By TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Lin Zhiheng
Once, the mention of “Hawaii” was almost synonymous with “romance” and “honeymoon.” However, faced with competition from many emerging resort islands, Hawaii faded from the Taiwanese market for a while. In truth, it has always been here—it remains a top choice for tourists from the U.S. and Japan, still beckoning visitors with its unique volcanic island ecology and Hawaiian-style romance.
A diverse array of tourists at Waikiki Beach are easily swept up in the vacation atmosphere and let loose, with the iconic Diamond Head crater standing tall behind the beach. (Photo provided by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler)
For most people coming to Hawaii, Hawaii is almost synonymous with “Waikiki”—that two-square-kilometer stretch of narrow beach transformed from a dry swamp. Once you dive into Waikiki, catalyzed by the scents of the tropical island, you instantly fall into an intoxicating, inescapable dream.
The Splendid World of Waikiki
Towering hotels line up along the white sand, carving out a glamorous skyline. By the beach, it’s a stage where good-looking men and women flaunt their physiques—some lie quietly sunbathing, others ride waves on surfboards, couples stroll hand-in-hand through coconut groves, or groups of friends playfully splash in the sun. Further out, the sea shimmers with endless beauty.
The statue of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku by Waikiki Beach, revered as the father of international surfing. (Photo provided by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler)
Divided by the sandy shore, the world beyond the ocean belongs to the daytime. When the fiery sun dips below the horizon and restaurant bonfires gradually spring up, the lively 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 stores, duty-free shops, affordable ABC Stores, high-end hotels, exotic restaurants, bars, and nightclubs stand shoulder to shoulder. Trolleys, limousines, convertibles, and SUVs weave through a colorful stream of traffic. As the mellow sounds of the ukulele drift by, cocktails with tropical flair like Blue Hawaii, Mai Tai, and Chi Chi slowly release their aroma, drawing you effortlessly into Hawaiian romance.
Overlooking Waikiki Beach from a hotel balcony. (Photo provided by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler)
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 excellent tides here 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 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 view on offer.
Although Waikiki Beach once suffered from severe erosion and had to import large amounts of white sand from the U.S. mainland and other Pacific islands, most tourists don’t care about that. The fine white sand, rolling long waves, swaying coconut palms, warm sunshine, and gentle seawater—these are the very elements that make tropical beaches so special. This place is no exception. It’s almost comparable to other famous beaches around the world, such as Surfers Paradise in Australia, Dumon Bay in Guam, Miami Beach in Florida, and Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Waikiki Beach is a paradise for surfers. (Photo provided by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler)
Every year, over seven million tourists—nearly ninety percent of all visitors—crowd into this area. Other than the beach, hotels, Hawaiian-style luaus, and pineapple plantation tours, they rarely venture far. They bring prosperity to Hawaii, spending over ten billion U.S. dollars here annually, mostly from Americans and Japanese. In recent years, the number of tourists from mainland China has been soaring.
Waikiki is located in Honolulu, the most dazzling city in the Pacific. And the island where Honolulu sits, Oahu, is a densely populated island with nearly one million residents. Amidst the hustle and bustle of Honolulu, it’s easy to forget that you’re right in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It’s fair to say that the Hawaiian Islands are among the most remote and isolated from all continents on Earth.
Taking a sightseeing cruise off the coast of Waikiki, with two Hawaiian “tiki” statues erected at the bow. Looking ashore, Waikiki’s glamorous skyline and Diamond Head are clearly visible. (Photo provided by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler)
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