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Waikiki

Coordinates: 21°16′31″N 157°49′52″W / 21.2752°N 157.8312°W / 21.2752; -157.8312
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(Redirected from Waikīkī Beach)
For other uses, see Waikiki (disambiguation).

Waikīkī
Waikīkī
Neighborhood of Honolulu
Waikīkī
Aerial view of Waikiki
Aerial view of Waikiki
Map
Coordinates: 21°16′31″N 157°49′52″W / 21.2752°N 157.8312°W / 21.2752; -157.8312
CountryUnited States
StateHawaii
CountyHonolulu County
CityHonolulu
Area
 • Total
3.4 sq mi (9 km2)
ZIP Code
96815
Area code808

Waikiki (/ˌwaɪkɪˈkiː/;[1][2] Hawaiian: Waikīkī; Hawaiian: [vɐjˈtiːtiː, wɐjˈkiːkiː]) is a Honolulu neighborhood and the eponymous Waikiki beach on its south shore, on the island of Oʻahu in the U.S. state of Hawaii.

Waikiki Beach is one of six beaches in the district, along with Queen's Beach, Kuhio Beach, Gray's Beach, Fort DeRussy Beach, and Kahanamoku Beach. The sandy beach is almost entirely man-made.[3]

A view of Waikiki from the ocean

Waikiki (Hawaii) is home to public places including Kapiʻolani Park, Fort DeRussy, Kahanamoku Lagoon, Kūhiō Beach Park, and Ala Wai Harbor. Waikiki[a] was the first capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1795 to 1796.

Etymology

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The Hawaiian language name Waikīkī means spouting fresh water, for springs and streams that fed wetlands that once separated Waikiki from the interior.[4]

History

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After the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Waikiki was its first capital, 1795–1796.

In the 1800s, the area was a retreat for Hawaiian royalty, who enjoyed surfing there on early forms of longboards.[5]

A few small hotels opened in the 1880s. In 1893, Greek-American George Lycurgus leased the guest house of Allen Herbert and renamed it the "Sans Souci" (French for "without worries" or “carefree”) creating one of the first beach resorts. Later that year Robert Louis Stevenson stayed at the resort; subsequently it became a popular destination for mainland tourists.[6] The area at coordinates 21°15′49″N 157°49′17″W / 21.26361°N 157.82139°W / 21.26361; -157.82139 is still called "Sans Souci Beach".[7]

20th century

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In the early 1900s, Waikiki was home to many wetlands, which were claimed to harbor disease-carrying mosquitoes. To get rid of the mosquitoes, developers created the Ala Wai canal. The canal, originally known as the Waikiki Drainage Canal, was created by a Hawaiian dredging company run by Walter F. Dillingham. The project took about seven years, 1921–1928.[8]

Duke Kahanamoku became a well-known surfer in Waikiki. Throughout his life and after competing in the Olympics, many people around the world wanted to learn to surf. Duke's influence made Waikiki beach a surfing hotspot.[9] "Dukes", a club in Waikiki named for Kahanamoku, helped Don Ho produce music and hosted the longest-running show in Waikiki.[10]

The first high-rise hotels on Waikiki were built in 1955, including the Waikiki Biltmore and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel. Development boomed due to demand, and the area became filled with large resort hotels, such as the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Halekulani, the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, Marriott Waikiki, Sheraton Waikiki. These complemented historic hotels dating back to the early 20th century such as the Moana Surfrider Hotel and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

Changes in the shoreline

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Waikiki developed erosion problems starting in the late 1800s, as hotels and homes were built too close to the natural shoreline, while seawalls and other structures blocked the natural ebb and flow of sand along the beach.[11]

In the 1920s and 1930s sand was imported from Manhattan Beach, California, via ship and barge.[12]

Before 1950, Waikiki beaches were continuous. Then seawalls and groins began to appear. These helped build sand at one beach, but typically appropriated sand from others. They became separated into sections, some with sandy beach and others without. By 1950, more than 80 structures, including seawalls, groins, piers, and storm drains, occupied the Waikiki shoreline.[11]

Following World War II, Waikiki beach restoration efforts have occurred every few years. Sand was imported to this artificial beach from the 1920s to the 1970s, once by boat and barge from Southern California. 1,730 feet (530 m) of shoreline was replenished at a cost of $2.4 million following chronic erosion of more than a foot a year.[13]

Importing stopped in the 1970s. In March 1971, the Corps of Engineers Pacific Ocean Division, created a Draft Environmental Statement for the Kuhio Beach Sector of Waikiki, which aimed to improve the overall quality and size of the fading, narrowing shoreline.[14]

21st century

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Waikiki Beach, in 2011, looking towards Diamond Head

From October 29 through November 4, 2000, the first FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships were held in the waters off Waikiki Beach.[15]

A partial restoration was completed in the spring of 2012. The project imported sand from nearby shoals and widened the 1,700-foot-long (520 m) beach by about 37 feet (11 m) between the Royal Hawaiian Hotel concrete groin and the Kūhiō Beach crib wall. The project temporarily restored the beach to its 1985 shoreline.[16][17] Two aging sandbag groin structures were also removed that year.[18]

In 2017, beach erosion worsened with high-energy king tides and elevated sea levels. Honolulu's mayor stated: "I'm not a scientist, but I'll get a jackhammer in there and remove all the concrete that's there creating this backwash and sucking out more sand, plus it's just downright dangerous."[19]

Waikiki beach as seen from Diamond Head

The beach hosts many events, including surf competitions, outdoor performances, hula dancing, and outrigger canoe races. The many amenities, shops, and hotels enable Waikiki to generate approximately 42 percent of Hawaiʻi's visitor revenue.[20]

Geography

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The neighborhood extends from the Ala Wai Canal (a channel dug to drain wetlands) on the west and north, to Diamond Head (Lēʻahi, tuna brow) on the east. Waikiki Beach is noted for its views of the Diamond Head tuff cone, its usually warm and cloud-free climate, and its surf break.[21][22][23] The Waikiki skyline is filled with high-rises and resort hotels.

Beaches

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Waikiki Beach

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Before 1950, the beach in the Waikiki neighborhood was continuous and known as Waikiki Beach. Seawalls and other developments have since separated the coast into eight distinct beaches.[11] Since 1951, nearly 2,800,000 cubic feet (80,000 m3) of sand have been added to restore the beach in the region,[citation needed] but it is believed[by whom?] that little of the added sand remains. As of 2020 the family of beaches in the region are still referred to as "Waikiki Beach", but most venues and addresses will use the name of a specific subsidiary beach.

From Waikiki Beach the sunset in the sea is visible from mid-September to late March. Half of the beach is marked off for surfers. For some distance into the ocean the water is quite shallow, with numerous rocks on the bottom. The waves can have some force, particularly on windy days. The surf is known for its long rolling break, making it ideal for long boarding, tandem surfing, and beginners.[24][25]

Subsidiary beaches

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Waikiki Beach in June 1963

Largely as a result of shoreline development, Waikiki has eight beaches. They are Ft. DeRussy Beach, Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Halekulani Beach, Royal Hawaiian Beach, Kūhiō Beach, Kapiʻolani Beach, Queens Beach, and Kaimana Beach.

Thoroughfares

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Waikiki's main thoroughfare is Kalākaua Avenue, named after King Kalākaua, which houses most of the high-end hotels (Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton, Hyatt, Marriott, Moana Surfrider Hotel), most of the luxury designer brand stores (Apple Store, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Burberry, Dior, Tiffany & Co., Fendi, Harry Winston, Saint Laurent, Gucci, and Hermès), department store (Macy's), and popular surf clothing brand stores (Quiksilver, Billabong, Volcom). Waikiki's other main thoroughfare, Kūhiō Avenue, named after Prince Kūhiō, is better known for its restaurants, cafes and grocers, along with its clubs, nightlife and prostitution.[26][27]

