Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [93]
Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand (923-0669; 2nd fl, Waikiki Grand Hotel, 134 Kapahulu Ave; 10am-2am) Free wi-fi and internet terminals inside the bar (Click here).Waikiki-Kapahulu Public Library (733-8488; www.librarieshawaii.org; 400 Kapahulu Ave; 10am-5pm Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat, noon-7pm Thu) Free wi-fi and reservable internet terminals.
Media
Freebie tourist magazines like This Week O′ahu and 101 Things to Do and the free tabloid newspaper Honolulu Weekly can be found on street corners and in hotel lobbies throughout Waikiki. Click here.
Medical Services
For all-night pharmacies and hospitals with 24-hour emergency rooms elsewhere in Honolulu, Click here.
Straub Doctors on Call (www.straubhealth.org) North Waikiki (973-5250; 2nd fl, Rainbow Bazaar, Hilton Hawaiian Village, 2005 Kalia Rd; 8:30am-4:30pm Mon-Fri); South Waikiki (971-6000; Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, 120 Ka′iulani Ave; 24hr) These walk-in nonemergency clinics currently accept Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medicare and some travel health insurance policies.
Money
There are 24-hour ATMs all over Waikiki, including at these full-service banks:
Bank of Hawaii (543-6900; 2228 Kalakaua Ave; 8:30am-4pm Mon-Thu, 8:30am-6pm Fri, 9am-1pm Sat)
First Hawaiian Bank (943-4670; 2181 Kalakaua Ave; 8:30am-4pm Mon-Thu, 8:30am-6pm Fri) Lobby displays Hawaii history murals by French artist Jean Charlot.
Post
Post office (800-275-8777; 330 Saratoga Rd; 8am-4:30pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sat) In the center of Waikiki, with free parking for customers.
Tourist Information
Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau (HVCB; 923-1811, 800-464-2924; www.gohawaii.com; Suite 801, Waikiki Business Plaza, 2270 Kalakaua Ave, Waikiki; 8am-4:30pm Mon-Fri) Visitor information office offers brochures and free maps.
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DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
It can be risky to walk along the beach or the Ala Wai Canal after dark, whether alone or in groups. Day or night, you can’t walk down Kalakaua Ave without encountering timeshare salespeople, often sitting behind the desk of an ‘activity center’ advertising free luau, sunset cruises or $5-per-day car rentals. At night, especially along Kuhio Ave, prostitutes cruise for well-dressed tourists.
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SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
Let’s be honest: you’re just here for the beach. But Waikiki’s other diversions include historical hotels, resort spas, a popular golf course and an ecofriendly aquarium.
Beaches
The 2-mile stretch of white sand commonly referred to as Waikiki Beach runs from Hilton Hawaiian Village in the west to Kapi‘olani Park in the east. Along the way, the beach changes names and personalities. In the early morning, the quiet seaside path belongs to walkers and joggers. By midmorning it looks like a normal resort beach – surfboard concessionaires, bronzed beachboys and lots of tourist bodies. By noon it’s challenging to walk along the packed beach without stepping on anyone.
Offshore Waikiki is good for swimming, bodyboarding, surfing, sailing and other water sports most of the year, and there are lifeguards and showers scattered along the shore. Between May and September, summer swells make the water rougher for swimming, but great for surfing (for surfing lessons and board rentals, Click here). For snorkeling, head to Sans Souci Beach or Queen’s Surf Beach. For windsurfing, go to Fort DeRussy Beach.
The following beaches run from northwest to southeast.
KAHANAMOKU BEACH
Fronting Hilton Hawaiian Village, Kahanamoku Beach is protected by a breakwater at one end and a pier at the other, with a coral reef running between the two. It’s a calm swimming area with a gently sloping sandy bottom. The beach is named for Duke Kahanamoku (1890–1968), the legendary Waikiki beachboy, champion surfer and Olympic gold medal–winning swimmer whose family once owned this land.
FORT DERUSSY BEACH
An overlooked beauty, this seldom-crowded beach borders a US military reservation. The only area off-limits to civvies is Hale Koa Hotel backing onto the beach. The water is usually calm and good for swimming, but shallow at