant open for breakfast and dinner (full review here) For a sunset drink there is no better place to enjoy a sense of place and time than their House Without A Key bar named after the novel by Earl Derr Biggers Guests can sip Halekulani's signature mai tais eat snacks or order their famous coconut cake while listening to Hawaiian music and watching the sun set We head there on our last night without a reservation but they reserve some seats for Halekulani guests and within 5 minutes they show us to a table right near the band singing It's a Mai Tai for Mr NQN and a The Gable fantastic non alcoholic cocktail with cucumber juice aloe juice and a long mango ice block for me A former Miss Universe shows us her elegant hula moves with the band and I can't imagine wanting to be anywhere else in the world except perhaps eating dinner at one of the restaurants here Every meal at Halekulani must start with their signature Mai Tai A Mai Tai is usually a sweet drink but at Halekulani they've balanced it by using lime juice instead of pineapple which is a deft trick It's my favourite Mai Tai on the island and uses Bacardi Gold Rum The beef tartare is divine and actually perfect for sharing slices of 24-month aged Parmigiano-Reggiano accented with lemon zest and truffle aioli and a final flourish of shaved seasonal truffle on delicate crostini It's a stunning version of the classic beef tartare It's technically winter at the moment so the idea of a lobster bisque appeals a lot They use Keahole lobster for this bisque and you can really appreciate the depth of flavour in this with cognac cloud of crème fraîche and lemongrass and a perfectly cooked piece of lobster It comes with a puff pastry stick and the soup is poured at the table If you love bouillabaisse and cioppino then the Day Boat in Carta Fata is well worth ordering It's served in a plastic bag in which it is cooked They snip it open at the table and the aroma of seafood and tomato fills the air Inside the package there is the catch of the day Every piece of seafood in this is perfectly cooked not overcooked or undercooked and the soup is delicious with the butter garlicky bread Another dish that focuses on seafood is the Frutti di Mare or seafood medley cuttlefish on a bed of Peruvian purple potato with lemon oil to finish Again the seafood is lovely and tender but if I were to choose out of this and the Day Boat in Carta Fata the day boat is my pick I love Pata negra or black pig - it is like the wagyu of pork Here it is one fillet of pork paired with braised endive The star of the plate is of course the pork with its succulent beautifully marbled texture but the accompaniments also do their job of offsetting the natural unctuousness of the meat It's time for dessert and there is one item that is a given Halekulani's signature coconut cake is a fluffy Chiffon cake layers are filled with coconut amaretto cream and finished with coconut It has to be tried at least once although I suspect that if you try it once Both Mr NQN and I almost fight over The Tropics with its tropical flavours On the outside is a pineapple sponge cake filled with white chocolate mousse enclosing kalamansi lychee gelée cubes it's wonderfully light and perfectly sweet without being overly so The milk chocolate and macadmais nut bar is a slender chocolate and hazelnut log of mousse/pudding with a scoop of salted caramel gelato and Surinam cherry rich but balanced and the perfect chocolate dessert for ending off a meal And every night when we return to our room the thoughtful housekeeping staff leaves us a small gift from lip balms to adorable little fridge magnets and when we drive off to the airport the valets make sure that we have everything and are comfortable in the car giving us bottle of water making it feel like a home away from home is there a hotel in the world that you've always wanted to stay at NQN stayed as a guest of Halekulani Hotel but all opinions remain her own Princess Victoria Kaiulani Cleghorn would have been queen of Hawaii if the kingdom hadn’t been overthrown in 1893 She was the only child of Princess Likelike — sister of King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani (Hawaii’s last reigning monarchs) — and Archibald Cleghorn a prominent Scottish businessman who became a citizen of Hawaii in 1870 When Princess Kaiulani (as she is traditionally known in Hawaii) was born in 1875 They were added to the six acres her father had previously purchased Likelike named it “Ainahau,” meaning “cool land” — perfect for a property near the sea Gardens throughout the estate included pikake (Arabian jasmine) Today, the recently renovated 443-room Outrigger Waikiki Paradise Hotel stands on part of the land that Ainahau once occupied It is conveniently located next to the International Market Place (a three-story dining and shopping hub) and a block from Kalakaua Avenue The beach and ocean beckon just beyond that the 19-story Outrigger Waikiki Paradise (formerly Ohana Waikiki East) has been completely refreshed with new paint Its reimagined rooms and public spaces are filled with warmth light and works by local artists and artisans that celebrate Ainahau’s natural beauty Among my favorite pieces was a mural in the lobby behind the front desk which showcases a tropical Eden of plumeria a beautifully restored 15-foot Hawaiian outrigger canoe dating back to the early 1920s Likely originally used for inshore fishing hau and wiliwili woods — is reputedly one of only a handful of its kind that remain An express elevator that services the top five floors whisked my boyfriend, Walter, and me to the 17th floor, where we had booked a one-bedroom suite diffused as a subtle tribute to Princess Kaiulani comfortable Waikiki hideaway included a dinette; a living room; and a nook with a coffee maker It was nice to have ample storage for plates which are provided upon request at no charge We also appreciated the pikake-patterned beach bags we received at check-in; the 1,400-square-foot fitness center equipped with 30-plus machines; and the pool area’s complimentary cabanas umbrella-shaded daybeds and reef-friendly sunscreen Foodies will love the two on-site restaurants. Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar, for one offers imaginative dishes such as octopus ceviche Molokai sweet potato gnocchi and Korean yakiniku pizza with kimchi and gochujang mayo Tanaka of Tokyo proves that one of the best shows in Waikiki doesn’t have music Angus sirloin and assorted vegetables that was prepared before our eyes by our genial grill master tossed shrimp high in the air and caught them with his spatula and made a volcano of stacked onion rings erupt with “lava” (actually the food was fabulous and the conversation flowed nonstop Outrigger Waikiki Paradise hosts a ceremony to mark Princess Kaiulani’s birthday in the small park across the street where a 7-foot bronze statue of her stands Outrigger Resorts & Hotels gifted that impressive work of art to the city of Honolulu in 1999 members of Hawaiian royal societies drape it with leis and share songs and stories about the princess and Ainahau It’s a heartfelt reminder of their special place in Hawaiian history OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group has named Craig A Waterman as the new general manager of OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort the flagship of OUTRIGGER’s global beachfront portfolio Waterman will oversee the day-to-day operations of the resort which recently underwent a US$85 million transformation into a contemporary beachfront retreat rooted in Hawaiian culture and music Waterman has more than two decades of hospitality experience across all aspects of resort operations openings and transitions – most recently as the area general manager for Davidson Hospitality based out of Long Branch His resume also includes leadership roles at renowned hospitality groups including Hyatt where he started his career in housekeeping “Craig has successfully managed operations mountain and beachfront lifestyle hotels across the country and we’re excited to have someone with his extensive experience and expertise at the helm of the OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort,” said Mike Shaff senior vice president of operations for The Americas In addition to his professional experience Waterman holds a bachelor’s degree in political services from the University of California – Irvine Romer House Waikiki doesn’t have a grand entrance it’s easy to miss; I initially drove right by it then realized a row of green umbrellas on the sidewalk marked its location Fresh from a floor-to-ceiling renovation, Oahu’s only adults-only hotel is unobtrusive quiet and intimate — it has just 179 guestrooms — despite being in the center of vibrant Waikiki nightclubs and attractions (including the Honolulu Zoo and Kapiolani Regional Park) are a short walk away What caught my eye as I checked in was an entire wall featuring the work of renowned surf photographer Arto Saari At this mini-gallery of changing exhibits (where everything is for sale) local artists introduce guests to the spectacular — and sometimes hidden and elusive — beauty of Hawaii making such connections is an important aspect of Romer House’s approach to hospitality The Aloha Line concierge service is another example of this I received a welcome text from a team member named Samantha asking if I had any questions “My room is a bit too cool,” I texted back “Can you tell me where the thermostat is?” “It’s on the wall near the armoire,” she wrote “I can send a room specialist to help if you would like.” Finding the thermostat was no problem — I couldn’t believe I overlooked it in the first place — and it was nice to know that if I needed Although Romer House doesn’t have a concierge desk the QR code on my key card was my connection to curated tours It was also where I found exclusive perks for guests At most hotels, the pool area is a noisy, crowded playground. Not so at Romer House’s second-floor Backyard; sans kids splash zones or flotation toys and devices a waist-deep wading pool surrounded by greenery cabanas and lounge chairs is the perfect place for guests to relax and connect with themselves and meditative sound bath sessions are available on select mornings and mini-facials and mini-massages (for a fee) will be offered there soon I opted to spend time in a cabana with my laptop intending to work — and wound up taking a nap Foodies are sure to give an enthusiastic thumbs up to 855-Aloha drinks and service with a dose of nostalgia The restaurant's name refers to the pay telephone booths that were once found all over Oahu callers needing assistance dialed that number to reach an operator clients can choose from enticing tapas meant to share — yet another way for guests to connect and I agreed there are three musts on the menu relishing