Aloha Spirit of Waikiki and its major tourist attractions

From the Great King Kamehameha to the Elvis Presley’s beloved state, Hawaii is an epitome of the greeting Aloha with tranquil waters and floral air.

Honolulu, the capital city of Hawaii is a calm port located on the island of Oahu. There are various tourist attractions in Honolulu including Pearl Harbor and World War II plight, Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, Iolani Palace and Kamehameha Statue etc. Waikiki is a great beachfront neighborhood with tourists worldwide flocking here to enjoy the perfect weather, gentle surf with long rolling break of waves which is great for novice surfers. Check out the top tourist attractions in Waikiki.
 
Waikiki Beaches
Waikiki Beaches offer spectacular views of the Diamond Head. It has various beaches ideal for water sports and swimming. Beginning in the west, the Kahanamoku Beach is named after the Hawaii's famed Ambassador of Aloha, surfer and Olympic swimming ace, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. Adjacent to the beach are the Duke Kahanamoku’s lagoon and the Hilton Hawaiian Village. At the edge of Diamond Head in the east, Sans Souci is a calm sandy strip. It is commonly referred to as Kaimana Beach on account of its proximity to Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel. A shallow reef close to the shore is perfect for snorkeling.

A narrow channel separates the Kahanamoku Beach from Gray's Beach. The next is the Royal Hawaiian Beach which is the most crowded beach. Kuhio Beach Park is an ocean side public park located between Kapahulu Groin and the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel. Kapahulu Groin is low wall storm drain with a walkway on top. A low stoned breakwater known as the Wall runs parallel to the beach to control sand erosion, forming two swimming pools.

Kapiolani Park
This 300 acres park was given to the city by King Kalakaua bearing his wife’s name and statue. It is the oldest and the largest public park in Hawaii. It has various attractions including the Waikiki Aquarium and Honolulu Zoo. Kapiolani Park plays host to the popular Kodak Hula Show, the Waikiki Shell, Sunday Art Shows, Archery Range, Soccer Fields, Tennis Courts, concerts and jogger’s 3 mile course.

Waikiki Aquarium
This aquarium founded in 1904 features the rich marine life of Hawaii. It is located on the Waikiki Beach shoreline across from Kapiolani Park. It is the second oldest aquarium in the United States. The Aquarium puts over 500 marine life species on display and maintains 3,000 plus marine specimens including Peppermint Angelfish which is one of the Ocean’s rarest fish, New Hawaiian Green Sea turtle exhibit.

Diamond Head Crater
Diamond Head Crater is an extinct volcano to the east of Waikiki. It is one of the most famous landmarks of Hawaii. The iconic silhouette of the crater is visible from the beach. The 760 foot crater can be best seen and visited from the Diamond Head State Monument. The hiking trail is moderately challenging which includes 175 steps of stairs, old military bunkers and underground tunnels. The picturesque views at the peak of Diamond Head are worthy of the adventurous exertion.

Also known as Leahi in Hawaiian language which means brow of the tuna, the crater was renamed as Diamond Head in the 19th century by British sailors who thought that the shiny calcite crystals on the slopes were diamonds.

Honolulu Zoo
The Honolulu Zoo spans 42 acres featuring 995 different tropical animals. Komodo Dragons, elephants, birds, orangutans, amphibians, reptiles, primates and African animals are the residents of this Zoo. There is a vast variety of plants from the tropics as well. Hawaiian Goose, the Hawaiian Hawk and Nene are usually featured in the exhibit. It is the only zoo in the U.S. that sits on a royal land granted to the people by King David Kalakaua, Monarch of Hawaii.

Atlantis Submarines
Atlantis Submarines offers passenger submarine tours under the sea. The boarders can explore depths of ocean 100 feet below the surface and catch glimpses of amazing sea creatures. The Atlantis Submarines company has also built artificial reefs to create a safe haven for the marine life. The battery powered submarines are quite advanced technologically and do no emit any pollutants.

Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center
The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is a modern shopping complex located in central Waikiki consisting of more than 110 shops of clothing stores, jewelery, souvenir shops, surf shops international boutiques and restaurants. It is situated in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and Sheraton Waikiki, spanning three blocks on the beach side of Kalakaua Avenue.

US Army Museum of Hawaii
There are numerous exhibits in this military museum including weapons of Hawaiian wars in the 18th century, the Vietnam War and the Second World War. The museum is located in a building from 1909 meant to defend Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. The American soldiers' uniforms and enemy uniforms from the last 200 years are also showcased. The most interesting are the old Hawaiian weapons embellished with sharks' teeth used in battles between the old Hawaiian tribes.