Waikīkī–Diamond Head Coin
$49.99
The skyline, the beach, and Diamond Head — the view you saw from the sand, in 5mm of metal.
View coinWaikiki Guide
Markets, free hula, the beach itself, where to shop, and the food worth lining up for — with the honest 2026 days and times.
Start at the sand
Places & Experiences
The beach, the free shows, the lagoon, the fireworks, and the boats that board off the sand — the Waikiki greatest hits, all of it walkable.
1
Honolulu · Waikiki
Waikiki Beach
-
Surfers at Waikiki — the lineup at sunset.
-
Beach catamarans lined up on the sand.
-
Palms over the beach as the sun goes down.
About this beach
Yes, it's busy. Yes, it's worth it anyway. Waikiki is the gentlest intro to the ocean on Oahu — calm south-shore water, soft sand, Diamond Head photobombing everything, and surf schools everywhere if you've never stood on a board.
Late spring (April–June) and fall (September–early December) give you the best balance of good weather and lighter crowds, while the south shore stays swim-friendly most of the year.
Hours
Open 24 hours, year-round — no gates
Lifeguards
~9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Admission
Free — rentals & lessons priced separately by vendors
Best times
Early morning or late afternoon; sunset is magic
✎ My Notes
- Don't sleep in and expect to enjoy it — get to the beach before 9 AM or wait for the late afternoon. Midday Waikiki is a crowd with a zip code.
- Sunset here is free and it's one of the best shows on the island. Just show up at the sand 30 minutes before the sun drops.
- Surf lessons: Waikiki's gentle rollers are perfect for beginners, but book with a reputable shop — the beach-vendor shuffle is real. Ask what's included before you pay.
- Reef-safe sunscreen isn't a suggestion here, it's the law of the land. Regular sunscreen hurts the reef you came to see.
2
Honolulu · Waikiki
Waikiki or Explore?
-
The shoreline promenade — Waikiki’s front walk.
-
Morning on the beach, Diamond Head closing the bay.
Stay in Waikiki if you want everything walkable: the beach, restaurants, free hula shows, and shopping within a few blocks. It's the easiest base on the island — no car required, and the sunsets are free. The trade-off is crowds and prices; midday Waikiki is busy and nothing here is cheap.
Explore beyond it if you want the Oahu the postcards are jealous of: the North Shore's quiet beaches, windward towns like Kailua and Haleiwa, Pearl Harbor, and the hikes. You'll want a rental car (or learn TheBus), and you'll trade convenience for space, quiet, and often better food.
My honest take: do both. Base in Waikiki for the ease, then spend two or three days with a car seeing the rest of the island. That's the trip people come home raving about — open the island map and sketch it out.
And plan by side of the island, not by wishlist. Oahu rewards grouping: the North Shore in one day, the windward side (Kailua, Lanikai) in another, Waikiki and Honolulu in another. It's a long drive from the west side to the North Shore if you zigzag — cluster your stops by area and you'll spend the day at the beach instead of in the car.
✎ My Notes
- You don't need a car every day. Rent for the exploring days, skip it for the beach days — parking in Waikiki is brutally expensive.
- Three days? Stay in Waikiki and do one circle-island day. A full week? The island earns every day you give it.
3
Waikiki · Kalakaua Ave
Waikiki on Foot
Waikiki Walking Map: 19 Stops, All on Foot
Tap a numbered pin — or a stop below — for the name and a directions link. Imagery: Esri World Imagery.
Imagery © Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
Here's the thing about Waikiki: it's all walkable. Everything below sits within about a mile. The sand runs along one side, Kalakaua Avenue runs parallel one block inland, and the streets fan out from there. Learn this layout once and you'll never need a map again.
