Waikīkī Walking Tour: The Sands of Kakuhihewa and Hawaiian Royalty

Dive beneath the surface of Waikīki on this walking tour and discover its rich past. Starting at the surf-rider statue, next to Queens beach, I’ll guide you along part of the Waikīkī Historical Trail and elaborate on many of its stories. Hali'a Tours designed this particular route to help enhance your understanding of our unique neighborhood in a fun and flexible way.

On this tour, we’ll stroll along the shoreline of Waikīkī beach, past the statue of Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern-day surfing, and through Honolulu’s International Marketplace before heading deeper into the area’s beach-front suburbs. Along the way, you’ll hear about Prince Jonah Kūhiō, King Kalākaua, Queen Lili`uokalani, and other royalty connected to this wahi pana (special place). I’ll also tell you about a few celebrities including Don Ho, the Hawaiian pop musician, and provide some insider tips for exploring the area, like where to get a surf lesson, and where you can have a Mai Tai cocktail next to a famous 100-year-old Banyan tree.

On this Honolulu tour, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Hear about the Honolulu Zoo, St. Andrews Cathedral and Museum, and the Helumoa Cultural Center
• Appreciate some local Art in the Park
• Find out where to get local treats like Dole Whip (a type of dairy-free soft serve), Shave Ice, Malasadas (a Portuguese-style fried doughnut), Cream Puffs and Kalua Pig (a smoked pork dish)
• See a statue of Queen Kapiʻolani, the well-loved philanthropist who ruled the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi
• Go souvenir shopping at Martin & MacArthur, Dukes Lane and other retailers where you can buy beach and surf gear
• Inform yourself about ocean activities like surfing, canoeing, catamaraning, bodyboarding, and swimming – and where to rent equipment

Give yourself 2 hours, or embrace the island pace and take your time on this 3.5 mile (5.6 km) walking tour. Waikīkī is filled with restaurants and there are public restrooms at the beaches and parks. If you’d like to escape the heat or rain, or take a quick break, then popping into one of the hotels and shopping malls along the route is always a good option.

Aunty Malia does the narration for this tour. Born and raised in Hawaii, she is a descendant of one Queen Liliuʻokalaniʻs loyal retainers. She has been in the hospitality industry for longer than we are allowed to say and was an Expedia Sales Agent of the Year, and Instructor for the Professional Tour Standards of Hawaii State Certification Program.

Donʻt forget about the free and fun scavenger hunts and quizzes that accompany every tour. There are Easy(ish) 10 Question versions and Hard(er) 25 Question extras to enjoy. Now you donʻt have to worry about pulling the kids off their phones to enjoy the day!