the delicacies’ incredible explosion of flavors Next: The Godzilla Roll — Insta-worthy edible art — features salmon unagi (freshwater eel) sauce and scallion arranged between and over a layer of sushi rice we flipped a quarter to determine which of us would have the last piece (I called heads and won) Last: Don’t be misled by the Oko-Oko Pancake’s name; it doesn’t look anything like a flapjack it’s a savory crustless pie chock-full of shrimp baby scallops and cabbage and topped with nori (dried seaweed) 855-Aloha’s bold version of which blends 12 ingredients: vinegar It’s clear the eatery's mixologists had fun designing the cocktail menu All the drink names are song titles tied to the phone Think: Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” Tommy Tutone’s “867-5309,” Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” and Soulja Boy’s “Kiss Me Thru The Phone.” Beyond its footprint, Romer House aims to help build a thriving Waikiki community and invites guests to be a part of it. Putting its “Love Thy Neighborhood” philosophy into action, it and sister hotel Romer Waikiki at the Ambassador are stewards of King Kalakaua Park Guests at both properties are welcome to join clean-up efforts there on the second Thursday of every month In addition, Romer House supports Waikiki Community Center (WCC), a nonprofit with the mission “to enrich and improve the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of the diverse people of Waikiki.” WCC participates in the Genki Ala Wai Project which hopes to drop 300,000 mud balls containing billions of beneficial microorganisms into the Ala Wai Canal by 2026 The microorganisms will remove organic debris and other pollutants making the famed Waikiki waterway safe for fishing and swimming again Guests can sign up at WCC to make balls and/or deploy them “It’s about being hands on and hearts in,” said Ramona Sidlo, regional director of experiential marketing for Highgate “We amplify unique stories about our brand and brands we love through amenities and activities that connect guests to our hotel they’re more inclined to write a positive review Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time yet even I will admit it can be a painfully expensive destination with four-star hotels commonly priced upwards of $600 a night it’s a very pleasant surprise to discover a cool design-centric hotel in the heart of Waikiki that’s good value for money and giving island chic vibes Wayfinder Waikiki is a dramatically reimagined Travellers may remember the space as the former Waikiki Sand Villa Hotel I receive a token for free welcome cocktails and a timetable for morning yoga by the pool and live music that means more than palm trees and hula girls You’ll see design elements inspired by Indigenous Hawaiian the Wayfinder embraces the brutalist architectural style of minimalist lines a large saltwater lagoon beauty surrounded by native trees and shrubs is a focal point and gathering place for guests I’m able to nab one of the green-and-white striped deck chairs The 228 guestrooms are painted in land and ocean colours: turquoise There’s liberal use of geometric and floral prints while natural-fibre furniture and lighting adds a beach-house vibe Bedheads are covered in a fabric mash-up of Japanese obis which features two outdoor spaces in addition to ample indoor space (25.5 square metres in total) Other room types include two fully appointed studio suites in the Pool House Pick up a coffee and pastry to go at B-Side Coffee Bar there’s local beer on tap and a selection of non-alcoholic drinks speaks to the lower-alcohol-by-volume trend ahi tuna on crispy rice or a burger by the pool a restaurant by Hawaii’s locally owned Foodland Farms They’ll whip you up an excellent made-to-order poke bowl with the freshest fish I would (and have) come here for lunch or dinner even when I’m staying elsewhere The siren call of the ocean draws most visitors to Waikiki beach, about a six-minute stroll from the hotel. Pick up a float at the ABC Store along the way or take a surf lesson while you’re in the birthplace of modern surfing as are the Friday night fireworks in front of Hilton Hawaiian Village you’ll find dozens of places to shop and eat including good-value takeaway options at the Royal Hawaiian Center’s food court.If you fancy some off-sand local culture Honolulu Museum of Art or Bishop Museum (show your room key for free entry) THE VERDICTWayfinder Waikiki is the best value-for-money accommodation I’ve found in Hawaii a credit to the architects and interior designers who turned a so-so motel into a stylish destination for a new generation of travellers ESSENTIALSRooms from $US199 ($A291 a night). 2375 Ala Wai Blvd, Honolulu, Hawaii. There are seven Accessible King rooms and two Accessible Double-Double rooms. See wayfinderhotels.com LOWLIGHTOcean views would make this hotel even better The writer was a guest of Wayfinder Waikiki The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now I\\u2019m the president of the Hawaii fan club it\\u2019s a very pleasant surprise to discover a cool design-centric hotel in the heart of Waikiki that\\u2019s good value for money and giving island chic vibes You\\u2019ll see design elements inspired by Indigenous Hawaiian I\\u2019m able to nab one of the green-and-white striped deck chairs There\\u2019s liberal use of geometric and floral prints while natural-fibre furniture and lighting adds a beach-house vibe there\\u2019s local beer on tap and a selection of non-alcoholic drinks speaks to the lower-alcohol-by-volume trend a restaurant by Hawaii\\u2019s locally owned Foodland Farms They\\u2019ll whip you up an excellent made-to-order poke bowl with the freshest fish I would (and have) come here for lunch or dinner even when I\\u2019m staying elsewhere The siren call of the ocean draws most visitors to Waikiki beach Pick up a float at the along the way or take a surf lesson while you\\u2019re in the birthplace of modern surfing you\\u2019ll find dozens of places to shop and eat including good-value takeaway options at the Royal Hawaiian Center\\u2019s food court.If you fancy some off-sand local culture THE VERDICTWayfinder Waikiki is the best value-for-money accommodation I\\u2019ve found in Hawaii ESSENTIALSRooms from $US199 ($A291 a night) There are seven Accessible King rooms and two Accessible Double-Double rooms OUR SCORE OUT OF FIVE\\u2605\\u2605\\u2605\\u2605 Spot Guide: Rincon Queen, of the Coast 6 of the Heaviest Waves in the World Five Decades of Surfing, Travel and Narrative Collide in Sam George’s New Book NewsAll NewsEventsBig Wave NewsWorld Surf LeagueEnvironmentalIndustryWave PoolsPosts List Boat Get Totally Wrecked by Wave in Indonesia (Video) How To Surf Till You're 100, Brainwork: Mickey Munoz LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website It's “Sharktober” in Hawaii a Kauai surfer was attacked by a 12 to 15-foot tiger shark while surfing Hanalei Bay Just days ago, a juvenile tiger shark bit a surfer from Spain on the thigh during a session at Pua'ena Point on the North Shore We’re unable to load this content right now View directly on Instagram a tiger shark cruised through a packed lineup at the popular Waikiki surf spot Hawaii News Now (HNN) reporter Keahi Tucker posted the clip above yesterday and captioned it: “Look out for sharks on Oahu's South Shore. A big tiger swam right through the lineup today at Queens! Photo credit: @nick.oahu“ The video shows drone footage of the tiger slowly cruising through the clear water of Waikiki not far from surfers “who had no idea she was surfing with a big fish until lifeguards zoomed over on jetskis,” spoke to HNN “Everybody in the lineup was like putting their feet up on their boards and paddling around and it was huge,” she said I knew it was there but didn't realize it was right below me.” “We're told there were at least three shark sightings just today and numerous others in recent days,” Tucker said October is the month with the highest number of confirmed shark incidents in Hawaii it's because this is when pregnant females migrate down from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to pup and mate around the main islands.” For the full report watch the video below: Don't miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Instagram and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing We're always on the lookout for amusing interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels Whether you're a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos. TravelTravelWaikiki Where To Stay On Oahu{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Back to NerdWallet homepage","item":"https://www.nerdwallet.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Travel","item":"https://www.nerdwallet.com/h/category/travel"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Waikiki Where To Stay On Oahu"}]}Advertiser disclosureYou’re our first priority.Every time.We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market the information we provide and the tools we create are objective North Shore is ideal if you prefer nature and peace Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings Fact CheckedHow is this page expert verified NerdWallet's content is fact-checked for accuracy It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure the information is as clear and complete as possible Sally French The island saw 5.6 million visitors by air in 2023 according to the most recent data available from the Hawaii Tourism Authority That’s more than double the visitors to Maui Oahu is broken out into five distinct regions: Honolulu, the Windward Coast, Central Oahu, the Leeward Coast and the North Shore Most tourists spend the bulk of their time in Honolulu But Oahu’s Leeward Coast and the North Shore have lodging options of their own — and they might turn out more suitable for certain types of travelers Here’s an overview of the three main lodging areas across Oahu plus a deeper dive into how to decide where to stay: Honolulu (primarily Waikiki): Most visitors to the capital of Hawaii stay in Waikiki famous for its high-rise hotels that line the beach Leeward Coast (primarily Ko Olina): This area on the west side of the island is home to both rural towns with secluded beaches as well as some of the most opulent hotels anywhere in Hawaii at the luxury resort town called Ko Olina North Shore: North Shore is famous for its surfing as well as a portion of the coast called Turtle Bay It’s also known for a luxurious resort of the same name: The Ritz-Carlton Oahu The view of Waikiki from the top of Diamond Head Honolulu is the biggest city in Hawaii and a major tourist destination most travelers stay at one of the hotels along Waikiki Beach Waikiki now welcomes visitors from around the world with its blend of Hawaiian history you can see photos