When learning about Hawaii, you’ll notice four major islands that are most commonly chosen by travelers: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. Waikiki is the most famous beach in Honolulu, located on the island of Oahu. It appears in nearly every ranking of the world’s most beautiful — and even sexiest — beaches.

Waikiki is truly a stunning beach and an ideal spot for water activities such as surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, boogie boarding, and outrigger canoe paddling. The main reason is that Waikiki’s waves are long, gentle, and incredibly consistent — perfect conditions for these sports, especially for beginners and non-professional surfers.

That said, Waikiki is not really the ideal place for swimming. The ocean water here is noticeably colder compared to the warm temperature on the shore, which surprises many first-time visitors. Additionally, all four Hawaiian islands were formed by volcanic activity, meaning much of the ground is covered with volcanic rock.

Left: Acai Bowl, a specialty in Hawaii. Although “açaí” is often compared to blueberries, the bowl itself is more like a berry smoothie-ice cream topped with fresh fruit.
Right: A surf shop in North Shore.

Waikiki Beach is no exception to Hawaii’s volcanic origin. It was originally a non-sand beach. The sand you see today was imported from other places and added over the years. Occasionally, while swimming, you may step on volcanic rocks beneath the surface. For these reasons, some travelers — especially those who don’t research Hawaii beforehand — might arrive in Waikiki and feel a bit disappointed.