Public art

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In 1990, the 9-foot (3 m) bronze statue of Duke Kahanamoku by Gordon Fisher was installed at Waikiki Beach, accompanied by a bronze replica of his surfboard, honorary spears, and commemorative bronze plaques. It serves as a culture and tourist locale with thousands of annual visitors and numerous cultural events.[28] Seven years later, Billy Fields created The Stones of Life (in Hawaiian: Nā Pōhaku Ola O Kapaemahu A Me Kapuni), a sculpture incorporating ancient basaltic stones, was installed nearby and is considered a local monument.[29] A bronze sculpture in Kapiʻolani Park of Mahatma Gandhi by Stephen Lowe entitled "A Fistful of Salt" was a gift in 1990 from the Gandhi Memorial International Foundation and the Jhamandas Watumull Fund.[30]

At Kūhiō Beach and Queens Beach, three public artworks were installed in the early 2000s. The bronze statue of Prince Jonah Kuhio by Sean Browne[31] and the children's story sculpture Makua and Kila by Holly Young were installed in 2001. Robert Pashby's Surfer on a Wave was installed at Queens Beach in 2003.[32]

Waikiki at sunset

Beach issues

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Erosion

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Waikiki Beach erosion in 2011
The restored Beach in June 2012

Waikiki beach has had repeated problems with erosion, leading to the construction of groins and beach replenishment projects.[33] Imported sand came from California, local beaches such as Pāpōhaku Beach on Moloka‘i, and a sandbar from Oʻahu's Northern side near Kahuku.[34] Officials look for ways to sustain the existing sand by eliminating loss due to tidal flow.[35]

Erosion claims about one foot (0.3 m) of beach per year.[11] Local sources are sought for sand to replenish the beach.[36]

Water quality

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Waikiki Beach had repeated contamination problems due to sewage spills in 2017.[37][38][39]

Homelessness

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Many homeless people settle around the beach because of the public shower and sanitary facilities available there. The Honolulu Police Department has increased patrolling in and around Waikiki Beach with assistance from other city agencies and local businesses to prevent homeless people from making camp in this area.[40]

Education

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Hawaii state Department of Education operates conventional public schools throughout Hawaii. Thomas Jefferson Elementary School is located in Waikiki proper, while Waikiki Elementary School is located nearby, at the makai (seaward) edge of the Kapahulu neighborhood.[41]

The Hawaii State Public Library System operates the Waikiki Public Library.[42]

Twin towns – sister cities

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Waikiki is twinned with:

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Known as Waikīkī in Hawaiian language

