Wonderful Waikīkī: A Tour of Honolulu‘s Military and Entertainment History
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Uncover the fascinating synergy between the military and entertainment industries in Hawaii‘s Waikīkī neighborhood. This walking tour takes you along part of the Waikīkī Historical Trail where you‘ll see physical traces of these distinct fields, and their development. Hali‘a Tours designed this particular route to help enhance your understanding of this unique Honolulu neighborhood in a fun and flexible way.
Our tour begins at Fort DeRussy Park which hugs the beachfront, then winds along the Ala Wai Canal and ends in front of the historical landmark Helumoa. Along the way, you‘ll hear stories about the military‘s occupation of the Hawaiian Islands before and after the attacks on Pearl Harbor and see locations featured in films like Blue Hawaii and Gilligan‘s Island. I‘ll also show you one of Hawaii Five-0‘s favorite filming locations at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Ilikai Hotel, the resort that the original show made famous. We‘ll then delve into some 20th-century Hawaiian history, zooming in on events that helped propel Hawaii‘s entertainment industry including the Ala Wai Canal‘s construction, the Hawaii Convention Center‘s development, and the building of the Ala Moana Shopping Mall.
On this Honolulu tour, you‘ll have the opportunity to:
- See the Ala Moana Hotel and learn about its initial use as a Chrysler Plymouth automobile showroom
- Hear about the US Military‘s arrival and occupation of Hawaii
- Stroll along picturesque beaches and visit Ala Moana Beach Park
- Learn about iconic scenes from Blue Hawaii, Hawaii Five-0, Lost, and Gilligan‘s Island, and see where they were filmed
- Capture stunning photos of the Diamond Head Crater
- Shop at the world‘s largest open-air shopping center, the Ala Moana Shopping Mall
- Trace Waikīkī’s transformation into a tourist destination
Give yourself two hours, or embrace the island pace and take your time on this 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.
Donʻt forget about the free and fun scavenger hunts and quizzes that accompany every tour. There‘s an easy 10-question and a harder version with 25 additional questions to enjoy. Now you don‘t have to worry about pulling the kids off their phones to enjoy the day!
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Audio Tour Hawai'i : AT.Hi
Audio Tour Hawaiʻi, or AT.Hi for short is presented by Haliʻa Private Tours, a 5 Star Hawaii private tour company. The goal is to provide accurate information from reliable sources while bringing professional tour guides' fun and local insight.
Audio Tour Hawaiʻi helps ensure you enjoy your vacation to the islands and stay safe and respectful. AT.Hi includes favorite spots from traditional sightseeing tours with spots you can only access via rental car.
You are sure to love exploring the islands with GPS, VoiceMap, and Audio Tour Hawaii or AT.Hi as your guides. Who knows, you may even want to do a private tour as well.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 82
Read the Waikīkī Brother in Valor Memorial
You will read about the 442 Regimen... Read More
View locations and route
How VoiceMap Works
Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Ala Wai Yacht Club
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Hawaii Army Museum Society
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Tropics Bar & Grill
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Fort DeRussy Army Museum
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Outrigger Reef
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Diamond Head View
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Fort DeRussy Park
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Hale Koa
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Pā'oa Park
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Hilton Hawaiian Village
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Hawai' Five-0 Film Locations
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Kahanamoku Lagoon
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'Ilikai Hotel
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Ala Moana Beach Park
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Magic Island
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Hula Kahiko Dancer Statue & Pond
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Ilikai Hotel & Luxury Suites
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Prince Waikiki - Honolulu Luxury Hotel
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Ala Moana Shopping Mall
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Ala Moana Hotel
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Hawai'i Convention Center
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King Kalākaua Statue
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Brothers in Valor Memorial
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Helumoa Stop 12 Waikīkī Historical Trail (Ua Pau)
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start location2131 Kālia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
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Total distance5km
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Final locationAla Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
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Distance back to start location1km
Directions to Starting Point
Start: Behind the Fort DeRussy Army Museum, 2055 Kālia Road, Honolulu, HI 96815
We will start on the ocean side of the Fort DeRussy Army Museum at the corner of Fort DeRussy Boardwalk, by the beach restrooms, near where the buildings begin and the jetty. We recommend visiting the Army Museum before starting Part 2 of the Waikīkī Walking Tour. Let the first track play through completely before beginning your walk to the beach.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
The Fort DeRussy Army Museum is free to the public and a great start to the tour. Make sure to check their operating hours, they are closed on certain days of the week. Hale Koa Hotel, the Hilton Hawaiian Village and the 'Ilikai all have food and drink options.
Ala Moana Shopping Mall has over 290 shops and restaurants for you to enjoy. There is a City Bus, Taxi Cab, and Trolley Stop located at the Mall incase you need cut the route short for the day you can easily get back to Waikīkī.
Several beach stands along the route rent surf and paddleboards and offer canoe rides and surf lessons. While they each have their own hours it is typically 8 am to about 5 pm.
Parking can be found in and around Fort DeRussy Park for those driving into Waikiki from around the island. There are a variety of free and paid parking spaces nearby.
Restrooms can be found along the route at hotels and public beach parks. Most of these restrooms are open during the day but closed after sunset so please plan accordingly.
Best time of day
Enjoy this tour anytime you feel comfortable. No places of the walk have closed access and are primarily public property or throughways. Sunset is about 6 pm in the winter and 7 pm in the summertime, so you may want to start about 3 hours before it sets, but you can do this tour any time you want. This tour easily breaks into multiple sections for different days with a convenient halfway return point.
Precautions
Waikīkī is a relatively low crime area, and if it does occur, it is generally petty. Ala Moana has slightly higher rates. Use common sense, be friendly, and make sure to put your phone down and pay attention near intersections and streets. We donʻt recommend doing this walking tour at odd hours of the night, please utilize extra caution if you do. or those taking the tour during the daytime. Refillable water bottles and sun protection are always a good idea.
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