Along the sand, heading east:
- Kuhio Beach and the Kuhio Beach mound — the classic swimming stretch
- The Duke Statue, then Duke's Canoe Club right on the beach
- The Waikiki SandBar and the infinity pool at the Sheraton Waikiki
- The Beach Walk and the boardwalk heading toward the lagoon
- Duke's Lagoon, the Friday fireworks spot, and the submarine tour dock
A block or two inland:
- Teddy's Burgers up toward the Diamond Head end
- International Market Place, Dukes Shops, and the Cheesecake Factory
- The Royal Hawaiian Mall and Island shave ice
- Cinnamons down near the lagoon end
4
Waikiki · Kuhio Beach
Kuhio Beach Torch Lighting & Hula Show
-
Showtime at the mound — hula under the banyan at dusk.
-
The torches are lit — the show is about to start.
Opens with conch-shell blowing and torch lighting, then hula halau and Hawaiian musicians perform on the grass by the water. Bring a mat or chairs — seating is on the grass. Cameras welcome. Presented by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the City & County of Honolulu, the Waikiki Improvement Association, and the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. Canceled for parades or bad weather.
⚠ The exact days conflict between sources: one listing citing the Waikiki Improvement Association says Sun, Tue, Thu & Sat, 6:30–7:30 PM (6:00–7:00 PM in Nov–Dec–Jan); a local calendar says Tue, Thu & Sat, 6:30–7:30 PM; another says Saturdays + 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 6:30–7:30 PM. Check the Waikiki Improvement Association calendar before you plan your evening.
When
Several evenings weekly, ~sunset — days disputed, see below
Where
Kuhio Beach Hula Mound, Kalakaua Ave near Uluniu Ave — across from the Hyatt Regency, by the Duke Kahanamoku statue
Cost
Free
✎ My Notes
- This is the quintessential free Waikiki evening — torches, hula, the ocean right there. Do not miss it if you can get the day right.
- Confirm the day first (see above). Then show up 20 minutes early for a good spot on the grass.
5
Waikiki · Kalakaua Ave
Royal Hawaiian Center — The Royal Grove
-
Hula on the Royal Grove stage.
-
Live music and hula at the Royal Grove.
Learn hula yourself on Tuesday mornings — the free lessons are confirmed on the center's official 2026 events page. The center also runs daytime cultural classes (lei making, ukulele, lauhala weaving) and evening Hawaiian music and hula. Note: the Friday Rock-a-Hula show in the Royal Hawaiian Theatre is a separate ticketed event.
Hula lessons
Tuesdays, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM — free, ages 10+, no reservations
Evening shows
Multiple evenings, ~5:30–6:30 PM (schedule varies)
Where
The Royal Grove, Royal Hawaiian Center, 2201 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu
✎ My Notes
- Don't just watch — take the Tuesday hula lesson. Learning even the basics makes watching the evening shows ten times better.
- Evening show schedules move around, so check the center's events page that week. It's free, so there's no downside to being flexible.
6
Waikiki · Kalakaua Ave
International Market Place — O Nā Lani Sunset Stories
-
The carved entrance sign on Kalakaua Ave.
-
Queen's Court — the great banyan and the lawn.
-
Afternoon music at Queen's Court.
-
The ALOHA sign — everyone's photo stop.
-
Matching the statue's pose in the courtyard.
A 45-minute hula show that tells the story of the islands through Hawaiian and Polynesian song, chant, and dance — performed under a centuries-old banyan tree. The start time has historically shifted with the sunset season, so confirm on a recent listing — but Mon/Wed/Fri 6 PM is well supported by 2026 sources.
When
Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 6:00 PM
Where
Queen's Court (Level 1), International Market Place, Kalakaua Ave, Waikiki — begins with torch lighting at the Lamaku Torch Tower on Kalakaua Ave
Cost
Free
✎ My Notes
- Mon/Wed/Fri at 6 PM — that's three evenings a week you can plan around. The torch lighting alone is worth being on time for.
- The banyan tree is a thing in itself. Get there a few minutes early and look up.