and memorabilia of Duke at Duke’s Waikiki a restaurant at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort International Market Place is a popular shopping center in Waikiki Easy access to shops, restaurants and bars: The area is highly walkable (in fact, skip a rental car if you’re spending most of your Honolulu trip in Waikiki) Shops range from high-end retailers at the Royal Hawaiian Center to more affordable vendors at International Market Place which is famous for its banyan tree that was planted in the mid-1800s Spend evenings listening to live music performed in front of the iconic banyan tree at The Beach Bar at Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa Proximity to the airport and other key attractions: Waikiki is also the closest of all the resort areas to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu which you can access via rideshare (like Lyft or Uber) or even public transit if you’re going sans rental car Waikiki is typically less than a half-hour drive from key Oʻahu attractions One of the most famous hikes on the island is also close to Waikiki you can hike to Diamond Head from Waikiki Beach drive or take the bus to the Diamond Head parking lot and walk the rest of the way Waikiki’s popularity means you'll often have to contend with large crowds Stay in Waikiki if you thrive in the excitement of city life Waikiki is appealing especially for people who travel on points because of its number of chain hotels that participate in loyalty programs. Visit our guide to the best Waikiki hotels bookable using hotel points for a full breakdown of the top hotels by loyalty program (e.g Food served family style at House Without A Key Besides its beachfront location, Halekulani, On the Beach at Waikiki is a winner because it’s one of the rare Oahu hotels that doesn’t charge resort fees The hotel's poolside restaurant called House Without a Key often has live music and hula performances Its sibling property, the smaller and more intimate Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani sits just across the street and often has lower rates (and a quieter atmosphere) The entrance to Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort sits on the widest stretch of Waikiki beach waterslides and Waikiki’s only saltwater lagoon It’s ideal for families or groups who prefer to spend the bulk of their trip at the hotel using its amenities rather than venturing out elsewhere on the island as the hotel puts on a fireworks show every Friday evening on the beach in front of the resort Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa Waikiki Beach is known for its Victorian architecture Often referred to as the “First Lady of Waikiki,” it opened in 1901 and is Waikiki's first hotel The beachfront hotel is elegant and luxurious with high-end amenities including a beachfront spa It also has one of Waikiki’s top breakfast buffets which is served on the hotel’s wraparound porch Menu items include pancakes topped with fresh mangoes custom omelettes and a Japanese breakfast station including salmon Since Moana Surfrider is part of the Marriott Bonvoy family, it’s possible to book with Marriott Bonvoy points or free night awards (Photo of 'Auana courtesy of Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel) Outrigger is a hotel chain with several properties on Oahu Outrigger Waikiki Beach houses Duke’s Waikiki Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel is home to 'Auana which is Cirque du Soleil's first resident show in Hawai'i also incorporates hula and a narrative that tells the story of Hawaii’s history The calm lagoon at Ko Olina is ideal for kids If you want the resort experience away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki then Ko Olina might be your ideal Oahu destination this gated resort community offers quieter beaches and an overall more relaxed atmosphere than what you’ll get in Waikiki It’s also home to some of the most luxurious hotels in all of Hawaii Resort amenities: Ko Olina is home to high-end resorts that cater to families and luxury travelers alike Calm beaches: Unlike Waikiki’s crowded shores Ko Olina’s man-made lagoons offer a peaceful family-friendly environment with gentle waters Secluded and serene: The area offers a sense of exclusivity making it ideal for travelers who prefer a tranquil retreat over city energy Pad your food budget for a Ko Olina vacation Affordable options are limited to non-existent but at least the Mickey-shaped spam musubi at Aulani Ko Olina is about a 40-minute drive from Waikiki which means a long trek to popular sites like Pearl Harbor downtown Honolulu and all the other Waikiki attractions While the resorts have excellent dining options Ko Olina lacks the variety and affordability of local restaurants found in Honolulu Budget-minded travelers might find it frustrating to pay $7 for a Mickey Mouse-shaped spam musubi when the many ABC Stores that line Waikiki sell spam musubi for less than half that price Disney fans might get a kick out of Aulani which blends Disney’s storytelling with Hawaiian culture The beachfront resort features a lazy river character meet-and-greets and a kids’ club the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina offers oceanfront rooms The resort caters to honeymooners and high-end travelers looking for an indulgent escape Four Seasons does not have a loyalty program, but it is bookable through the AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts Program which offers extra perks like space available room upgrades and daily breakfast to guests who hold eligible American Express credit cards and book through the FHR portal Eligible cards include The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express The North Shore is famous for its surf culture This region is best known for its legendary winter waves attracting professional surfers from around the world World-class surfing: If you visit between November and February you can catch some of the best waves in the world at spots like Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach Less commercialized: The North Shore is far from the high-rises of Waikiki making it a great place for travelers who want a more local Close to outdoor adventures: Whether it’s hiking to waterfalls or riding Oahu’s longest zipline at Climb Works Keana Farms the North Shore is well-suited for adventure seekers The North Shore has fewer hotels than other parts of the island. There are two North Shore hotels bookable on Marriott points but many visitors stay in vacation rentals or boutique inns the North Shore is about an hour’s drive from Honolulu making daily trips to Waikiki or Pearl Harbor impractical You’ll almost definitely need a rental car for a North Shore vacation Hawaii has among the highest gas prices of any state Turtle Bay is the North Shore’s most well-known and luxurious lodging option While it’s the priciest option on this side of the island its remote location and stunning natural setting make it well worth it The hotel was acquired by The Ritz-Carlton brand in summer 2024 A room inside the Courtyard by Marriott Oahu North Shore For a more budget-friendly option, the Courtyard by Marriott Oahu North Shore is located near the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) This makes it ideal for visitors who might want to spend multiple days exploring the PCC Visitors can also avoid a long drive after watching its nighttime show it offers comfortable accommodations at a more affordable price point so it’s possible to stay in multiple areas during your trip You could spend a few days enjoying the city life in Waikiki relax at a luxury resort in Ko Olina and finish with an adventurous getaway to the North Shore a lively atmosphere and easy access to shopping Stay in Ko Olina if you’re looking for a luxurious Stay on the North Shore if you prefer a laid-back vibe With options ranging from vibrant city life to tranquil resorts and adventurous landscapes You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2025: Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve® Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Table of Contents Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Nearly 5,000 unionized hotel workers in Waikiki voted to strike on Thursday to pressure Waikiki’s largest hotels into better contracts, according to Unite Here Local 5. Members said that after months of negotiations, they are tired of being ignored by the offshore hotel owners and mainland operators. Workers are asking for raises that keep up with inflation, Hawaii’s high cost of living, safe workloads, and proper staffing. Members of Unite Here Local 5 authorized a strike against the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Hyatt, Moana Surfrider, The Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Kaiulani, Sheraton Waikiki, and the Marriott. The union said workers have not gotten a raise in two years to meet rising inflation and want better staffing conditions. “I am ready to strike for wages that allow me to take care of my family and proper staffing that allows me to take care of guests,” Rachel Santos, a hostess at the Moana Surfrider said. “I love my job, and I love my family, so I’ll do whatever it takes to protect them both.” According to a recent survey of nearly 4,000 Local 5 workers, 76% couldn’t afford an unexpected $500 bill. Plus, 78% of workers believe their employers took advantage of the pandemic to cut payroll and make changes that were not beneficial to them. The union says the strike could be called at any time. The hotels have no responded to HNN’s requests for comments. Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved. Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account Honolulu police are investigating the death of a former Edmonton resident whose body was found in a dumpster at her Waikiki apartment in Hawaii An investigative supervisor at the medical examiner’s office in Honolulu confirmed the Feb who is listed as a resident at an apartment in Waikiki The cause of death is pending and the Honolulu police department is investigating Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience Officers initiated a Miscellaneous Public Report the reporting person called 911 explaining his fiancée had not come home yet,” said Honolulu Police Department spokesperson Michelle Yu “Officers responded and thoroughly checked the area They located her in the residential trash room within a dumpster EMS responded to the scene where the pronouncement of her death was made,” Yu said Authorities are not releasing the autopsy results pending investigation “It’s incredibly shocking,” said her niece Tamara recalled Elizabeth Nolin as a gifted business woman and a skilled multitasker a giving person who loved sharing her passion for the sport of golf and for the arts with others By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Headline News will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. She was always willing to take on a challenge,” Tamara Nolin said “That woman was very influential in the community Her extended family was of great importance to Elizabeth Nolin as are the rest of her siblings,” she said is warmly remembered in her roles at the Royal Mayfair “We were very sorry to hear about Elizabeth Nolin’s passing,” said club chief operating officer and general manager Matt Johnson “She was a warm and active presence at the club and our thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time,” Johnson said was startled to learn of Nolin’s death on Friday It’s absolutely horrid,” Beaudoin said in a phone interview “She was a very colorful and outgoing lady … a real go-getter Nolin’s passions included country music and golf and she frequently swapped with Beaudoin for tickets to Big Valley Jamboree recalling her friend as a “straight-up cookie.” “She wasn’t somebody that was going to get into trouble with anything weird,” she said noting the police report that Nolin had gone out alone in the evening “It just makes the rest of us have to wake up and don’t put yourself in what could possibly be harm’s way.” according to FBI figures from September 2023 an expat Canadian real estate broker in Waikiki said crime is on the rise in the popular resort town “Crime in Waikiki in general has been on the rise transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account Umi by Vikram Garg is a modern Hawaiian seafood restaurant located in the lobby floor of Halepuna Hotel The name Umi means ocean in Japanese and mother in Arabic and his restaurant is an ode to the ocean and what she provides It has been just over a year since we stayed at Halepuna Waikiki the little sister hotel to the renowned Halekulani and in that time in March 2023 UMI by Vikram Garg has opened up where Halekulani Restaurant used to be trained in French techniques but was inspired by Japanese cuisine He has worked all over the world at restaurants like The James Beard House (NYC) and Tabla (North Carolina) and he returns to his roots as a former Halekulani executive chef The restaurant is full this evening and has a modern feel with booths and sea inspired art works And if you hold up your phone to the QR codes near the art work you'll find clever filters and information about each art work A large table of 30 is celebrating and there's a convivial atmosphere Chef Vikram spends a lot of time on the floor chatting to customers The menu has an a la carte selection as well as three tasting menus: the 4 course Waikiki menu for $99 per person or the 5 course UMI menu for $139 per person a mocktail fragrant with rose and sparkling grapefruit juice which is perfect for me while Mr NQN orders their mysterious negroni made with Bombay Sapphire Gin Vermouth Di Carpano while the rest is said to be a secret and this drink has a limit of one per guest Mr NQN really enjoyed the negroni and describes it as markedly smoother than a regular negroni fennel and a shishito vinaigrette with dabs of lime mayonnaise It's a refreshingly delicious start with a sweet accent to it The green chilli dabs on the side provide heat thin layers of scallop interleaved with cucumber namasu pickles in a light dashi broth with slices of red chilli for heat The dashi broth is delicate and never overwhelms the scallop or cucumber We are instructed to lift the bowls and drink the remaining dashi once it is finished Normally I don't order abalone because in the wrong hands it can be chewy and tough but here it ends up being one of my favourite courses The abalone is served already sliced and superbly tender and topped with a mushroom miso crust similar to a gratin It's topped off with sea asparagus and ogo with a lacey black sesame tuile I end up eating most of this as I didn't really want to share it That's fine because Mr NQN and I have opposite taste buds and he loves the popcorn soup a rich corn soup with burnt butter at the bottom and popped The UMI menu has an additional course so we end up sharing it and it is another favourite course The key to this is how perfectly cooked the lobster is and how well it pairs with the black rice It is brought together with the potent shellfish essence The next course is steak and both menus have steak with the same accompaniments and sauces but with different side dishes and different cuts Mr NQN is a big fan of the tenderloin two perfect medallions of the most tender beef Both steaks are tenderised by ageing in koji and paired with okra tempura with a soy black pepper sauce (one of my favourite steak sauces and not often seen in Australia) an incredibly delicious mash that is otherworldly creamy with the flavour of browned butter With the UMI menu you can get the tenderloin or the prime ribeye and I had the prime ribeye which is my favourite cut as I love ribeye It too is aged with koji and served with okra tempura and a soy black pepper sauce It also has king mushroom with a sweet glaze and a side of rice with sauteed greens on top I love the luscious unctuousness of the ribeye and it goes well with the rice and is cooked perfectly medium rare By now we are sated but not groaningly full so there's room for desserts or three as the case may be (research right?) There is no dessert on the Waikiki menu but on the Umi menu you can choose the dessert you would like and we end up choosing some extra ones We start with their version of a pavlova with a meringue base lilikoi or passion fruit and finely diced mango with whipped cream hibiscus and a creamy anglaise sauce and 24k gold on top It doesn't quite have the chewy centre of a pavlova but I do love the anglaise paired with it and the fresh fruit and cream The black pebbles are actually black sesame with a thin coating of cocoa butter with a sweet ginger butterfly pea sauce that gives it a natural blue hue matcha sponge and small pieces of black sesame praline The signature dessert is the mango popsicle a playful version of mango kulfi with rose yogurt and crushed pistachios and 24k gold to finish it off The outside is white chocolate and the ice cream inside is intensely mango flavoured Breakfast is also an absolute treat and offers a la carte items like Croque Madame If you're hungry go for the set menu for $45USD a person Here you'll get a choose your American style breakfast with a starter (choice of fruit salad your choice of main and an excellent coffee or tea Coffee is Abby Garg's passion that extends to when she and Vikram are at home and she carefully calibrates the water temperature just right to bring out the ideal flavour from the beans The umi fried rice is a tasty combination of koshihikari rice dotted with tender prawns egg with tsukemono pickles on the side that balance each rich mouthful On top is a perfectly cooked onsen egg that dresses the rice when you stir it up My pick is the loco moco with a flavoursome a rich Hamakua mushroom gravy (mushrooms grown on the north of Hawaii Island) on a bed of koshihikari rice Loco Moco usually has a fried egg on top but the onsen egg really suits this dish well giving that creamy do you usually opt for tasting menus or do you go a la carte NQN and Mr NQN were guests of Umi but all opinions remain her own No blackjack, baccarat or one-armed bandits for me; whenever I’m in Las Vegas, a Cirque du Soleil show tops my list of things to do Fast-paced and visually stunning with a liberal dose of humor and spectacular displays of artistry and athleticism that defy reality Cirque — in my opinion — is the epitome of excellence in the realm of live entertainment So, I’m thrilled that the Montreal-based company’s newest show, “Auana”, has a home at Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel 784-seat theater has been described as “intimate,” considering Cirque’s Vegas venues each seat more than 1,000 guests But despite its smaller stage and capacity enchanting and riveting from beginning to end I could see it again and again and never get bored The Hawaiian word “auana” means to venture or wander off the beaten path “Auana” is 80 nonstop minutes of exploration discovery and adventure in a fantastical world Its story unfolds in eight extraordinary chapters inspired by the chants choreography and projections showcase the beauty and splendor of the islands providing a fresh take on feats that are familiar to avid Cirque fans The accompanying original music is both pre-recorded and live and all lyrics are in the Hawaiian language Hina was a hard-working wife and mother who didn’t get any help from her family I was transfixed as the show’s Hina ascended as high as 20 feet for a breathtaking performance that was equal parts ballet and gymnastics twisted and flipped in incredible aerial display of grace hula dancers in voluminous cerulean skirts depicted the rhythm and vigor of the ocean Another highlight for me celebrated surfing a sport that has become synonymous with Hawaii even though it was enjoyed by both royalty and commoners throughout Polynesia for centuries The star of this segment demonstrated all those traits as he “rode” a 2.5-foot board on a rolling cylinder and then another that was placed on top of it but a third cylinder was added to the moving stack — and then a fourth and fifth I held my breath each time a cylinder was added thinking the whole contraption would come crashing down on the “surfer,” but amazingly a kupua (demigod) who could shape-shift between a beautiful maiden and mo'o (supernatural reptiles) was spotlighted in a third memorable routine Hawaiians believe mo'o are guardians of freshwater sources such as streams Mamala is renowned as an accomplished surfer who’s equally at home in the sea elegant Mamala glided into poses I didn’t think would be humanly possible on the edge of a giant bowl of water making an effortless transition from woman to aquatic creature What struck me was her agility and breath control; the performer was clearly as much at ease underwater as she was above it “Auana” comes to a dramatic conclusion against a fiery backdrop created with still photos of volcanic rock and landscapes layered with kapa (tapa cloth) patterns and animated with smoke and spark particles Emulating an eruption of Hawaii Island’s Kilauea volcano it was a spectacle complemented by hula that revealed how Pele can be destructive but also an agent of renewal in the form of new land All eyes then turned to a mammoth machine that revolved as high as 30 feet above the stage jumped rope and performed other daring stunts in and on circular cages 7 feet in diameter that were on each end of it I wanted to close my eyes so I wouldn’t see any missteps; however being in tip-top physical shape with an incredible sense of timing the two men soon proved I had nothing to worry about I