References

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  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6.
  2. ^ Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
  3. ^ Sophie Cocke (March 9, 2015). "Waikiki Beach Is Totally Man-Made (And Disappearing). Can Hawaii Save It?". Huffington Post. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  4. ^ Lloyd J. Soehren (2010). "lookup of waikiki ". in Hawaiian Place Names. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  5. ^ "Longboards used by royalty". Hawaii-post.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  6. ^ Chapin, Helen G. (1981). "The Queen's "Greek Artillery Fire": Greek Royalists in the Hawaiian Revolution and Counterrevolution". Hawaiian Journal of History. 15. hdl:10524/422.
  7. ^ "Sans Souci Beach Park". Honolulu, HI, USA: City and County of Honolulu. August 15, 2012. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  8. ^ Gaye, Chan (September 30, 2006). Waikiki : A History of Forgetting and Remembering. University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  9. ^ Wright, Katie (2005). Duke Kahanamoku: Cultural Icon. Center for Pacific Island Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa. hdl:10125/21214.
  10. ^ "Don Ho". TIM. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d Cave, James (March 9, 2015). "Waikiki Beach Is Totally Man-Made (And Disappearing). Can Hawaii Save It?". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  12. ^ Beckerson, Bonnie (2001). "City of Manhattan Beach History". Archived from the original on May 16, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  13. ^ Bailey, Chris (February 20, 2009). "Where's the beach? Seeking the origins of Waikiki sand". Hawaii Magazine. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  14. ^ United States Army Corps of Engineers (March 25, 1971). Waikiki Beach erosion control improvements, Kuhio sector : environmental impact statement. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  15. ^ HistoFINA, volume 10 Archived 2015-09-08 at the Wayback Machine; published by FINA; published=2009-07-01, retrieved=2012-03-03 (FINA's self-history, 2009 edition; volume 10 deals with Open Water Swimming).
  16. ^ Kubota, Gary T. (June 30, 2010). "Beach to be rebuilt with recovered sand - Hawaii News". Staradvertiser.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  17. ^ Cocke, Sophie (March 9, 2015). "Waikiki Beach Is Totally Man-Made (And Disappearing). Can Hawaii Save It?". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  18. ^ Habel, Shellie; Fletcher, Charles H.; Barbee, Matthew; Anderson, Tiffany R. (June 11, 2016). "The influence of seasonal patterns on a beach nourishment project in a complex reef environment" (PDF). Coastal Engineering. 116: 67–76. doi:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2016.06.006. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 2, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  19. ^ Inefuku, Terri (August 22, 2017). "Severe erosion sparks safety concerns, unusual prevention measures along Waikiki beach". KHON-TV. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019.
  20. ^ FOX, CATHERINE TOTH (February 12, 2018). "Our Waikiki: King Tides, Beach Erosion and Water Pollution—Can Waikiki Be Saved?". Honolulu Magazine. Archived from the original on April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  21. ^ "Waikiki Historic Trail - Map". Hawaii Tourism Authority. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  22. ^ Young, Peter T (May 11, 2012). "Ho'okuleana: Waikīkī – Before the Ala Wai". Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  23. ^ Ejiri, Masakazu (1996). "1: Introduction". The Development of Waikiki, 1900–1949: The Formative Period of an American Resort Paradise (Thesis). Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. p. 1. hdl:10125/9303.
  24. ^ "Queens - Surfing in Oahu, United States of America - WannaSurf, surf spots atlas, surfing photos, maps, GPS location". wannasurf.com. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  25. ^ "Canoes - Surfing in Oahu, United States of America - WannaSurf, surf spots atlas, surfing photos, maps, GPS location". wannasurf.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  26. ^ Gonser, James (January 26, 2004). "City to beautify Kuhio Avenue". The Honolulu Advertiser. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  27. ^ Schaefers, Allison (August 31, 2003). "Prostitution shifts from Waikiki". The Honolulu Advertiser. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  28. ^ "The statue of Duke Kahanamoku". Surfer Today. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  29. ^ "The Stones of Life - Na Pohaku Ola Kapaemahu A Kapuni". Mayors Office of Culture and Art. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  30. ^ Wu, Nina (July 20, 2024). "Mahatma Gandhi sculpture restored in Waikiki". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  31. ^ "City crew restores Prince Kuhio statue after vandalism". The Star Advertiser. November 3, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  32. ^ "The most famous surfer statues in the world". Surfer Today. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  33. ^ Dowd, Eddie (April 2, 2024). "Disappearing Waikiki beach prompts sand replenishment project — and calls for better fix". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  34. ^ Fox, Catherine Toth (February 2, 2018). "Our Waikīkī: King Tides, Beach Erosion and Water Pollution—Can Waikīkī Be Saved?". Honolulu Magazine. Archived from the original on April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  35. ^ "Where's Waikiki's sand?". CNN. Atlanta, GA, USA: Turner Broadcasting System. July 5, 2003. Archived from the original on July 7, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  36. ^ Huff, Daryl (October 23, 2023). "Land board blocks effort to move sand from ancient West Oahu beach to Waikiki". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  37. ^ Hanna, Jason (August 25, 2015). "Hawaii's Waikiki beaches shut after sewage spill". CNN. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  38. ^ Jerome, Sara. "Investigation Of Waikiki Beach Sewage Spill Closes". www.wateronline.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  39. ^ Savage, Sam; Venzon, Nel C Jr (January 30, 2008). "Massive Discharge of Untreated Sewage into the Ala Wai Canal (Oahu, Hawaii): A Threat to Waikiki's Waters?". Redorbit. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  40. ^ Schaefers, Allison (March 29, 2019). "Homelessness is No. 1 public safety issue in Waikiki, Honolulu police chief says". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  41. ^ "School Information Archived October 5, 2006, at the Wayback Machine." Waikiki Elementary School. Retrieved on May 22, 2009.
  42. ^ "Waikiki Public Library". Hawaii State Public Library System. May 22, 2009. Archived from the original on November 30, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
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