7
Waikiki · Lewers St
Waikiki Beach Walk
-
Sunset on the promenade — the Beach Walk's best hour.
-
The beachfront path — sand on one side, palms on the other.
-
The Beach Walk from Kalakaua Ave.
This low-key open-air plaza is one of the best-kept free-entertainment secrets in Waikiki — schedule above comes from the center's own January 2026 posts, so it's as current as it gets. The Monday Makers Market is a great local-souvenir stop.
Tuesdays
Ku Ha'aheo free live Hawaiian concert, 4:30–6:00 PM
Daily
Free ukulele lessons, 4:30 PM (15-min intro, ages 12+, 10 spots, first come first served — The Ukulele Store, 2nd floor)
Sundays
Ka Lei Hula free morning hula class, 9:00–10:00 AM (RSVP online)
Mondays
Waikiki Makers Market, 4:00–8:00 PM (night market: local vendors, food, crafts on the plaza lawn)
Monthly
Mele Hali'a Hawaiian music showcase (dates vary)
Where
Waikiki Beach Walk Plaza, Lewers St (between Kalakaua Ave and Kalia Rd), Honolulu
✎ My Notes
- Free ukulele lessons daily — 15 minutes and you can strum. Take the kids, then they'll bug you to buy one. You've been warned.
- The Monday Makers Market is where you buy souvenirs that aren't mass-produced junk. Support local makers.
8
Honolulu · Ala Moana
Ala Moana Center — Centerstage Hula
-
Kahiko and 'auana — the daily Centerstage show.
-
The emcee and dancers mid-show.
-
'Uli'uli in motion at Centerstage.
-
Centerstage from above — the daily hula draws a crowd.
A free 20-minute hula show on the mall's Centerstage, featuring both traditional kahiko and modern 'auana hula — plus the Pau Hana music series on the same stage. Ala Moana is worth the trip on its own: 350+ shops and 100+ restaurants.
⚠ The time conflicts between sources: the center's official events page says 3:00 PM daily (Mon–Sat regular hula, special Keiki Hula Show Sundays); several 2026 travel roundups and listings say 5:00–5:20 PM daily. Check the official events page before you go — the official site gets the benefit of the doubt, but the roundups are recent.
When
Daily — but the time is disputed, see below
Where
Centerstage, Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu (~15 min from Waikiki)
Cost
Free — 20-minute show with kahiko (traditional) and 'auana (modern) hula
✎ My Notes
- Verify the time on alamoanacenter.com before you go — the sources genuinely split between 3 PM and 5 PM.
- Bus it — the mall is an easy ride from Waikiki, and parking there is a sport of its own.
9
Waikiki · Hilton Hawaiian Village
Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon
-
The lagoon’s calm water, with the Hilton towers behind.
-
The shallow edge — made for little kids and first swims.
-
The wide sand along the lagoon.
-
Paddleboards out, umbrellas up — lagoon afternoon.
At the Hilton end of Waikiki sits the calmest water in the district: a five-acre saltwater lagoon named for Duke Kahanamoku, who grew up swimming in these waters when they were still open bay. The lagoon fronts the Hilton Hawaiian Village, but the beach and water are public — rent a paddleboard or a paddle boat, or just wade in.
For families this is Waikiki's cheat code: real ocean, lagoon manners. No shore break, no current to speak of, sand that shelves gently — the water toddlers and nervous first-timers were invented for, with the whole Waikiki skyline behind it.
Water
5-acre saltwater lagoon
Best for
Toddlers, first swims, paddleboards
Access
Public — beach & water open to all
Next door
The Friday fireworks launch point
✎ My Notes
- This is the best toddler water in Waikiki, full stop. Bring the little kids here first.
- Friday plan: lagoon afternoon, picnic on the sand, fireworks overhead at 7:45.
10
Waikiki · Lagoon & Fort DeRussy
Friday Night Fireworks
-
Friday night over the water — the Hilton Hawaiian Village show from a Waikiki lanai, May 2024 (frame from Michael's video).
Every Friday night, Waikiki stops and looks up. The Hilton Hawaiian Village fires its weekly fireworks show over the water — a tradition running since 1988 — and the whole shoreline from the lagoon to Fort DeRussy fills with picnics, families, and people who plan their Friday around a free show in the sky.
The show is short — about ten minutes — and that's the charm of it: claim a patch of sand by 7, watch the sky do its thing at 7:45, and walk to dinner after the crowds who ate at 6 are leaving. Friday night in Waikiki, solved.
When
Fridays, 7:45 PM — be on the sand by 7
Where
Best from the lagoon / Fort DeRussy shoreline
Cost
Free — it's the sky
Tradition
Hilton Hawaiian Village, since 1988
✎ My Notes
- Dinner AFTER the show beats the 6 PM Waikiki rush and tastes better for the wait.
- The lagoon lawn and the Fort DeRussy grass are the local seats — same show, more elbow room.
11
Waikiki · The Beach Strip
Waikiki Catamarans
Boarding off the sand — wade out, climb aboard, and Waikiki turns into a postcard.
Six catamarans board straight off the sand of Waikiki Beach — no harbor, no pier. You check in on the beach, wade out, and climb aboard. Here they are, west to east. Prices are as of Oct 2026 — the operators are the authority, so check current prices before you book.
Holokai — Holokai Catamaran
Check in at the Outrigger Reef (2169 Kalia Rd); the boat boards on the sand toward the Fort DeRussy end. Afternoon sail (1.5 hrs) $50; sunset cruise $80 with an all-inclusive open bar. Turtle snorkel and Friday fireworks sails are offered too — check current prices, because the operator’s own pages disagree on those two. sailholokai.com
Maita’i — Maita’i Catamaran
Boards on the beach behind the Sheraton Waikiki and the Halekulani. Tradewind sails (11 AM & 1 PM, 90 min) $49; the Afternoon Delite and Sunset sails (90 min) are $79 with the open bar included; Friday fireworks sail $79. maitaicatamaran.net
Kepoikai II — since 1977
Boards in front of the Outrigger Waikiki and Duke’s, at the end of Surfboard Alley — look for the blue-and-white boat. One-hour day sails $40, the cheapest ride on the beach; sunset sail $50. No open bar — there’s a cash bar, and BYOB is welcome (no glass). kepoikai.com
Ke Kai — Aloha Boats Hawaii
Boards in front of Duke’s, 2335 Kalakaua Ave. One-hour Diamond Head sail $52.70; turtle snorkel (90 min) $70; sunset sail $70 — complimentary drinks included on board. A Friday fireworks sail is offered; check current prices for it. snorkelmanukai.com
Na Hoku III — Aloha Boats Hawaii
Boards from the same Duke’s beach spot. One-hour sail $45.50; sunset sail (90 min) $60; Friday fireworks from $60, boarding at 7 PM — complimentary drinks included. Don’t confuse her with the old Na Hoku II, which retired from the beach and now sails from Kewalo Basin Harbor. nahoku2.com
Hāwea — Waikiki Sailing Company
The eastmost of the beach cats, behind the Duke Kahanamoku Statue at the Hyatt end — check in at the rainbow umbrella on the beach. Turtle snorkel & sail combo (2.5 hrs) $89.56; Aloha Hour sail (90 min, all-inclusive drinks) $55.35; sunset from $68; Friday fireworks about $72. waikikisailing.com
Boats
Six — all board off the sand
Cheapest sail
Kepoikai II day sail — $40
Boarding
Barefoot off the beach — expect wet feet
Prices
As of Oct 2026 — operators are the authority
✎ My Notes
- Book the sunset cat sail a day ahead in busy weeks - it sells out first, for good reason.
12
Waikiki · On the Water
Waikiki Activities: Parasails, Subs & Scooters
Waikiki sells fun by the ticket, and most of it leaves from the sand or a pier within walking distance. These are the classics from Michael’s old maps — the parasails, the sub, and the scooters. (The beach catamarans have their own section above.)
Parasailing
Boats run out of Kewalo Basin Harbor, a short hop west of Waikiki (check in at Pier 3, 1025 Ala Moana Blvd). Lines run 600 to 1,200 feet, you hang in the harness 8–10 minutes with all of Waikiki spread out below, and the minimum age is five — this is the thrill ride a whole family can actually share.
Location on Map · Kewalo Basin check-in
Atlantis Submarine Tour
A real submarine, diving about 100 feet for roughly 45 minutes: artificial reefs, sea turtles, sunken wrecks, and fish that have never seen a snorkeler. Check in at the Hilton Pier — beachside at the Hilton Hawaiian Village by the Ali'i Tower — at least 30 minutes early for the shuttle boat out. Kids must be at least 36 inches tall.
Location on Map · Atlantis check-in (Hilton Pier)
Submarine scooters — Hawaii Kai
The odd one out, honestly labeled: the submarine scooters don't run from Waikiki at all. Island Water Sports Hawaii runs them from Koko Marina in Hawaii Kai — you ride a self-propelled scooter underwater in Maunalua Bay with your head in an air-fed helmet, about 20 minutes under on a two-hour tour. No swimming skill needed; ages 10 and up. Worth the drive east.
Booking
Operators sell online - reserve ahead in peak season
Meeting points
Waikiki beach - Kewalo Basin - Hilton Pier - Koko Marina
13
Waikiki · Sheraton Waikiki
The Infinity Pool
-
On the edge — the pool line dissolves into the Pacific.
-
Loungers in the water, Diamond Head down the shore.
-
Afternoon in the pool, a catamaran on the horizon.
The most photographed pool in Hawaii: the Edge infinity pool at the Sheraton Waikiki, where the water's edge dissolves into the ocean and Diamond Head closes the frame. Honest label, though — this one is for Sheraton guests only, adults 16 and up. It's a know-about-it spot, not a drop-in one.
If you're staying there, the sunset hour on that edge is the Waikiki pool experience perfected. If you're not, take heart and take the sand instead: the public beach directly below serves the identical horizon, free, with the pool glowing above you at dusk.
Where
Sheraton Waikiki, beachfront
Who
Hotel guests only — adults 16+
The view
The pool edge disappears into the Pacific
Alternative
The public beach right below it — same horizon
✎ My Notes
- Walking the beach at sunset, look up — the glowing edge above the sand is the whole postcard.
- Guests: claim an edge spot early. Sunset at the Edge is a competitive sport.
14
Waikiki · Fort DeRussy
Waikiki Boardwalk
The surfboard locker alley off the boardwalk — where Waikiki’s boards live.
Waikiki's green edge: broad lawns, a paved beachfront path, and shade trees, running through Fort DeRussy Park at the Hilton end of the beach. This is where Waikiki breathes — morning walkers, picnic blankets, wedding photos, and the least crowded sand-to-grass real estate in the district.
The path links the lagoon end of Waikiki to its center without ever touching the Kalakaua sidewalk crowd. Restrooms, showers, and lawn all come with it — the park is Army land, open to the public, and kept like it matters.
Where
Beachfront path through Fort DeRussy Park
Best for
Morning walks & sunset picnics
Facilities
Restrooms, showers, serious shade
Cost
Free — a public park on Army land
✎ My Notes
- Best sunset picnic lawn in Waikiki — and the Friday fireworks are right overhead from here.
- Morning walkers: lagoon to Kuhio and back on this path is the finest 30 minutes in the district.
Taste the island
Farmers Markets
The best breakfast on Oahu is a farmers market. Days and times below are the best 2026 information I have — and where sources conflicted, I’m telling you straight, so check before you go.
15
Honolulu · Diamond Head
KCC Farmers Market
The heavyweight: run by the Hawaii Farm Bureau, 100+ vendors at Kapiolani Community College (Parking Lot C, 4303 Diamond Head Rd) — tropical fruit, poke bowls, grilled abalone, malasadas, honey, flowers, and crafts. Saturdays, 7:30–11:00 AM. Parking is free in the campus lots, and it’s mostly cash — bring it.
Honest caveat: older sources list a Tuesday evening edition (4–7 PM), but no 2026 source confirms it still runs — treat this as Saturday-only until you check. And get there by 8 AM: the good stuff sells out.
📷 Pictures coming soon16
Waikiki · Kalakaua Ave
Waikiki Farmers Market (Hyatt Regency)
-
Ahualoa Farms in the Hyatt atrium — market night.
-
Island produce, steps from the beach.
-
Greens by the bin — farm-fresh in Waikiki.
-
Save room — the pastry tray.
A small evening market with Oahu-grown produce, poke bowls, baked goods, jewelry, and souvenirs — walkable from most Waikiki hotels. Reviewers say go early because the popular fruit sells out.
⚠ The days conflict between sources: the official Hyatt listing and a couple of sources say Monday & Wednesday; a 2026-updated guide and older reviews say Tuesday & Thursday. Check the Hyatt page before you go — I won't guess and have you show up on a dark day.
When
4:00 – 8:00 PM — but the days are disputed, see below
Where
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, 2424 Kalakaua Ave — Pualeilani Atrium Shops, ground floor
✎ My Notes
- Think of this as a convenient poke-bowl-and-fruit stop, not a destination market. If you're in Waikiki anyway, it's perfect.
- Verify the day on the Hyatt's own activities page before you plan around it — sources genuinely disagree right now.
17
Honolulu · Ala Moana
Honolulu Farmers Market (Blaisdell)
A solid midweek evening market at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center, about 10 minutes from Waikiki near Ala Moana: vegetables, fruit, plants, flowers, and hot foods — shrimp plates, wood-fired pizza, baked goods. Wednesdays, 4:00–7:00 PM. Parking is free at Blaisdell.
Free samples are common — grazing is practically the point. A great Wednesday option when the big Saturday markets aren’t running; pair it with an Ala Moana trip.
📷 Pictures coming soon18
Honolulu · Kaka’ako
Kaka’ako Farmers Market
KCC’s main rival for the Saturday crown: 110+ booths of dayboat fish, tropical fruit, coffee, flowers, and prepared foods at 919 Ala Moana Blvd. Saturdays, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM — free parking across the street.
Saturday game plan: KCC early, Kaka’ako after — it runs a bit later, so it works as a second act. The dayboat fish here is the real deal if you have a kitchen.
📷 Pictures coming soon19
Windward · Kailua
Kailua Farmers Market
The windward side’s market, run by the Hawaii Farm Bureau: Thursdays, 4:00–7:00 PM at 609 Kailua Rd, behind Longs Drugs — local produce, flowers, baked goods, and plate-dinner stalls, with a neighborhood feel the big Saturday markets can’t match.
Make an evening of it: market first for dinner grazing, then the Kailua Town Pub two blocks over. (A separate Sunday market also runs at Pali Lanes — Kailua does not do just one market a week.)
📷 Pictures coming soonSouvenirs worth buying
Where to Shop
Four very different shopping spots — a luxury open-air mall, a historic courtyard, a low-key strip, and the biggest open-air mall in the world.
20
Waikiki · Kalakaua Ave
Royal Hawaiian Center
Hula on the Royal Grove stage.
Royal Hawaiian Center
2201 Kalakaua Ave — big open-air mall in the heart of Waikiki with 100+ shops, from luxury to local surf brands, plus the daily free cultural shows in the Royal Grove.
The free shows here have their own section above: Royal Hawaiian Center — The Royal Grove.
