Waikīkī
Waikīkī ( German mostly Waikiki ) is a district of Honolulu , in the south of Oʻahu , one of the Hawaiian islands, and has one of the most famous beaches in the world with Waikīkī Beach of the same name. Waikīkī extends along the coast in southeast Honolulu to Diamond Head . The northern border is the Ala Wai Canal .
Waikīkī means "bubbling fresh water" in the native language and refers to the springs and rivers that fed the wetlands that formerly separated Waikiki from the interior.
Waikīkī was originally a retreat for members of the Hawaiian Royal Family in the 19th century who learned to surf there. The first smaller hotels were built around 1880. Waikīkī has developed into a tourist hotspot in Hawaii with several renowned hotels (including the Royal Hawaiian Hotel ) .
The main shopping street of Waikīkī is Kalakaua Avenue, which was named after King David Kalākaua . The city's largest hotels are also on this street. At the east end, just before Diamond Head, is the Honolulu Zoo. The beach section Waikīkī Beach is famous , on which there is a statue of the Hawaiian sports star Duke Kahanamoku .
View over Honolulu
Waikīkī beach facing the Pacific
Waikīkī is dominated in the east by Diamond Head , a tufa formation.
Waikīkī with Diamond Head in the background, May 2010
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Coordinates: 21 ° 16 ′ N , 157 ° 49 ′ W