Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I want to go everywhere I haven't been, and back to everywhere I have been.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

Can you name three beaches in Hawaii?

1. Waikiki
       2. Uhhhhh.... 
       3. Hmmmm...

Chances are you came up with Waikiki, and maybe you said Ka'anapali, 
because you read my "Where In The World Is Ms. Toody" post,
but I bet most people can't think of anything but Waikiki.
So why is it that so many folks turn their nose up 
at the mention of one of the world's most famous beaches?

"It's too built up."
"It's just like Miami Beach."
"It's seedy."
"It's not the real Hawaii."

I'm guilty of being one of those nose-turner-uppers.
It took three trips to Hawaii to finally decide to give Waikiki a chance,
And now that I did, I've got ten reasons why you should, too.

1. It's a bucket list thing.
Waikiki is one of the most famous beaches in the world...
why not cross it off your bucket list?
It's really a shame to pass it up when you've more than likely got to stop in Honolulu,  anyway, before changing planes to another Hawaiian Island. 

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

2. See Diamond Head from your beach chair. 
I don't know about you, but Mr. Goo Shoes and I are not adventurists. 
We like to see famous sights without having to hike it, climb it, bike it.
Situated at the end of Waikiki Beach, the only effort expended to see the extinct  Diamond Head volcano was turning our heads to look down the beach.
My telephoto lens brought me close enough, thank you very much.
We liked the idea of crossing this famous landmark off our list 
without having to actually go there.
As Mr. Goo Shoes once said,
"We've seen it. It's nice. Let's go eat."

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days
Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

3. Pearl Harbor is only 11 miles away.
My other nine reasons are all about fun...this is the serious one.
Visiting the USS Arizona memorial -- the sunken battleship where thousands lost their lives on December 7, 1941 in a surprise attack by the Japanese Navy --
should be reason enough to stop in Waikiki.
We skipped it on our first two trips to Hawaii, 
but perhaps it was meant to be that we waited to see 
this important historical site with our teenager. 

Why Waikiki? Visiting Pearl Harbor is reason # 3.
Why Waikiki? Visiting Pearl Harbor is reason # 3.
Why Waikiki? Visiting Pearl Harbor is reason # 3.

4. Your two feet can take you everywhere.
Ever since our rental-car debacle in Turks and Caicos -- two blown out tires at a roundabout, which is a story for another post --
any place we don't have to rent a car gets bonus points from me. 
The immediate Waikiki area, is very walkable.
There are also trolleys, buses and taxis, if your tootsies start to hurt.  
 
Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

5. It's all about the beach, 'bout the beach...no pebbles. 
The beach is quite lovely, albeit crowded.
 Our taxi driver told us the beaches were as jammed as Times Square.
Ha Ha, we laughed.
He was right.
It was Christmas, so it may have been extra-packed with people, 
but it's surely always "happening."
Aside from the people-parade,
there are tons of water sports to partake in...you can rent surfboards, stand-up paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and more.
The sunsets aren't too shabby either.

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

6. Ogle a historic lady, or two.
Two grand old hotels are still operating in Waikiki. 
We were fortunate to stay in one of them -- the Moana Surfrider.
It's one of those walk-in-and-say-WOW places.
After an 11-hour flight, we received a truly Hawaiian welcome,  with a lei made of orchids for me, and Kui Nut necklaces for my men.
The hotel, which opened in 1901, is called the "First Lady of Waikiki."
The lobby is gorgeous, and opens onto a patio with a huge banyan tree in the center.
The outdoor restaurant is a great place to watch 
the beautiful Hawaiian sunset over Waikiki Bay.
The other historic hotel, the Royal Hawaiian, was only a pineapple's throw away,
and for whatever the reason, I forgot to go look at it. 
Reason number 1 to go back.  

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days 
Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days
Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days 
Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

 7. Spend just a few bucks...or a few hundred...on meals.
There were lots of price-point options for restaurants. 
Everything from inexpensive noodle shops to the "tres cher" Alan Wong's...
and everything in between.
You might even happen upon a farmer's market.
Definitely stop at Duke's Barefoot Bar on the beach.
They have a breakfast buffet for $16.95, 
where the views alone are as sweet as the pina colada bread pudding. 

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days
Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days


Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

8. Learn to catch a wave. 
There are almost as many surfboards as people.
Because the waves are fairly gentle, it's a good place to your get your feet --
and the rest of you -- wet, so to speak.
One of the greatest swimmers and surfers of Waikiki fame, Duke Kahanamoku, 
surfed these very waters, and a statue near the beach pays tribute to him.

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days


Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

9. It's where the action is! 
Waikiki is crowded, but that's half the fun, 
and what makes it different from the other Hawaiian islands.
You've got to have the right mindset, though.
The sidewalks are as crowded as Manhattan streets (we were there during Christmas, so it was especially busy), but it's a hoot to stroll up and down Kalakaua Avenue.
There are shops and restaurants galore...looking at the storefronts, you could be Anywhere, USA, since every chain store seems to be represented.
There are enough Hawaiian souvenir stores to keep you amused,
and if you want to keep the kids busy, just ask them to count the ABC stores. 

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days


Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days
 

10. It IS the real Hawaii.
Yes, you can get your inner hula on in Waikiki.
(I'd love to take credit for that line, but you'll see it all over Hawaii).
Saying that Waikiki isn't the real Hawaii 
is like saying that the Catskills are not the real New York.  
 You can surf, eat pineapple, watch a hula dancer, play the ukelele;
people say Aloha and Mahalo.  
It's a different Hawaii, than say, Maui or Kauai, but different is fun.

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days

Why Waikiki? 10 Reasons Why You Should Stay A Few Days


Three days was just enough time to get a taste of Waikiki.
Have you been to Waikiki?

Linking with:
Weekend Travel Inspiration

21 comments:

  1. Having arrived at Honolulu's airport during rush hour on a Friday afternoon and inching our way along the freeway, we vowed to stay away from Honolulu this trip. A day later, refreshed and ready to explore, we are reconsidering that rather harsh brushoff we gave the city. Traffic is horrendous, but maybe if we timed it just right. . . .

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  2. Oh Amy! Thank you for such a sun filled virtual holiday. It was a visual feast!!

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  3. We've only been to Hawaii once, and in reality most likely will not return, BUT I was glad we visited Oahu if only for a couple of days. It was the end of our trip (after Kauai and Maui) and the hustle and bustle of Waikiki was most welcome by then. Sometimes relaxing can get a bit boring ;).

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  4. