Manoa Falls, Oahu. A popular and easy hike for tourists and locals alike, Manoa falls is a beautiful, 150-foot falls in the lush Manoa valley. It’s 1.7 miles round trip, with a muddy, gravel terrain. Part of the hike is uphill, but it’s generally an enjoyable and lovely hike. With a misty rain and colorful rainbows, Manoa falls has sometimes been called “valley of rainbows.” Very fitting!
This article will cover the basics of Manoa Falls hike—how to get there, how much it costs, what to expect, etc, AND the history, my favorite part. There are so many stories surrounding this area. Some stories are mysterious, while others are tragic. But if you plan on going to Manoa falls, you’ll definitely want to keep reading!
How to get to Manoa Falls
If you are staying in the Waikiki area, you can choose to rent a Hui, like we did. It’s an easy car rental option that allows you to book it for a few hours or the whole day. Here are some other options: ride the bus, catch a ride-share (like Uber or Lyft), rent a Moped. It takes about 15-30 minutes to drive there, so I don’t recommend walking.
The park entrance fee is $7 (as of December 2021). When we went, they were able to take a card.
What to expect
The trails are muddy, but it’s a sort of wet, reddish mud, not sticky mud. So while the bottoms of my shoes got pretty muddy, they were easy to clean up. The trails have gravel to keep the mud down, and it definitely helps. Since the valley is lush and there’s water everywhere (including standing water), expect mosquitoes and bugs. We didn’t use bug spray and got bites on our legs, so you’ve been warned. >.<
While the hike is relatively short (1.7 miles roundtrip), it does get quite hot, humid, and muggy. An occasional breeze will blow through the area, but expect to get somewhat sweaty. The way to the falls is mostly uphill, but the incline isn’t too bad. Enjoy the plants around the area, including bamboo, ti leaves, koa, ‘ohia, and more!
The water has leptospirosis, so I don’t recommend swimming int it, or worse, drinking it!
What to wear and bring
Of course, since it’s a hike you want some good shoes but honestly, there were plenty of people doing the hike in their slippers as they were visitors to the island, or locals who frequent the area. While it might be nice to cover up from the bugs, it can get very hot, sticky, and sweaty.
It rains in the valley, or mists frequently, so I brought an umbrella.
A little history about Manoa Falls
I lived in Oahu for a while, but my parents hardly took us around town, which I completely understand. Waikiki and Honolulu are packed with people, tourists, and busy-ness. But I
Night Marchers
If you don’t know about night marchers in Hawaii, you must not have grown up there. My mom told us all kinds of stories, especially since she grew up in Pupukea on the North Shore, a place where the night marchers frequented.
Legends of night marchers and their origins vary, but the legends can all agree on one thing: the night marchers are a spirit army, and when you hear them, you better 1) get out of there or 2) lay flat on the ground with your head to the earth, and DON’T LOOK when they march past. If you do that, they won’t bother you.
Since Manoa valley has such an interesting past, including the legends and stories told about it, I can see why people think it’s haunted. And if we even disclude the Hawaiian folklore about the area, there have been several deaths of hikers within the valley. Though it’s a relatively easy hike, it still has its dangers.
The Tragic Story of the Princess of Manoa
I’ve been doing a lot of research on Hawaiian folklore and legends. I love fairy tale and mythological retellings, so be sure to follow me on social media or sign up for my newsletter to learn more about my books and when they come out!
King Kalakaua shares in his book about the beautiful princess of Manoa. Her name was Kahalaopuna, but we’ll call her Kaha for short. The fame of her beauty spread across the Hawaiian islands and many men tried to woo her. Betrothed to Kauhi, a young chief from Kailua, Kaha kept faithful.
One day Kauhi went to a popular bathing spot, where two lesser chiefs taunted him. They wore flower lei around their necks and said that Kaha gave it to them, as well as made love with them. The two chiefs could not see very well, a physical deformation, and this only further enraged Kauhi. He thought Kaha had not only betrayed him, but mocked him.
He resorted to kill her within Manoa valley.
Kaha’s ancestor owl, an ‘aumakua, restored her to life, and Kaha followed Kauhi, asking why he did such a thing. He didn’t answer, but, instead, killed her once more. The gruesome incident occurred three times, and the owl ancestor restored Kaha’s life.
She followed him until Waikiki, and, for the fifth time, Kauhi killed her. But this time, he buried her body under the roots of a koa tree. Satisfied that the owl couldn’t reach her, he left.
A young chief, Mahana, found Kaha’s body, alive, under the tree. He took her to his home, where she was able to recover with the aid from Mahana and his sisters.
Though Mahana and Kaha fell in love, they couldn’t wed because of Kaha’s betrothal. Kaha and her family confronted Kauhi, and he admitted to murdering her. He, along with the two lesser chiefs that lied about her from the start, were cooked in an imu and their bones tossed into the sea.
Kauhi’s family gods rescued his remnants and turned him into a shark. Because of this, Kaha was warned not to go into the sea.
Mahana and Kaha married and were happy for two years. One day, Kaha longed to return to the ocean. She took a surfboard and paddled beyond the reef. Kauhi seized his opportunity at revenge and devoured her.
The shocked and grief-ridden parents of Kaha retired to Manoa valley, her father known as Manoa Wind, and her mother as Manoa Rain.
So don’t be surprised if it rains within the valley, a misty, light rain, as though Kaha’s parents are weeping, missing their daughter.
The valley has a lot of mana, spiritual power and vibe, which is comparable with the Chinese concept of qi, chi, or life force. A young Chinese immigrant by the name of Lum Ching wanted to find a place suitable for the spirits. He searched until he came upon a spot where he felt powerful qi. He said, ““it’s the pulse of the watchful dragon of the valley. people from all directions will come across the seas and gather here to pay homage… the Chinese people must buy this area and keep it as sacred ground.”
The Chinese immigrants did buy the land, and the Chinese cemetery remains in the Manoa valley. The words “yi-cheng” inscribe the markers of the cemetery and mean “connection and righteousness.”
Is the cemetery full of qi? You’ll have to go and feel for yourself. 🙂
Final Thoughts
Have you gone to Manoa falls? When my husband and I went, we really enjoyed it. The hike was easy, the forest lush, and everything so green. The convenience and distance from Waikiki, where we stayed, was also a plus.
I hope you enjoyed this article, as well as the stories I’ve shared. When we learn a little more about the places we visit, we appreciate it more! Let me know in the comments about your Manoa falls experience? Do you recommend it? 🙂
Mahalo!
Lei
If you’re looking for more ideas or things to do during your stay in Waikiki, check out these articles:
Looking for the next epic fantasy to read? How about a Hawaiian epic fantasy? There aren’t very many books about Hawaii written by Hawaiians, and I want to change that. My debut novel, Aloha State of Mind, came out in September 2021, and I’m happy to now announce my first ever Hawaiian epic fantasy novel.
It’s finally here, with characters from an ancient Hawaiian island, Kaimana Island. If you love young adult literature, characters you relate with, Hawaii, and adventure, this is for you! This post will cover everything you need to know about my newest novel!
The Title
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, and there isn’t much behind the scenes about the title, but here it is!
Rise of the Manō
I definitely wanted (and needed) the word manō in there, which means “shark” in Hawaiian. You will learn more about why it’s called this when you read the book! 🙂
The Genre
Rise of the Manō is a young adult epic fantasy. It is inspired by Hawaiian legends, folklore, and mythology.
So if you love:
HAWAII
Flawed, young adult protagonists
Mythology and folklore
Themes of friendship, loyalty, and trust
Convincing villains
Magical creatures (yes, this includes mermaids!)
Adventure
The Hawaiian culture
Sharks
Then you will enjoy this book!
The Actual Blurb
With that said, here is the blurb, the one that goes on the back of the book. 🙂
The alchemist, the messenger, and the true king must join together and destroy soran, the island’s ancient pools of long life and immunity. Will the three heroes put aside their differences to unify, or will they fall apart, along with the rest of the island?
Nohea will do anything to keep her loved ones from dying, but she is forced to watch as her fellow slaves succumb to illnesses and infections. Enraged by her inability to help, Nohea vows to find a cure, a remedy that could change the future of Kaimana island.
Little does she know that there is a cure… but it comes with a price, a heavy price. With a turn of the tides, Nohea finds herself wound up in politics, deceit, and betrayal. Rumors spread that a true ali‘i (king) of Kaimana Island is rising, one who will bring peace and balance to the island. Will Nohea listen to the promptings of her heart and follow him, losing all that she’s worked for, or pursue the course she vowed to follow?
Fans of young adult fantasy, magical folklore, and ancient mythology will be dazzled by the Kaimana Island Duology, a new epic fantasy set in an ancient Hawaiian world.
The Cover
I created a very simple cover and announced on my instagram about this book. But… I didn’t LOVE the first cover. It didn’t convey the genre I needed it to. So… I created a new cover and here it is (if you want to see the old one, check it out on instagram). I love it so much! What are your thoughts? I’d love to know in the comments! 🙂
When does the book come out?
The ebook is available now and the paperback is coming soon!
If you preorder the book, or order a paperback or ebook between January 19, 2022-January 29, 2022, you can get a cool swag pack! All you have to do is email me a screen shot of your order confirmation and an address that I can send the swag to. The swag pack includes:
A signed bookplate by the author (me)
A manō (shark) vinyl sticker
“Rise of the Manō” Bookmark
4 x 7 Character art
Map of Kaimana Island
To get your swag pack, either preorder the ebook before January 20, 2022, or order an ebook or paperback between January 19-29, 2022. Send me a screenshot of your order confirmation, along with your address, to naturallyaloha(at)gmail.com. And then I will send you the swag packet!
What are your thoughts?
Are you as excited as I am? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! 🙂 I continue to learn things each time I launch a new book. While a Hawaiian epic fantasy might not be your thing, this is something I’m very excited about. I hope people will be inspired by this book and appreciate the representation, mythology, legends, and character growth. And, like all my other articles, I want to leave you with a little bit of my mana’o (thoughts).
Ho’ohana. Do meaningful work. Not everyone will like what you create or put out, and that’s ok. If it brings you joy, if you feel like you are fulfilling your life mission and purpose, something God has inspired you to do, then that’s what matters. People will judge either way. They’ll like you or not, and it’s OK. Because you are doing what you’re meant to do, and you’re enjoying every bit of it. That’s how I feel with this book and putting it into the world.
If you made it to the end of this article, we must be best friends. MAHALO NUI LOA for your aloha and support. I hope you’ll consider getting my new book and swim along the journey! 🦈
We just got back from a trip to Waikiki, Oahu, and I have to say I really enjoyed it! I grew up in Hawaii, and my parents avoided Waikiki as much as possible. I totally understand why, and you can read more about the reasons in Waikiki Pros & Cons. But overall it was an enjoyable trip and if you’re looking for a beach vacation, with hotels only a few blocks away from sunshine and salt water, Waikiki hits the top of the list. Though it can be pricey in some areas, Waikiki has a lot of great things to offer, namely, the convenience and the beach!
This article covers the following questions:
How do I get to Waikiki?
Where do I stay?
What should I do in Waikiki?
Where should I eat?
How do I get around?
What should I try?
How much does it cost to vacation in Waikiki?
Are there any cool hikes?
When should I go?
What was your favorite thing?
If you want answers to these questions, keep reading!
1. How do I get to Waikiki?
I imagine that someone who’s reading this is not from Hawaii. So, first things first: get your flights to the Honolulu Airport on Oahu. We got our flights from SLC (Salt Lake City) to Hawaii for a total of $20 per person. How?
After you get your flights, you’re probably wondering how to get to your hotel, or wherever you’re staying. Due to the pandemic, many hotels shut down their shuttle services, but no need to worry. Ride share programs like Uber and Lyft are a breeze! We used Lyft, because Delta offers ride credits. You can also refer each other and continue to get ride credits. Our Lyft rides never cost more than $20 and it was sooooo nice to have someone pick us up and take us straight to where we needed to go. I can’t recommend the ride share programs enough! And don’t forget to take advantage of ride credit coupons, like those offered by Delta or referral programs. 🙂
2. Where do I stay in Waikiki?
This largely depends on your budget. We stayed at the Ewa Waikiki Hotel, which was a low-budget option (a little less than $100 a night). Airbnb and VRBO are not allowed in Waikiki at this time so, unfortunately, ours got cancelled. However, there are options for hotels, like the one we stayed in, that was much more affordable.
It was definitely dated, but we really didn’t do anything there. We were there to sleep and shower, and the rest of the day we were at the beach. It’s a no bells and whistles sort of place but gets the job done. 🙂
If you have a credit card that gives you points, you might consider using those points to book your hotel stay and keep the cost low.
Or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous and don’t mind sharing space with others, there are plenty of hostels in Waikiki with affordable nightly prices.
3. What should I do in Waikiki?
I loved Waikiki because there was just so much beach space. Rent a boogie board or surfboard and hit the waves. Simply relax on the beach and read a book. Take the kids to the bay areas of Waikiki and play in the water there.
If you have some extra cash to spend and want to ride around Waikiki, rent a moped for a day and drive around town.
There are plenty of activities to do, like shopping at Ala Moana or the International Marketplace, but I think the main thing is to hit the beach. It’s literally a few blocks from the hotels and it’s gorgeous. I’ve never seen water the color of those at Waikiki beach, and the sunsets are absolutely breathtaking.
Many hotels offer live music in the evenings, but if you’re like us and didn’t have a fancy hotel, you can sit on the beach near the hotel and listen. It’s absolutely lovely.
There’s so much more to do in Waikiki but to save you some time, I made this map with Wanderlog. If you download Wanderlog, you can search and save this map for your trip!
I also included restaurants on the Wanderlog map above. The food of Waikiki is a little underwhelming. It wasn’t my favorite, but has normal food chains—we’re talking Starbucks, McDonalds, Pandas, Subways, etc. Waikiki doesn’t have REAL Hawaiian food, like laulau, poke, lomi salmon, etc but I think Zippy’s is the closest thing to that.
If you check out the map above, I’ve listed a bunch of restaurants that I recommend!
5. How do I get around in Waikiki?
If you’re staying in Waikiki, you’ll most likely WALK everywhere. The beaches and hotels are so close together, there’s no sense in getting a car… unless you plan to explore the rest of the island.
We had a shark snorkel tour in Haleiwa, so we rented a Hui. Hui lets you rent a car for as little as $9 an hour. We used it to get groceries, drive to our shark tour, and, when it rained on one of the days, we explored the rest of the island. I can’t recommend Hui enough. They pay for gas, cleaning, and everything. It’s SO easy!
Waikiki has other options too, like renting a moped or 3-wheeled car (I’m not sure what it’s called). They have Biki Bikes, which cost about $4 for half an hour (and at that rate, you might as well get the car!). Waikiki also has scooters, which we never used but according to the advertising said it was about $1 per ride.
You’ve got options instead of renting a car for the entire trip. Because remember, if you rent a car for the whole trip, you’ll have to pay parking fees, which can run up to $25 a night?! The hotels really get you there.
We planned to stay in Waikiki the whole time, besides the shark tour, so using the Hui was the best choice for us. However, be sure to look into your options and plan accordingly. Also, don’t forget to use code MYFIRSTDRIVE for $10 off your first Hui ride!
Boogie boarding, surfing, snorkeling. If you want some fun foods, there are acai bowls at smoothie places. If you feel up to it (I didn’t, because the smells were overwhelming for me), try some food trucks.
7. How much does it cost to vacation to Waikiki?
This will vary from person to person and depends on how much you eat out, where you stay, and the cost of flights and activities. Here’s a little breakdown of what we spent for a 7-day trip:
I’m missing some things, like our shark tour, but overall we spent about $2000 on a trip for two. You can really cut the cost of food by buying groceries and eating out less, as well as booking a cheaper hotel.
8. Are there any cool hikes around Waikiki?
Yes! Diamond Head hike is a super easy hike that’s not far from the heart of Waikiki. We took a Lyft ride to get to Diamond head and caught another Lyft back to one of my favorite restaurants (Chun Wah Kam).
Manoa Falls is another hike that’s not too hard to do. It’s an easy one, albeit a little muddy with mosquitoes. We rented a hui car when we went and it was $7 for parking.
9. When should I go to Waikiki?
I don’t know the perfect answer to this question, as I lived on Oahu but never went to Waikiki until now. However, when we went, in December, it wasn’t nearly as packed as I thought it’d be. The nice thing about Waikiki is that it’s usually very sunny and the waves and water are consistent, unlike other parts of the island, like North Shore. No matter the season, Waikiki doesn’t change very much. The beaches, sun, and weather stays pretty mild all year round, and the waves are the most consistent I’ve seen in my life!
10. What was your favorite thing about Waikiki?
I loved the convenience and the beaches. I loved being able to wake up in the morning and walk a few blocks to the beach. No matter if we woke up early or slept in, I loved that we could be at the beach within a matter of minutes.
I didn’t like ABC stores until we actually went into one. Those stores were incredibly convenient too, so if you forgot something it was no big deal!
Although the beaches were crowded in some parts, I actually really loved the beaches in general. The waves were perfect, and the water… WOW. It was this gorgeous blue color and it didn’t get sand all up in your swimsuit either! I couldn’t believe how pretty it was.
What do you think?
Alright, that’s it! I hope something in here helped you plan your trip to Waikiki, or at least gave you a better idea of what to expect. Have you been to Waikiki? Or are you planning a trip? What is your favorite thing about Waikiki? Let me know in the comments, and enjoy your trip!
I don’t know about you, but I definitely felt a shift in my life in 2021, a prompting and urge to become more eco-friendly. The concept of mālama ka ‘aina, caring and protecting the earth and land, has always been near and dear to my heart. I’ve always known that if we care for and protect the earth, it will care for us. And it has, in many unique and humbling ways.
The problem is… it’s kind of hard to go eco-friendly. I have always tried to cut back on waste, be aware of plastic products and consumption, and get eco-friendly options, if possible. One day I hope to be totally plastic free and buy things that are ethically sourced, but I’m starting out now.
I’ve finally decided to sit down and write an article on some of the things I’ve discovered this year to become more eco-friendly. Some of these tips I’ve done for years and others I’ve tried out and can confirm they’re awesome!
This article includes affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Mahalo for the support!
Wool Dryer Balls
Did you know that wool dryer balls can be used up to 1000 loads? Yes. One thousand. That means they’ll last about 2-3 years… and all for $15. Why buy dryer sheets, that create more waste? What if I told you wool dryer balls also reduce dry time by 25% AND reduce static? They’re incredible and I can positively say they do reduce dry time. When I hear the dryer beep I check it right away, thinking maybe it just turned off too early. But no. The clothes really are dry. And they’re not staticky. I can’t recommend these wool dryer balls enough. I’ve had absolutely no problem with them and feel SO good about my choice to use something eco-friendly.
I’m not an affiliate or ambassador of Kind Laundry, but my friend is and so feel free to use her code!