could have watched them play on that imposing apparatus all night “Auana” definitely leaves audiences yearning for more — more fun “Auana” is presented twice nightly Wednesdays through Sundays at Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. Prior to each performance, ticket holders can enjoy the Auana VIP Experience a 90-minute reception in a private open-air lounge featuring craft cocktails and Pacific Rim-inspired pupu (hors d’oeuvres) Each reception is capped at 120 guests; it can be added at the time of online ticket purchase Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is proud to announce the renovation of its iconic Rainbow Tower The extensive makeover will modernize guest room interiors corridors and amenities while showcasing the work of local artists all within a design that preserves and celebrates the rainbow theme that has made the Rainbow Tower one of Waikiki's most recognizable landmarks reflects the deep respect the people of Hawaii hold for the ocean as a source of life aptly named Rainbow Kai guestrooms feature ocean tones inspired by Waikiki's vibrant seaside palette and Pacific island textures like carved wood and woven fibers for a warm Guests can also enjoy new one-bedroom suites with stunning views of the azure Pacific stretching beyond Diamond Head The first group of completed rooms are available to book at this link: Rainbow Kai | Hilton Hawaiian Village A key part of the project is Hilton Hawaiian Village's partnership with local artists celebrating Hawaii's vibrant artistic community The redesigned rooms now showcase art from acclaimed Hawaii-based artists such as Kristen Reyno of Lola Pilar pay homage to the tower's iconic Rainbow Mural The two-sided Rainbow Mural - which spans both sides of the tower - was known as the world's tallest mosaic when it was first dedicated in 1968 and was masterminded by the legendary artist Millard Sheets Hilton Hawaiian Village's Rainbow Tower has become synonymous with Waikiki For more information about the resort visit www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com Hotel website Brand OwnerHilton WAIKIKI, Hawaii—Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach, part of LXR Hotels & Resorts announced that it will begin a multi-million-dollar renovation on June 2 Led by Bryan O’Sullivan Studio (BOS) this extensive transformation coincides with the property’s 15th anniversary and reflects developer Irongate Group’s commitment to redefining luxury hospitality in Waikiki The phased renovation will include upgrades to the guest rooms and suites The lobby will also be reimagined with a new bar as its centerpiece “This renovation marks a new chapter for Ka La’i Waikiki Beach,” said Jason Grosfeld “Our reinvestment reflects our deep commitment to Waikiki and elevates the standard for luxury hospitality in this iconic destination we are creating an unparalleled experience that will define bespoke luxury in the heart of Waikīkī.” The redesign will blend heritage and modernity under BOS Studio’s vision with support from Brooklyn-based Guerin Glass Architects Honoring the building’s history while utilizing a globally inspired aesthetic the project will include custom-designed furniture and Hawaiian-inspired design elements throughout Strategic updates will curate a design that reflects Waikiki natural beauty and cultural richness The transformation introduces a refined luxury experience; spaces such as the lobbies and suites will showcase soothing neutral tones and marble countertops will add texture to living areas while bespoke furniture will be added to the bedrooms the hotel has been a home away from home for travelers from around the world,” said Scott Ingwers managing director of Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach “As we embark on this exciting transformation and our valued guests remains unwavering.” Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach is situated above Fort DeRussy Park with views of the Pacific Ocean and Diamond Head Steps from Waikiki Beach and surrounded by restaurants and entertainment options the hotel includes residential-style guest rooms and suites an infinity pool with an extensive sun deck two signature restaurants offering contemporary cuisine We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Donavon Frankenreiter Cranks Up the Volume on Surf History Watch: Psycho Slab Cape Solander Goes Bonkers (Video) Humble Hawaiian Charger Wins $10K & Wave of the Winter on Surreal Pipeline Chamber  Former World Title Threat Wins Burleigh Trials, Will Surf in Gold Coast Pro The Gnarliest Bodyboarder You’ve Never Heard of (Video) the iconic Honolulu city surfboard racks in Waikiki have suffered back-to-back-to-back fires The worst blaze happened in October of 2021 most belonging to local residents who stash their gear near the beach to avoid lugging everything to and from their homes The arsonist who started the fire was just sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison and fined  $414,000 in restitution. According to Hawaii News Now the man was caught on camera picking up a lighter he found behind the nearby police substation The Honolulu Fire Department said back in October of 2021 that the fire caused more than $650,000 in damage Don't miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing Catch Kalani Pe‘a’s May Day concert, join the Aloha Bears’ weekend bash and meet a family of queens in Kumu Kahua Theatre’s latest show. Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Three people were rushed to the hospital after a stabbing in Waikiki early Saturday morning, Honolulu Emergency Medical Services said. Crews said they got the call around 4 a.m. to Kalakaua Ave and Keoniana Street. EMS said two men were fighting when it turned into a stabbing. One man in his forties suffered stab wounds to his upper chest and needed life-saving treatment. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Another man in his forties also suffered stab wounds to his hands and was listed in serious condition. Officials said a 21-year-old woman was also stabbed while she was passing by the altercation. She suffered wounds to her back and was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved. The Halepuna Waikiki stands out with no resort fees yet it has plentiful amenities — including museum admission The 284-room boutique hotel offers a refreshing alternative to the sprawling resorts that dominate the area But the real standout about this boutique oasis The resort initially caught my attention for its lack of resort fees I grew even more interested when I learned about how much it included it offered complimentary access to multiple museums that I had long been yearning to visit given my family’s Hawaiian heritage Nightly room raes start at $360. That's slightly higher than Oahu’s average nightly hotel room rate of $272 based on May 2024 data from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority But perks — including the free museum access alone — can go a long way in justifying it For me personally — without that complimentary access — my travel companion and I otherwise would have spent more than $150 combined on museum tickets That made the decision easy — and it didn’t hurt that the hotel was quite fancy {"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"These Are The Best Hotels In Oahu Hawaii","description":"Looking for the best hotels in Oahu for your next Hawaii trip Travel Nerd Sally French shares recommendations on some potential stays for your next summer vacation.\n\n#nerdwallet #Oahu #Travel\n\nSubscribe to NerdWallet - https://bit.ly/3wGvVf3 \n\nAbout NerdWallet:\nWe’re NerdWallet And we’re not your typical finance company We believe that everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence We’ve built a team of Nerds with the knowledge see side-by-side comparisons and objective reviews of the best credit cards and so much more — so you can get even more financial clarity It’s the smartest decision for all your financial decisions \n\nDisclaimer: This video is for informational and educational purposes only NerdWallet does not offer advisory or brokerage services nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks or securities Any comments posted under NerdWallet's official account videos are not reviewed or endorsed by NerdWallet or representatives of financial institutions affiliated with the reviewed products unless explicitly stated otherwise Avoid disclosing personal or sensitive information such as bank accounts or phone numbers NerdWallet employees do not offer personalized financial advice and will not respond to posts here.\n\nConnect with NerdWallet:\nFollow NerdWallet on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@nerdwallet \nFollow NerdWallet on Instagram: https://instagram.com/nerdwallet \nFollow NerdWallet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdWallet \nFollow NerdWallet on Facebook: https://facebook.com/NerdWallet \nNerdWallet Website: https://nerdwallet.com \n\nThese Are The Best Hotels In Oahu Hawaii\nhttps://www.youtube.com/c/nerdwallet","thumbnailUrl":["https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u0SHgTWccYI/sddefault.jpg","https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u0SHgTWccYI/default.jpg","https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u0SHgTWccYI/hqdefault.jpg","https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u0SHgTWccYI/mqdefault.jpg","https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u0SHgTWccYI/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2024-04-18T18:19:37Z","duration":"PT59S","embedUrl":""}Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani is the sister property of Halekulani On the Beach at Waikiki —one of the oldest (and most famous) Waikiki beach hotels but closed for more than a year during the COVID-19 pandemic The hotel reopened in April 2021 with several awards and titles to its name which is a prestigious award recognizing hotels for their upscale style Features include a rooftop infinity pool with ocean views plus a sleek lobby designed with custom light fixtures vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer up a light and airy aesthetic The lobby at the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani The Halepuna Waikiki offers the best of both worlds in that it has ocean views without sitting directly on the beach That means you can still get a great view without the exorbitant beachfront price tag The hotel sits just one block from the beach on one side and one block from Kalakaua Avenue — Honolulu’s main shopping street — on the other side Since the hotel sits tucked away on a side street it tends to be a little quieter than most other Waikiki hotels and it usually won’t have as many non-hotel guests wandering through the lobby Halepuna parking is available, but it’s not cheap. Whether you opt for valet or self-parking, you’ll pay $50 per day. Given the hefty parking fee coupled with the hotel’s prime, walkable location, you might not actually want a rental car in Honolulu anyway To get there from the airport, it’s usually best to take a taxi or rideshare. Ubers generally cost about $30 to $40 between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and the hotel An Ocean View room at the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani has 284 guest rooms and four suites The best views are from the oceanview rooms on higher floors (floors 19 through 23) as they’re not obstructed by the buildings in front These Deluxe Ocean View rooms tend to cost about 15% more than the Ocean View rooms with obstructed views and about 30% more than the standard Waikiki view rooms like a bedside and dress charging station with ports for USB and HDMI and bathrooms have nice features like a lighted vanity and magnifying mirror The rooms also have some nods to the local culture each room has a unique photo taken by a local photographer and the bath amenities use locally-sourced Hawaiian oils and extracts All rooms also have a refrigerator and coffee maker The complimentary refillable water bottles make for a great souvenir The Halepuna is one of the rare Oahu hotels with no resort fees with an above-average number of amenities being offered exclusively this summer Dubbed "Sunshine Perks," Halepuna is offering freebie sweets classes and wine every day to guests between now and Aug Free shave ice on Tuesdays from 3 to 4 p.m Free wine on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m Free ice cream crafted at Halekulani Bakery by Pastry Chef Michelle Baldomero from 2 to 3 p.m The rooftop infinity pool on the hotel’s eighth floor is remarkable plenty of lounge chairs and cabanas available for rent complimentary sunscreen is available for hotel guests A rooftop garden and grass turf space adjacent to the pool is a nice place to sunbathe outside of the pool deck which offers fairly standard equipment like cardio machines and dumbbells One unique feature caters to the workcation crowd — the business center and hospitality suite This room offers work desks where hotel guests can post up with no reservations required bookable meeting room that accommodates up to 24 people One underrated amenity is a coin-operated laundromat the Halepuna offers some free events and tickets daily surf demonstrations held on the beach in front of Halekulani Halepuna guests also receive complimentary admission at the biggest museums in the state including the Bishop Museum and Honolulu Museum of Art Given that general adult admission costs $34 to the Bishop Museum and $25 to the Honolulu Museum of Art that alone could go a long way in justifying the hotel room rate Halekulani Bakery: This morning spot serves coffee and pastries and it’s most famous for its Halekulani Coconut Cake Umi By Vikram Garg: This seafood-centric restaurant open for breakfast and dinner is located in the hotel lobby Each dish uses high-end and unique ingredients Even the pancakes are elevated; the “Mai Tai Pancake” is served with caramelized pineapple and a rum-coconut essence The hotel has about a half-dozen different places to eat and Halepuna guests can charge purchases made at Halekulani back to their room La Mer: The award-winning La Mer serves French cuisine with ‘flavors of Hawaii.’ Orchids is a great spot for Waikiki brunch in particular as well as Waikiki afternoon tea given its ocean views and diverse menu that embraces both Asian and American cuisine House Without A Key: Then there’s one of the most famous restaurants in Waikiki: House Without A Key as the draw is enjoying the Hawaiian music and hula performances held in front of the restaurant’s century-old kiawe tree Kabayaki fries at the House Without A Key restaurant is found on the sunset cocktail menu: kabayaki fries fries are doused in the famous Japanese sauce The Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani offers the perfect combination of modern yet luxurious touches a tucked-away atmosphere plus a prime Waikiki location – all at a competitive price especially considering the absence of resort fees The complimentary cultural access and exclusive privileges at the Halekulani elevate the experience even further For travelers seeking a luxurious and intimate escape in Waikiki the Halepuna Waikiki is one of the best hotels in Waikiki Direct through Halepuna: When you book directly on Halepuna’s website you can take advantage of exclusive offers but often include deals like free breakfast for two I Prefer Hotel Rewards: The free-to-join hotel loyalty program doesn’t have a huge presence in the U.S. but it serves hundreds of hotels and resorts worldwide members can rack up points to exchange for free nights early check-in and space-available room upgrades the statement credits can go a decently long way in justifying it AmEx cardholders who book through FHR are eligible for space-available room upgrades Table of Contents The Department of Health approved a fourth location for Noa Botanicals at 345 Royal Hawaiian Ave This will be the second DOH-approved medical cannabis dispensary to operate in Waikiki as Aloha Green Apothecary already operates one at 2113 Kalakaua Ave.  LLC plans to sell cannabis at its new Noa Botanicals location on Saturday.  The new medical cannabis location will be Oahu’s 11th dispensary and the state’s 25th dispensary DOH reports 29,820 in-state patients and 2,525 caregivers were registered statewide including 14,661 patients and 1,440 caregivers on Oahu The most often reported condition for registered adult patients is severe pain the primary reported conditions are severe pain seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder By Allison Schaefers BusinessEditors' Picks Hotel guests pass by a closed concrete walkway at Gray’s Beach behind the Halekulani Hotel Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading The Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association is collaborating with local government agencies and stakeholders to develop an interim beach restoration and mitigation plan for the state to save Waikiki’s beaches the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s coastal processes specialist at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology said completing the three-phase strategy will take up to 2028 optimistically Eversole said political will is necessary to fund the plan which currently ranges from $30 million to $60 million depending on the scale and materials “If Waikiki Beach generates $2 billion a year in economic value we’re still getting a great return on investment.” the beaches will disappear,” he said “We’d lose them as a recreational resource.” collapsing beaches could compromise seawalls “You’ll start to see failures: leaks environmental and health concerns,” he said RELATED STORY: Chronic beach loss, infrastructure risks loom as parts of Hawaii sinking Waikiki carries deep cultural and economic meaning recreational and economic impact if we lose these beaches,” said Eversole “Everyone we’ve talked to — stakeholders local leaders — wants to see beaches remain.” Eversole said immediate actions in the three-phase strategy would include closing hazardous walkways like the Halekulani Boardwalk where storm damage and beach loss have exposed collapsed concrete slabs and rebar Temporary closures of such areas are under consideration he said that the plan calls for adding limited amounts of sand and installing small stabilizing structures to improve access and slow erosion Eversole said the long-term restoration effort involves constructing T-head groins — large rock structures designed to retain sand and stabilize the shoreline with the goal of restoring parts of Waikiki to the condition that it was in some 40 to 50 years ago “It’s not natural,” he said.“We’re restoring it to a former state The Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association’s proposal focuses on restoring the eroded shoreline at Kawehewehe Beach through a small-scale beach nourishment effort that would place up to 5,000 cubic yards of sand across three priority areas: Kawehewehe This project also serves as a pilot demonstration for a new small-scale dredging system that could be used in future beach and harbor maintenance projects statewide The initiative aligns with the broader vision outlined in the Waikiki Beach Improvements environmental impact statement It could serve as a litmus test for how other parts of Hawaii and coastal cities worldwide respond to rising seas and vanishing shorelines president of the WBSIDA and the Waikiki Improvement Association design and cost estimates are still being developed and both the construction start date and completion timeline are pending “We are hoping to see the Legislature approve $5 million during this session to complete the final plans and permits Once we have the final plans and estimates we hope the state will fund the rest.” Potential sand sources include onshore deposits and nearshore areas such as the Hilton pier channel where the beach was mostly gone even before the latest damage full reconstruction is planned — with new sand and permanent groins creating a beach where none existed before “These problems aren’t insurmountable,” Eversole said Waikiki Beach is quietly slipping away—and with it Engineered more than a hundred years ago and maintained ever since with imported sand and coastal structures Hawaii’s most famous beach is now retreating faster than ever before state lawmakers are being asked for $5 million to kickstart final plans for the latest $60 million beach rescue effort The Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association (WBSIDA) is spearheading an interim mitigation plan designed to hold back erosion and extend the beach’s lifespan The phased strategy includes beach sand replenishment and long-term engineering interventions that could cost up to $60 million or more But the entire project hinges on political will Much of the updated strategy centers on findings and recommendations from Dolan Eversole a coastal processes specialist at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology Eversole has been instrumental in multiple studies of Waikiki’s erosion risks and has emerged as a leading voice behind the current efforts He has previously emphasized that without a program of regular replenishment and structural protections The Eversole team’s phased strategy encompasses immediate The first step includes temporary closures of hazardous walkways—like the heavily eroded Halekulani Boardwalk—where exposed rebar and collapsed slabs now pose safety threats limited sand placement and small-scale stabilizing structures are planned to improve access and slow erosion over the next few years