RELATED LINKS Return to Best Beaches

Accommodations

Waikiki harbors a wide range of hotels and vacation rentals in various categories, with prices generally higher for properties on or near the beach. At the luxury end of the scale, check out the Halekulani (www.halekulani.com), the Sheraton Moana Surfrider (www.moana-surfrider.com) the Hyatt Regency Waikiki (www.hyattwaikiki.com), the Royal Hawaiian (www.royal-hawaiian.com) and the chic W Honolulu ( www.starwoodhotels.com). Outrigger Hotels & Resorts (www.outrigger.com) offers a good selection of midrange hotels and condos at four separate Waikiki properties. Travelers on a tight budget can still find good bargains like the Breakers (www.breakers-hawaii.com), a charming motel-style property close to the beach, and the Aston Coconut Plaza (www.aston-hotels.com), an affordable boutique hotel on the canal side of the peninsula.

Dining Options

There's no shortage of places to eat in Waikiki, ranging from the usual fast food chains and casual American fare to elite restaurants serving continental, Asian and fusion cuisines. For a special occasion, try La Mer at the Halekulani, Michel's at the Colony Surf Hotel, or Chef Mavro (www.chefmavro.com), an exquisite independent restaurant five minutes north of Waikiki where the menu combines French culinary traditions with local fish, produce and diverse cultural influences. Perhaps the nicest setting of any Waikiki restaurant is the beachside Hau Tree Lanai, near the base of Diamond Head at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel (www.kaimana.com).

Insider Tip

As part of Waikiki's cultural renaissance, the Waikiki Improvement Association has organized an ongoing series of free movies projected on a 30-foot outdoor screen erected on the beach across from the Honolulu Zoo. These "Sunset on the Beach" evenings are a fun and festive way to meet local residents, with alfresco food vendors and live music before the movie starting at around 4 p.m. See www.sunsetonthebeach.net for movie schedules and other details.

Next: Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro