Honolulu/Waikiki
From World travel guide
Waikiki is a district of the city of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, in Hawaii, one of the United States of America. It has, perhaps, the best known tourist destination in the world, Waikiki Beach.
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Understand
Perhaps the best known beach in the world, Waikiki was the favorite playground of Hawaiian royalty in the 19th century. These days, this 1.5 mile stretch of white sand beach is the nucleus of Hawaii's tourist industry, packed full of high-rise hotels that promise to treat you like a king, some of which may also require a king's ransom for admission.
Often criticized for its concrete-jungle appearance, Waikiki has undergone a recent facelift to give it a more "Hawaiian sense of place."
Get in
Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. with Interstate Highways that don't connect to another state. They are H-1, H-2, and the newest one H-3, all located on the island of Oahu.
By plane
Honolulu International Airport is the main aviation gateway for the Hawaiian Islands. The airport's Main Terminal is served by most major American airlines from the mainland U.S, and by many international airlines from other countries around the Pacific Rim. Its Interisland Terminal is the home of Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Airlines, both of which offer frequent local service to the other Hawaiian islands.
The Airport Waikiki Express provides shuttle service to hotels in Waikiki every half hour for $8 per person. City buses #19 and #20 ($2 Adult/ no change given/ $US bills and coins accepted) also come to the airport once every half-hour, going through Aala Park downtown and on to to Waikiki. You can catch them on the outside second level of the international and domestic departure terminals.
The best way to get to Waikiki by rental car (where your hotel is most likely to be) is to follow signs for H-1 east, then follow H-1 east about 2 miles to exit 18A (Waikiki/Nimitz Highway). Follow Nimitz Highway (which turns into Ala Moana Boulevard past downtown Honolulu) straight into Waikiki. You will pass through Honolulu's industrial district, along Honolulu Harbor, and past downtown Honolulu and the Ala Moana Shopping Center.
Get around
Navigating
Major arterials
H-1 is some distance away from Waikiki itself and you need to go onto surface streets to and from Waikiki. If you need to access H-1 west from Waikiki to go someplace outside of the city, there are two main routes:
- Go mauka to Ala Wai Boulevard and follow it Ewa-bound to McCully Street. Follow McCully mauka for about 1 mile; it will take you over H-1. At the foot of the bridge, turn left on Dole, then left again onto Alexander to the freeway onramp.
- Follow Kuhio or Kalakaua Avenue Diamond Head-bound to Kapahulu Avenue. Follow Kapahulu mauka for about 1 mile, it will take you under H-1 and lead you to the freeway onramp.
To get back to Waikiki from H-1 east, take either of these routes:
- Take exit 23 (Punahou Street). Turn right on Punahou, and stay in lane #3 from the left. This lane is right-turn only onto the left side of Beretania. Take an immediate left onto Kalakaua Avenue from Beretania. Follow Kalakaua into Waikiki.
- Take exit 25A (King Street). After merging onto King Street, stay to the right. Take the second right onto Kapahulu Avenue (follow signs to Waikiki). Follow Kapahulu into Waikiki.
In Waikiki, the three main streets, from makai to mauka, are Kalakaua Avenue (one way Ewa to Diamond Head, along Waikiki Beach), Kuhio Avenue (two-way), and Ala Wai Boulevard (one way Diamond Head to Ewa, along the Ala Wai Canal).
By bus
If you're traveling light, TheBus offers service from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki. Take either route #19 or #20 to Waikiki. You may carry your bag onto the bus, provided that your bag fits under the seat and doesn't disturb other passengers. Routes #8 and #19 serve Waikiki and Ala Moana Center. For more information, visit http://www.thebus.org.
See
Beaches
- Waikiki Beach.
Museums and Galleries
Scenic
Do
Learn
Work
Buy
Ever-present ABC Stores are located so that most hotels are within no more than a one-block walk. In fact, many locations are located in the shopping areas of the major hotels. They provide all manner of convenience store food, souvenirs, and merchandise, but the convenience does come at an extra cost.
Popular with locals, Longs Drugs are general merchandise stores with locations throughout the islands. The nearest location to Waikiki is on the second level of Ala Moana Center.
Eat
Drink
Sleep
- Waikiki Beachside Hostel, 2556 Lemon Road, [1].
Contact
Stay safe
Get out
External links
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