Laundry sheets
Kind Laundry also offers laundry sheets. In the last couple of years I’ve been so disappointed with my own consumption of laundry bottles. They’re big plastic jugs, full of chemical-laden soap. Because of the color of the bottles, as well as the chemicals used to make them, these jugs will most likely not be recycled. 🙁
So, enter laundry sheets. They’re so easy to use. Just stick one sheet with a load of clothes. The sheet dissolves and guess what? The packaging is a box, which means it’s easily biodegradable. Win win!
Use non-plastic shampoos, conditioners, and body wash
I switched over to a rice shampoo bar and conditioner, and I’m never going back. It feels good to know that I’m not contributing to wasting plastic and that my purchase also supports a village tribe in China… like, an actual village, real people.
Let me explain: I buy Viori rice shampoo bars and everything about this company is transparent, meaningful, and quality in every way. Not only has my hair been healthier (and growing super long), but I haven’t bought normal shampoo or conditioner in ages. I also use their bamboo holders to place my bars in, which is another excellent alternative to plastic bottles!
I have yet to find a body wash bar that I like. I’m quite picky about smells and the ingredients used, so if you have any suggestions I’d love to hear them in the comments!
Use my link or code LEIALOHA10 and get 10% off your Viori order!
Hydroflask water bottle
In summer 2021, I was a background actor for a movie and I was so upset by the amount of water bottles consumed. On our call sheets, the coordinators specifically asked the actors to bring refillable bottles and they’d have large coolers of waters. I was disappointed when we got to the set and they didn’t have those coolers, as promised to us. I even asked, but they didn’t have them. It’s crazy to think that this was just one small movie. I can’t even begin to imagine how many more water plastic bottles are used every single day—not only on other movie sets, but construction sets, tours, you name it.
A refillable water bottle, like a hydro flask is SUCH an easy way to go eco-friendly. It’s practically a no-brainer. I’ll make it easy and even include a link below to the hydro flask I have! Mine is the hibiscus color and I absolutely LOVE it. The hydro flask keeps cold drinks cold and warm drinks warm.
A few years ago I realized that people spend a lot of money on clothes. I am pretty minimalist and don’t like to shop, especially for clothes. But I realized that there were clothes in my closet I never touched. These clothes were usually gifts, or something I didn’t purchase myself.
Here are a few tips I learned:
Tip #1: If someone gifts you clothes and you’re pretty sure you won’t use it, give it away. Don’t take the tag off immediately. Pause, think about it. Will you use this? If not, it’s a great option to regift or donate the clothes (especially since it still has the tag!). Or, if possible, take it back to the store it came from, get a gift card, and use it on something you would wear (or something else you can use).
Tip #2: Take a styling class. The average adult spends $161 on clothing a month. That’s $1932 in a year! Maybe an outfit was bought for a photoshoot, or because a person thought it looked good in the store (or online). They wore it once and that was it. If you don’t know what looks good on you, take a styling class. Save yourself money and boost your wardrobe confidence. I didn’t buy the full class, but I took Hilary Rushford’s free class, and just the tips she shared there were SO helpful. I highly recommend.
Tip #3: Buy ethically, if possible. It’s not always going to be cheaper, but I’m sure it feels better. I’m not to the point yet where I know all my clothes are ethically sourced. I buy from places like Old Navy and sometimes their prices can get so low, you wonder if they’re making anything from it. I will keep doing research and get to the point where I’m confident I know where all my clothes come from, who made it, if the people that made it were paid fairly and have good working conditions, and so forth. That’s definitely the next step for me.
Be selective of jewelry and other accessories
I’ve stopped gifting jewelry and accessories to people. I used to think it was a nice gift, but everyone has different preferences and I realized that maybe the things I gave as gifts just ended up in the trash. And not only that, but I often found good deals on these items, which tells me that maybe they weren’t ethically sourced or eco-friendly.
If you do want to buy jewelry, shop small, like on etsy. I’m an ambassador for Fahlo, a company that sells bracelets to support conservation efforts. For example, if you buy their Journey bracelet, you’ll support not only the Turtle Conservancy, but you’ll even receive a turtle to track! I love my turtle bracelet and love seeing where my turtle is in the world. It’s a nice little way to support conservation efforts and have a fun little reminder to malama the earth.
(And if you’re like me, maybe, buy it only for yourself cause you’ll appreciate it most haha!)
Get 20% off your next order if you use my code LEIALOHA20, or simply use this link!
Don’t impulse buy, especially around the holiday season
A huge reason I wasn’t into the Christmas season in 2021 was because I got so sick of all the waste and consumerism culture. People spend so much money and time on Christmas wrapping paper, presents, and even trying to find little things to fill stockings and more. Let’s not forget to mention White Elephant gift exchanges, which I loathe, because people usually buy and give junk to simply throw away. These impulse buys support a system of consumption and waste, and, unfortunately, so many of these items end up in the trash. D:
Can we all commit to not impulse buy this year?
If you want to get Christmas gifts, start early, like even as far as July. Christmas is the same time, same day every single year. So let’s not be a part of the system that perpetuates such waste. I’ve also found that if you can’t figure out what to gift to someone, they probably don’t need anything. The gift of your time or a kind note would probably show more aloha than any other tangible gift!
Here are some other ideas to avoid impulse buying:
Repurpose: Is there something in your home you could use instead of the item in front of you? How can you repurpose it?
Reuse: How can you reuse what you have?
Make it: Do you have to buy it? Can you make it with what you have?
Wait: Instead of buying something right away, sit on it, think it over for a few days. You might find you don’t actually need that thing.
Alright, that’s all I got this year. I hope something here helps or inspires you in 2022. There are so many ways to go eco-friendly but I thought this might be an easy, starter sort of list. Can you think of any other easy ways to go eco-friendly? Thank you for every effort you make to go eco-friendly. Every little effort makes a difference! 🦈🌈🌴🌊🌿☀️🐬
Here it is, the pros and cons of Waikiki! There are plenty and, as a local, I could understand why my parents avoided it like the plague haha. I knew Waikiki existed, but I just never experienced it for myself. Fast forward to now and we just returned from our trip to Waikiki. There were so many things I enjoyed, but so many things I really didn’t like.
I hope this article will shed a little light on the pros and cons of Waikiki and help you know what to expect.
Waikiki Pros
THE BEACH!
Wowzer. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a beautiful beach before. Golden sand stretches for a good while on Waikiki’s shores and it’s absolutely amazing. The cool thing about the water is that sand doesn’t get stuck up your swimsuit like it does on the North Shore, because the waves aren’t as rough. But my favorite part was the color of the water–it was so silky, smooth, and aqua looking.
There’s also something for everyone on Waikiki beaches. If you’re adventurous, rent a surfboard for $10 (for 2 hours) just a block from the beach. Have kids? There are cute bay areas with incredibly calm water, perfect for little ones. If you just want to lay back and relax (like me), there’s a lot of space for that too. I was seriously amazed at the color and consistency of the water and waves at Waikiki beach. I highly recommend!
Convenience
If you stay in Waikiki, you are literally only a few blocks from the beach. I loved being able to wake up early and hit the beach, or SLEEP IN and still get a good amount of time under the sun! Everything is quite close in Waikiki so you never have to walk that far for food, beach, or even the outdoor showers to rinse off the salt water!
And I have to mention that if you forget something (like sunscreen, sunglasses, sunhat, slippers, towels, etc), there are ABC stores literally everywhere. I went into an ABC store once on the Big Island (where I’m from) once and thought the prices were overrated , but my experience in Waikiki was different. The prices were fair for the convenience!
