Take a minute to watch the sun set over Waikiki Beach during your stay in Hawaii.
Waikiki Beach, a famous beach spot on Hawaii's most populated island, Oahu, draws tourists from around the world to its beautiful beaches dotted with towering palm trees. In Waikiki, explore world-class shopping and dining. Beyond the beach enclave, visit Oahu's more rural north shore, where charming small towns welcome you with the aloha spirit and your "mana," also known as spirit, enlivens itself.
Waikiki Beach Walk
Explore Waikiki Beach Walk, an 8-acre expanse of almost 50 shops, 16 restaurants, five hotels and an outdoor performance space. The area's architects took their inspiration from the sea, incorporating lighted glass canopies and other decor reminiscent of outrigger canoes. Find clothing stores including Hawaii classics like Honolua Surf Co. and Quicksilver. Steal away into Serenity Spa Hawaii, which looks out onto the beach, for a chakra-balancing massage or Island Body Therapy wrap. Shop for jewelry and shoes, then try some of Hawaii's famous fish for lunch. The Ocean House Restaurant at the Outrigger Hotel serves delicacies like crab-stuffed mahi mahi. After dark, head to Coconut Willy's for live music or DJs spinning records. Hotels in the development include Embassy Suites, Wyndham and Outrigger Reef on the Beach.
Waikiki Beach Walk
Lewers Street
Honolulu, HI
808-921-6600
waikikibeachwalk.com
Polynesian Cultural Center
Immerse yourself in Hawaiian Culture at the Polynesian Cultural Center, which hosts performances and offers classes on the island's north shore. Dine at the Ali'i Lu'au, an award-winning show that includes traditional Hawaiian food like poi, a dish made with mashed, cooked taro roots, and poke, a meal of fish marinated in lemon or lime juice. Learn husk coconuts, carve tikis and cook in a fire pit. Other shows include "Rainbows of Paradise," a play performed entirely in floating canoes, and "Ha: Breath of Life," which features Polynesian songs and dances. In the center's 42-acre museum area, visitors can wander among eight different villages, each representing a different part of Polynesia. Performers staged at each village explain each culture's intricacies each afternoon. At the Hawaiian village, for example, an exhibit repeats four times each day that includes a brief hula lesson along with an explanation of the dance's history and meaning. Visitors also learn about traditional Hawaiian food, culture and watch women stringing leis.
Polynesian Cultural Center
55-370 Kamehameha Highway
Laie, HI 96762
800-367-7060
polynesia.com
Snorkel Hanauma Bay
Snorkel the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, located 10 miles east of Waikiki. Hawaii has designated the popular area as the state's first marine life conservation district. Now, visitors can walk through a marine education center to learn about the bay --- actually a flooded crater --- and underwater reef. Surrounded by mountains, the bay rests in a nearly enclosed horseshoe created roughly 32,000 years ago after a chain of wild explosions released a stream of lava. Swim with vibrantly colored fish like the raccoon butterfly, or maybe with a dolphin. Arrive at the preserve early because the parking lot fills quickly. You can rent snorkel gear at the beach, or hire a private company for a guided trip.
Hanauma Bay
7455 Kalanianaloe Highway
Honolulu, HI 96825
honolulu.gov
Tags: Waikiki Beach, Beach Walk, Cultural Center, Polynesian Cultural, Polynesian Cultural Center, Waikiki Beach Walk, Hawaiian food