Waikiki
Where surfing was gifted to the world, and still arguably the best first wave on earth: soft, endless rollers breaking far from shore in bathwater, with Diamond Head watching.
- Best forSurfers · Beach lovers · Families
- In March25°C · 9 rainy days · sea 25°C
- Ideal stay3–4 nights
- Approx. flying time~5h 30m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyUSDUS dollar
- LanguageEnglish
- Local time00:1311h behind the UK
- PlugsType A / BBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+1
Why go
A strip of hotels, shops and sand a little over three kilometres long on the south shore of Oahu, with the Diamond Head crater closing off the eastern end. Waves break far out over a shallow reef and roll in long and slow, which is why beginners learn here and why outrigger canoes still take people out. It is busy, built up and entirely unapologetic about it.
Three or four nights is a fair share of a longer Hawaii trip, with the rest of Oahu or a second island afterwards. Summer south swells give the friendliest surf, while winter sends the big waves to the North Shore instead, an hour's drive away. Prices are high and parking worse. Anyone after empty sand should base elsewhere and visit for the day.
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- The vibe
- Busy, warm, welcoming, unashamed
From our guides
Beachboys have been teaching visitors here for over a century and the canoe-assisted option remains a joy. Summer brings the friendliest south swells. Yes, it's touristy. It's also perfect.
Featured in Ten surf beaches where beginners actually stand up
Things to do
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Learning to surf
Instructors have taught on this beach for over a century, and the canoe-assisted option puts you on a long wave with a paddler steering behind you.
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Diamond Head
A paved and stepped trail climbs inside the crater to a wartime bunker on the rim, with a reservation system and an early start strongly advised.
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Hanauma Bay
A protected snorkelling bay in a volcanic crater east of the city, with capped daily numbers, a compulsory briefing and closed days for the reef.
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Pearl Harbor
The USS Arizona Memorial and the surrounding museums lie west of Honolulu, reached by bus, with timed tickets released online in advance.
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Kapiolani Park and the zoo
The green space at the quiet end of the beach holds the aquarium, the zoo and the shadiest picnic ground on this stretch of coast.
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Plate lunch and poke
Two scoops of rice, a protein and macaroni salad, or raw cubed fish from a supermarket counter. Both are cheap and both are the real local food.
Getting there
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Fly to
Honolulu, Oahu (HNL)
Nearest airport to Oahu, about 11km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Honolulu
Honolulu (HNL) is about twenty five minutes east to Waikiki by taxi, shuttle or ride hailing, longer in traffic.
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On the ground
Getting around
Waikiki is flat and walkable, board hire and lessons are on the beach itself, and buses run along the shore to Diamond Head and into downtown Honolulu.
Public transport: Genuinely good for the United States: TheBus covers Oahu cheaply and Waikiki is one of its busiest corridors.
Flights
Los Angeles Oahu, Hawaii
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Roughly 5h 30m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 25°C in February to 28°C in September. Driest in June and July and September; wettest in March, with rain on about 9 days. The sea is warmest in October at around 27°C, coolest at 25°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
March25° · rain 9 days · sea 25°Warm with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — May to December. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
High-rise beachfront resorts, older mid-century hotels a street or two back, and condominium rentals. Small guesthouses are rare, and resort fees are close to universal.
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Best base overall
Diamond Head end of Waikiki
The quieter eastern stretch near Kapiolani Park, still on the beach but away from the busiest blocks, with the gentlest learner waves close by. Fewer shops within reach.
Find stays in Diamond Head end of Waikiki -
Closest to the sights
Kalakaua Avenue
The main beachfront strip, steps from the surf schools, the catamarans and the statue of Duke Kahanamoku. Relentlessly busy, and the rooms are priced for the location.
Find stays in Kalakaua Avenue -
Best value
Ala Moana
Just west of Waikiki by the harbour and the big shopping centre, with cheaper hotels and a calm beach park. A fifteen-minute walk to the surf breaks.
Find stays in Ala Moana -
Best with children
Ko Olina
Sheltered man-made lagoons on the leeward coast with resort pools and no waves at all. It is forty minutes out, so the city becomes a day trip.
Find stays in Ko Olina
Worth knowing before you book: Nearly every hotel adds a daily resort fee and charges for parking, so compare the final total. Surf lessons with the beachboys are booked on the sand, not online.
Search everything else in Honolulu by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Reef safety
- The bottom is coral and urchins in places, so reef shoes help. Sunscreen must be free of oxybenzone and octinoxate under state law.
- Getting there
- Honolulu airport is around twenty minutes away. The island bus network is good, and a car is a liability here given parking costs.
- Timing
- Mornings are calm and clear, with trade winds and crowds building later. Sunrise on the beach is the best hour of the day.
- Respect
- Hawaiian sites, including temple platforms and burial grounds, are sacred. Never climb on them, and keep well back from monk seals and turtles.
- Currents
- Water moves strongly at the channel ends of the beach and near the harbour mouth. Swim within the lifeguarded sections.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Hanauma Bay
Oahu, Hawaii · 14km away →
Lanikai Beach
Oahu, Hawaii · 17km away →
Hanalei
Hawaii · 200km away →
Big Sur
California, USA →
Pacific Coast Highway
California, USA →
Brown bears at Brooks Falls
Alaska, USA →Elsewhere in the USA
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Waikiki?
For warm, mostly dry days, May to December. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 25°C in February to 28°C in September. Driest in June and July and September; wettest in March, with rain on about 9 days. The sea is warmest in October at around 27°C, coolest at 25°C.
How long should I spend in Waikiki?
Our suggestion: 3–4 nights.
How do I get to Waikiki?
Honolulu (HNL) is about twenty five minutes east to Waikiki by taxi, shuttle or ride hailing, longer in traffic.
Do I need a car in Waikiki?
No. Genuinely good for the United States: TheBus covers Oahu cheaply and Waikiki is one of its busiest corridors.
What currency and language are used in Waikiki?
Currency: US dollar (USD). Language: English. Plugs: type A and B.
Who is Waikiki best for?
Best for surfers, beach lovers and families. In a phrase: busy, warm, welcoming, unashamed.