Great place for families
I don’t have kids, but I saw a lot of families and they looked like they were having a blast. Once you find your beach spot, you can pretty much stay there all day. There are a lot of cons, which I’ll get into next, but if you want to take the kids somewhere to enjoy the sun, salty water, and sand, Waikiki is such a great option. The convenience of walking a block to the beach was really nice! And the bay areas of Waikiki were just perfect for kiddos.
Waikiki Cons
Busy
People. People everywhere. On the beach itself, you’ll probably end up sitting less than three feet away from the person at your right and left. There are just SO many people. The North Shore is so different from Waikiki and a lovely break from the crowds, but the prices of hotels and places out there are definitely higher. So, for the price of the hotels and the convenience of the beaches, Waikiki is a great option.
No real Hawaiian food
I wasn’t actually looking for real Hawaiian food, because vacation means eating out at whatever places I want to eat out, even if that’s Panda’s express haha! So yeah, real Hawaiian here wasn’t even looking for real Hawaiian food but my husband loves and wanted the real stuff. We’re talking laulau, kalua pig, lomi salmon, and poke. While Waikiki has some fun stuff, like spam musubi and teri burgers, most of the cuisine is inspired by Hawaiian food. So you might see a kalua omelette, a coconut flavored something, pineapple on a burger, etc, but you won’t find REAL Hawaiian food. You’ll have to drive somewhere for that, sorry.
Homeless
The amount of homeless people in Waikiki really surprised me. I’ve always known that cities have plenty of homeless people, but you couldn’t walk one block in Waikiki without passing a homeless person. It was really sad and while I don’t know exactly the reasons for the homelessness, their presence really gave Waikiki a different vibe. You could tell some homeless people weren’t all there mentally, while others were on drugs. One homeless person, who looked pretty normal, walked through the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade yelling that he was hungry. I have so many opinions on homelessness but, as I said earlier, I don’t know the exact reasons.
The police are present in Waikiki, but the homeless people really aren’t out to get anyone, especially if you mind your own business. There was a homeless lady telling an officer he was “hewa,” which means “shameful or wrong” and he ignored her. You could tell that many of these officers knew the homeless people and they probably dealt with them many times, which, again, is just sad.
Anyway, you’re probably wondering: is it safe to walk around Waikiki then? Yes. I think it’s safe, especially if you’re out at reasonable times. I never felt like I was in trouble or scared when we walked around Waikiki. The homeless people don’t want to bother you–not to be mean but they seemed more concerned by other things. They really do mind their own business. I even walked out alone one of the nights to grab some food, and I felt ok.
Smells
If you’re a highly sensitive person like me, you might get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of smells. One second you smell weed (marijuana), the next second you smell sewage. Suddenly the wind changes direction and it smells like BO (body odor). Greasy food smells, strong perfumes, cigarette smoke, vape, and more were pretty much the only thing I could smell when we walked on the streets. The beaches were fine but boy those streets of Waikiki were smelly. It gave me such a headache.
Dirty
I think the county of O’ahu tries to keep Waikiki clean. But… with that many people in Waikiki, it can’t be perfect. It seems like the further southeast you walk on Waikiki, the more debris of plastic and branches wash up on the sand. Seagulls and pidgins are everywhere. And with so many homeless people, Waikiki feels somewhat dirty. Homeless people are on almost every corner, digging in the garbage cans, looking for leftover food to eat or cans/water bottles to recycle.
But here’s a positive example: we saw a guy who walked along the beach, each morning, picking up trash. What a champ.
Traffic
We hardly drove on this last trip but we rented a HUI and bumped into traffic on our last day. Traffic is traffic. It’s annoying, makes the drive time longer, and sometimes can’t be avoided. If you do plan to travel around the island, try to avoid Waikiki/Honolulu area at normal peak traffic times, like mid morning, when people are heading to work, or late afternoon/evening when people are heading home.
How was your Waikiki experience? Do you agree with this list of pros and cons of Waikiki? Is there anything you’d add or take away from this list? Let me know in the comments! 🙂
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