Yes, We Have Beaches.

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However, not all beaches here are created equal. The crowded beach scene such as the one at Waikiki (see photo 1) may come to mind when people think of visiting Hawaii and may opt to go to the neighbor islands instead. Yes, Waikiki Beach, about a half mile in length, is packed in which your neighbor may only be a handshake away. There is lots of activity going on, hawkers touting catamaran, canoe rides or surt lessons, music and entertainment wafting from hotel seaside lounges, distracting bikini clad people, etc. If you perfer beaches where birds outnumber humans and you have a car, we have that too on this island. A compromise would be a stroll toward either the eastern or western ends of Waikiki where there are still beautiful and safe beaches where your neighbors may be 15+ feet away. The beaches on the eastern ends are Queen Surf and San Souci and at the western end, Ft. DeRussey (technically still part of Waikiki Beach). Still further west and within walking distance, or a short bus ride, is Ala Moana Beach Park (see photo 2). If you have a car, better yet, as there are tons of free parking. This applies only through Mon.-Fri. though when most of the Locals are at work. Your elbow room here then, may rate as 50+. Magic Island a man made peninsula, located in Ala Moana Park provides you with a beautiful panoramic view of Waikiki, Koolau Mountain range, Ala Moana and Downtown. After a day at the beach, just cross the boulevard to Ala Moana Shopping Center for souveniors, Aloha Shirts and a meal at places like the Food Court, Bubba Gumps, Jackie Chan's, Romano Macaroni or California Pizza. Good way to see the Local color you won't see in Waikiki.

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Photos

Waikiki Beach
Beach scene.

Ala Moana Beach.
Quieter Beach near Waikiki.

View from Magic Island.
View of Waikiki from Magic Island in Ala Moana Park.

A Rainbow.
A rainbow ending on Roosevelt High School.

Royal Hawaiian Hotel
Also known as The Pink Lady.

Makiki Christian Church.
A Church origianally built for Japanese Christians.

New Condos.
Newer Condos at Ala Moana.

Water God?
Sculture fronting Convention Center.

Mini Falls.
Located in Queen Liliuokalani Gardens.

McKinley High School.
One of the oldest High Schools in Honolulu.

The Royal Mausoleum
Tombs of Several Hawaiian Royalties.

Pineapple Tree.
Just kidding. Actually a Pandamus fruit(?). Very fibrous, used as paint brush to decrorate clothing in old Hawaii.

New Orleans Type Building.
At least to me, it looked to be.

Medical College.
New UH Medical School fronting Kakaako Waterfront Park.

Convention Center.
Supposedly to looked like sails, inspired by the Sydney Opera House.

Mariposa Restraraunt
Located in The Ala Moana SC, in Nordstrom's.

Waikiki Skyline and Diamond Head.
Classic postcard view taken from Punchbowl.

Kalakaua Ave.
The main drag in Waikiki.

Comments

[Franco]

Mariposa Restraraunt.
The photo I titled as Matsonia should be corrected to Mariposa (Sp. for Butterfly). I was trying to think of the name, and know it was a name of a large ship that stopped in Hawaii in the old days. One was called Lurline, and others were Matsonia and Mariposa.

[Franco.]

Recently learned that the sculpture I labelled as "Water God?" is actually named "A Gift of Water".