The most ambitious step involves installing T-head groins—perpendicular rock structures designed to trap and retain sand The ultimate goal is to return parts of Waikiki to the condition they were in 40 to 50 years ago the result is engineered rather than natural One of the most delicate issues is sand sourcing Any new material must closely match Waikiki’s existing sand in both grain size and color Current plans involve drawing from both onshore stockpiles and nearshore areas around 5,000 cubic yards of sand are being used in a pilot project focused on three of Waikiki’s most heavily eroded areas—each fronting some of the most name-recognizable hotels in Hawaii situated between the Halekulani Hotel and Sheraton Waikiki Seawalls and wave-exposed concrete now dominate the shoreline here This area is slated for significant sand replenishment and the construction of T-head groins to reestablish a walkable beach The stretch fronting the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and Moana Surfrider is another high-priority zone Anchored by the aging groin at Royal Hawaiian Hotel—originally built in 1927—this segment has seen repeated restoration efforts to stabilize the sand It remains a focal point of current plans to improve long-term shoreline retention through structural updates and controlled sand placement the zone between Fort DeRussy Beach Park and Kuhio Beach including the beachfront of the Hale Koa Hotel and adjacent to Hilton Hawaiian Village Some areas have sand buildup; others have experienced measurable retreat The plan here involves redistributing sand and evaluating structural changes to maintain beach continuity and access this pilot effort will serve as a test of new dredging equipment and environmental protocols Officials believe it could set the stage for similar maintenance efforts statewide if the project is successful Waikiki Beach is more than just a postcard backdrop—it’s also one of the state’s economic powerhouses Estimates place its direct tourism-related value at around $2 billion annually the entire restoration project’s price tag of $30 to $60 million would represent a small fraction of that value president of both WBSIDA and the Waikiki Improvement Association said the scope of work and cost estimates are still being finalized The drop in the bucket $5 million currently being requested is meant to fund the final design and permitting process but there is no guarantee the Legislature will approve it Egged emphasized the importance of securing legislative support this session noting that only with completed plans in hand can the broader funding requests move forward Waikiki’s beach erosion is not just a cosmetic issue the shoreline draws closer to critical infrastructure—including seawalls and the likelihood of structural damage grows the beach was already mostly gone even before the latest storm damage Complete reconstruction is now being considered with new sand and permanent groins proposed to create a functioning beach where none currently exists Waikiki is one of the most engineered beaches in the Pacific and what happens here could influence how coastal cities worldwide respond to sea level rise and shoreline retreat The pilot dredging system being tested as part of the current restoration effort may also be used for harbors and other beaches across Hawaii in the years ahead Waikiki has become a test case: Can a tourism economy built on image and shoreline stability find a way to mitigate accelerating erosion Few visitors realize how synthetic Waikiki Beach truly is Its shoreline has been regularly replenished with imported sand for more than a century involved pumping nearly 24,000 cubic yards of sand from offshore onto the beach a $3.4 million state effort added another 20,000 cubic yards Sand washes away naturally with waves and tides and as extreme weather becomes more common the intervals between replenishment may need to shorten some question whether rebuilding Waikiki’s shoreline every decade—or even more often—is sustainable in the long run The most immediate question is whether the Hawaii Legislature will allocate the initial funding needed to finalize designs and permits full-scale restoration work could begin as early as 2026 the beach will continue to change—subtly for now more dramatically in the years ahead if nothing is done And for travelers booking their next Hawaii vacation expecting Waikiki Beach the island they remember may not be the one that remains Would you still book in Waikiki if the beach disappears—or would you go somewhere else in Hawaii instead Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Over a century of continual beach maintenance…. But I thought climate change was the existential threat that would end humanity in 10yrs and we have to do something immediately … Sacramento,CA broke a 100+ yr old heat record… how was it hot 100 yrs ago? Boggles my mind….why aren’t the big luxury hotels volunteering the funds, after all, they benefit the most. Time for these big names to step up. Suck it up and do good for the people of Hawaii. Stop trying to pass on costs to the citizens and to the tourist. The greed is what will destroy them in the long run. Maybe, we the tourists, should visit other islands and spend our hard earned dollars on places more caring of their environment and their visitors. Thank you for this article. I had no idea that sand was brought to Waikiki from other places and now that I know this, I would rather have more ocean than sand …maybe some sealife would come back! Given that we almost never visit the island of Oahu (we typically spend our time (3-4 weeks a year) on Kauai) we really wouldn’t miss it if it disappeared. That said, if the beach needs intervention, and has received it over the years, go for it. The hotels, the tourists and legal STR owners Do pay huge taxes. Let the locals vote to not replentish the sand. Kona is beautiful with rocks. Then see who pays higher property taxes because tourism is down. Hate to say it but Hawaii’s Waikiki beach has always had sand barged in to fill eroding areas. Notice the sand is different colors in front of certain hotels. No mater what the tourist will be taxed or surcharged to fix the problem. Barging more sand in just is a temporary fix so IMO I think a sea wall will be constructed and hopefully a huge boardwalk-patio to safely view from. As always a fee to enter and stiff the tourists. Ya know Pay,Pay,Pay. That’s the Hawaii tourist way. Every island has done multiple studies on beach errosion and spent millions of local tax payer money. They should stop wasting time and do what they did years ago and build more beach breaks, and quit thinking the politicians you keep electing are going to do anything to help save Hawaii. I think beach breaks and also. Get these big hotels to move away from the water. That’s the whole issue we build too close. Let the beach be a beach. Need to demolition of the Hiltons move them back or to koolina. You know the state will build them a train or something out there. Can’t even enjoy the beach and ocean as a resident so many people. Wish there was a boardwalk path along the beach to exercise and enjoy the natural beauty. Not just feels like a big mall. Aloha Kawika, removing the Hilto & other resorts from the ocean will probably not happen in our lifetime, so we will have to live with it …I just hope that they will not allow new resorts being built on the ocean …in fact, I was wondering why there were no demonstrations when those were built in the 1st place … Every trip, we can walk out further and further The corps of engineers needs to look at Lido Beach in Sarasota FL. I think they could do the same thing in Waikiki. It saved the beach there. The seaside concrete walkways at Kapi’olani Park headed towards the Natatorium are a disgrace (so is the Natatorium). Everytime I visit they’re in worse shape. how about “A little less talk and a lot more Action” I’m going to be there in week – not looking forward to seeing them in even worse shape. I think the hotels, restaurants and shopping malls should share in the repairs to the beach. Although I know we the tourists will pay for that share with increased prices. They have to be careful with increasing the prices because the tourists will find other places to vacation. this is a band aid (and a terrible idea long term). the state just can’t see to help itself from jumping from one boondoggle into another. how about a 12 step program for Tourism Addiction. Island of Molokai wants their sand back. Papohakau was stripped of a massive amount of sand. So what is going to happen. Is there not going to be a beach on Waikiki in the future. Is that what you are saying ? Well that just makes me want to return for vacation. Yikes Many non-hotel guests use the Hilton pools for free, both locals and visitors. It’s not regulated at all. And The Bus will take you just about anywhere on Oahu for a few dollars —no need to rent a car. ok …now you are giving away “secrets” …let’s just hope it doesn’t get out of hand, because when it does, we will all have to pay the price! They aren’t closing the beach, the beach is running to is natural state. It was marsh land artificially filled in with sand on a regular basis. If you weren’t aware of this before you should have been if you read the article it’s obvious that the area around the Hilton in Waikiki is an artificial lake, but I didn’t know that the rest of the beaches in Waikiki was ….grateful for the article. Always good to learn new things and it makes sense to me now. Just an idea, but since erosion is continuous, would it be possible to have a much smaller and quieter dredging operation operation with a small crew work 5 nights a week and continuously replace smaller amounts of sand moving along the beach and back over a year? One would think that a portion of all of the taxes and fees charged to tourists (occupancy taxes, resort fees, etc.) staying in the hotels in Waikiki could have been set aside to maintain the beach. It may not be the only reason tourists flock to Waikiki, but it is certainly one of the primary reasons. First Lahaina, now Waikiki? Hawaii really needs a statewide master plan before it’s all just memories and old postcards. We just stayed near Gray’s Beach last month and the sand was barely there compared with before. Sad but not surprising with everything going on. It’s embarrassing that I had no idea Waikiki was this engineered. Makes you wonder how much longer we can keep pretending it’s natural and keep it going. My thoughts exactly, Ernie. I didn’t know either ….although, personally, I don’t need a beach like the one in front of the Hilton in Waikiki or the Sheraton on Maui …as long as I can enter the ocean safely somewhere, I am fine. On top of that, many people don’t even like sand and prefer to sit on grass … Waikiki sucks. Sure, save the beach but maybe make all those horrible businesses who have ruined the area pay for it. Or …. return it to what it was in the 50’s. Louie Vuitton, and stupid stores like that, need to Go. It’s now worse that what happened to La Joya in SoCal. Make all them pay for it instead instead of asking locals, who don’t ever go there, to pay for it. Or …. make the tourists pay for it. 60 mil on Waikiki beach is way better than even one dollar more on the rail that never ends. If it proceeds, it means the pro tourism lobby won. If it stalls, it means the anti tourism lobby won. Oh that just makes me want to buy property in Hawaii yipee Nanette This is so sad that the beach is eroding. So what is going to happen. How about the lagoon by the ilikai. Will that be ok? Oh boy so many questions. Hawaii as i know will be know more i guess right. Nothing will be the same. So sad. Stay abreast of the latest island travel news, tips, deals, and more. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter and let Hawaii come to you. Mahalo! 10 from the two-bedroom Waikiki Beach apartment she shared with her fiancé Nolin’s 87-year-old fiancé reported to police that she left their apartment around 8 p.m A miscellaneous public report was created and around 2 a.m Nolin’s fiancée reported she was still missing Honolulu Police Department spokesperson Michelle Yu told Postmedia Responding officers then found Nolin dead in the residential garbage room an investigative supervisor at the medical examiner’s office in Honolulu At the boutique 48-unit condo tower not far from the water on Waikiki’s historic east side assistant complex manager Mark Sammon told KITV Nolin and her fiancé were “very cordial the building has security cameras at the entrance and the parking area the halls on the way to the trash chute doors on the tenth floor they said the body was found directly below the trash chute and she was found in the trash bin,” Samson told the station Local media reported Nolin and her fiancé were frequent visitors to the islands Nolin’s family back home in Canada are reeling from the sudden loss told Postmedia her “vivacious” aunt is being remembered as a gifted businesswoman who loved sharing passions for her love of golf and art with others Nolin held positions with Alberta Golf and with the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton She had a history in commercial real estate and in marketing management for London Life in Toronto Edmonton’s Royal Mayfair Golf Club chief operating officer and general manager Matt Johnson recalled Nolin fondly as a “warm and active presence.” is still coming to grips with the sudden loss of the “colourful and outgoing” woman with whom she shared a love of country music told KITV that Nolin had recently been on medication from dental work and that she had been dealing with cancer Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The 29th annual Honolulu Festival kicked off Saturday and runs through the weekend dance and arts featuring 91 groups from Japan Cultural performances will take place at the Hawaii Convention Center and festivities include the Waikiki Grand Parade and Nagaoka Fireworks Show The Hawaii Convention Center’s Exhibit Hall features more than 200 booths offering an array of exhibits including work by local vendors and artists “We’re all here to support each other and to just kind of highlight the best of Hawaii art and all of the crafts that we got happening here to celebrate local culture,” said Kat Reeder an Oahu-based digital illustrator and artist We really want to encourage tourists and local people alike to to buy and to really give us feedback so that we can continue to make art that celebrates local culture in a positive way,” Reeder said This year’s theme is “Bringing cultures together for a peaceful tomorrow.” Honolulu Festival Foundation president Ted Kubo said promoting education and environmental conservation are the core values of our foundation and the inspiration that helps drive our corps of volunteers our corporate donors and our government partners to make the Honolulu Festival a memorable experience for everyone to enjoy.” the Honolulu Festival Foundation is requiring a nominal admission fee for adults to enter the Kamehameha Exhibit Hall on the ground floor of the Hawaii Convention Center where most cultural and music performances “We have so many more cultural groups performing this year that we had to add a stage in the lobby area of the Hawaii Convention Center to give the public a sampling of the entertainment to be enjoyed inside the exhibit hall area,” Kubo said Attendees can save money and time by paying the admission fee in advance online or pay upon arrival at the Hawaii Convention Center Click here for full event information and check out a few highlights below Attendees are treated to a variety of delicious entrées and desserts prepared by popular Hawaii restaurants while enjoying live cultural music and dance performances Proceeds support the Honolulu Festival Foundation’s educational and cultural programs dance and exhibitions of their native culture at three locations The Hawaii Convention Center Exhibit Hall will feature more than 200 trade show booths offering an array of multicultural exhibits for attendees to enjoy and experience including crafts by local vendors and works of art by local artists Unique snacks and food delicacies from Japan will be available Cultural displays include the Ennichi Corner with fun games and activities for children This highly popular exhibit has been expanded this year with more shops and foods from Japan to learn about and enjoy A special highlight for attendees is the free samplings of select Japanese alcohol Sake samplings are for adults ages 21 and older FREE NEW EVENT: This free and fun special workshop will present a rare opportunity for attendees to participate in a hands-on real-time learning experience about the art of preparing sushi as taught by a renowned sushi chef from Sushi Ginza Onodera Hawaii Participation in one of the three sushi-making workshops will be limited to the first 100 attendees who sign up at the Sushi To Me exhibit area after entering the Hawaii Convention Center Exhibit Hall Everyone is invited to join Hawaii’s first bon dance of 2025 near the front entrance of the Hawaii Convention Center Exhibit Hall Internationally acclaimed films are presented on the third floor of the Hawaii Convention Center. Admission is free, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. View film listings and times here. A sister event of the Honolulu Festival, the 5K Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden is a relay race for teams of 3-5 runners starting at Kapiolani Park. Also offered is a 5K Fun Run & Walk for individuals and 1.6K ‘Oli ‘Oli Kid’s Challenge for children, ages 6-12. For information, please visit rainbowekiden.com This showcase of culture features dozens of performing groups and demonstrations of cultural traditions that move through Waikiki along Kalakaua Avenue there will be 30 minutes of special performances in front of the four main stage areas on the route leaving Saratoga Road near Fort DeRussy Park and continuing along Kalakaua Avenue before ending at Kapahulu Avenue at the entrance to Kapiolani Park the Nagaoka Fireworks Show concludes the Honolulu Festival celebration in spectacular fashion by illuminating the sky above Waikiki Beach with a sparkling orchestrated display of colorful and fascinating pyrotechnics Three barges from where the fireworks are shot high into the sky will be safely positioned far away from the shoreline and centered between the approximate midpoint area facing Waikiki Beach Spectators are encouraged to arrive at the beach early to secure their preferred viewing spots Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A community park in Waikiki is getting a new upgrade for residents and visitors to enjoy located between Royal Hawaiian and Seaside avenues will soon have several granite stools lining its walkways The park is closed until Wednesday so crews can install the seating “We really need these green spaces to keep people happy and keep people mentally fit and to be able to come to a nice peaceful place to walk their dog or walk themselves,” said Rick Towill Centennial Park Waikiki opened in 2021 after nearly 20 years of planning the Rotary Club of Honolulu raised more than $1.7 million to create the park saving the nearly one-acre lot from development The club has spearheaded several improvements since including a raised platform for performances and a rock wall This latest addition was made possible thanks to a $10,000 Community Challenge grant from AARP Click here to donate to the park’s development. Click here to apply for an AARP Community Challenge grant. The nation’s second oldest aquarium will celebrate its 121st birthday with a day of family-friendly activities on Wednesday Waikiki Aquarium invites the public to enjoy arts and crafts as it celebrates over a century of Pacific marine education and conservation the Waikiki Aquarium has been a hub for marine education and conservation,” said Waikiki Aquarium Director Dr “We’re excited to celebrate this milestone with our community and continue inspiring future generations to care for our ocean.” visitors of all ages are invited to take part in hands-on activities: OceanTalk - The free 2025 OceanTalk series kicks off at 4 p.m. March 19 with coral biologist Anthony Burke, who will talk about reef conservation, coral restoration and disease identification. Register Discover Hermit Crabs - Interact with live hermit crabs from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m March 17 and March 21 while learning how they find and switch shells plus create your own hermit crab puppets to take home Coral Reef Fish Class - An exclusive after-hours session will take participants on a deep dive into the world of coral reef fish in the aquarium’s exhibits. Classes will be available from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Monday from March 17 to May 12. Register Birthday Beach Cleanup - The public is invited to join the aquarium for its last birthday event in March, a beach cleanup from 10 a.m. to noon March 22. Volunteers will help clean the surrounding shores and parks then enjoy snacks, refreshments and educational games afterwards. Register and $5 for seniors and children ages 4 through 12 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWAIKIKI (HawaiiNewsNow) - Board of Water Supply crews are responding to a 24-inch water main break in the Waikiki area Friday morning Two mauka and one makai-bound lane of Kapahulu Avenue is closed between Leahi Ave & Kanaina Avenue as crews repair the break Water service is impacted for two apartment buildings Officials said once a troubleshooter adjusts water service valves in the area