Immerse Yourself in Volcanic Island Romance à la Hawaii

Divided by the shoreline, the world beyond the sea belongs to the daytime. When the fiery sun dips below the horizon and restaurant bonfires begin to flicker to life, the vibrant nightlife on the other side of the beach is just getting started.

 

On the neon-lit Kalakaua Avenue, crowds of tourists brush shoulders. Large shopping malls, luxury brand boutiques, duty-free shops, affordable ABC Stores, high-end hotels, exotic restaurants, bars, and nightclubs line the street. Trolleys, limousines, convertibles, and SUVs weave through a kaleidoscopic flow of traffic. As the mellow sounds of the ukulele drift by, tropical cocktails like Blue Hawaii, Mai Tai, and Chi Chi slowly release their fragrant allure, drawing you effortlessly into the romance of Hawaii.

Originally, Waikiki was just a patchwork of taro fields and sweet potato farms developed by Native Hawaiians from the coastal swamps. In the early 19th century, the Hawaiian royal family recognized the area’s excellent tides and developed it into a beach for surfing and leisure. After Westerners arrived, the first seaside resort hotel, Sans Souci, opened in 1893. After a century of development, Waikiki has become a piece of prime real estate, with towering resort hotels packed tightly together, leaving no untouched land. Hotel prices soar based on proximity to the beach and the quality of views.

 

Although Waikiki Beach had to import massive amounts of white sand from the U.S. mainland and other Pacific islands in the past due to severe erosion, most visitors don’t really care. The fine white sand, rolling swells, swaying palm trees, warm sunshine, and gentle waters—paired with its uniquely artificial charm—make this place hard to resist. It’s practically a template for tropical beach paradises around the world, much like Australia’s Surfers Paradise, Guam’s Tumon Bay, Florida’s Miami Beach, or Brazil’s Copacabana.