21
Waikiki · Kalakaua Ave
International Market Place
The carved entrance sign on Kalakaua Ave.
International Market Place
Kalakaua Ave, opposite Waikiki Beach Walk — the restored historic open-air mall under a centuries-old banyan tree, with boutiques, restaurants, and the free Mon/Wed/Fri 6 PM hula show at Queen's Court.
The free shows here have their own section above: International Market Place — Sunset Stories.
22
Waikiki · Lewers St
Waikiki Beach Walk
Sunset on the promenade — the Beach Walk’s best hour.
Waikiki Beach Walk
Lewers St — a low-key open-air shopping and dining strip with weekly free music, hula classes, and the Monday night Makers Market for local-made souvenirs.
The free shows here have their own section above: Waikiki Beach Walk.
23
Honolulu · Ala Moana
Ala Moana Center
Centerstage from above — the daily hula draws a crowd.
Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvd — the world's largest open-air shopping center, with 350+ shops and 100+ restaurants plus the daily free hula at Centerstage. About 15 minutes from Waikiki by bus.
The free shows here have their own section above: Ala Moana Center — Centerstage Hula.
Honolulu · Kaheka St
Don Quijote — “Donki”
A Japanese discount department store — groceries, electronics, beach gear, and souvenirs under one very full roof. The flagship Honolulu store, at 801 Kaheka St just behind Ala Moana Center, is open 24 hours. There are also Oahu stores in Pearl City and Waipahu.
Eat like you mean it
Food Spots
Brief on purpose — every one of these has its full story on the Food & Drink page. This band is the Waikiki quick list.
24
Waikiki · Kalakaua Ave
Waikiki Food Spots
The quick list — every stop below has its full story on the Food & Drink page. This is just the Waikiki map of them.
Duke’s Waikiki — the beachfront classic at the Outrigger Waikiki, 2335 Kalakaua Ave. Map
Lulu’s Waikiki — At 2586 Kalakaua Ave, at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki. Map
The Cheesecake Factory — 2301 Kalakaua Ave, in front of the Royal Hawaiian Center — the enormous menu, the cheesecake case, and the famous wait. Map
Hard Rock Cafe — 280 Beach Walk, just off Kalakaua Ave. Map
Cheeseburger in Paradise — 2500 Kalakaua Ave, across from the beach. Map
Monkeypod Kitchen — At the Outrigger Reef, 2169 Kalia Rd. Map
Giovanni Pastrami — 227 Lewers St — pastrami and pizza a block off the beach. Map
Royal Hawaiian Center Food Court — The Pā’ina Lānai food court inside Royal Hawaiian Center — a row of counters, one tray. Map
Denny’s — 205 Lewers St — open 24 hours. Map
ABC Store #38 — 205 Lewers St — the “super ABC,” a select store with a deli counter inside. Map
Island Vintage Shave Ice — Shave ice done fancy in the middle of Waikiki. Map
Teddy’s Bigger Burgers — 134 Kapahulu Ave, at the zoo end of Waikiki. Map
25
Honolulu · Kapahulu Ave
Leonard’s Bakery — Malasadas
Kapahulu Ave, minutes from Waikiki — home of the malasada, Hawaii’s famous Portuguese-style doughnut, and a Honolulu landmark since 1952. The bakery wagons (the Malasadamobiles) post up all over the island.
The full story — the bakery, all five truck stops, and the photos — lives on the Food & Drink page: Leonard’s Bakery.
Take Waikiki Home
Premium 5mm-thick challenge coins with UV 3D artwork on both sides — the Waikiki moments, in metal. Shop all coins at oahucoins.com.
Duke Statue Coin
$49.99
The Father of Surfing at Kuhio Beach — where the torch lighting opens every evening.
View coinShare Your Waikiki
Post your Waikiki sunset photos, market finds, and free-show tips with fellow Oahu lovers in Michael's free Facebook group.
Join our Facebook Group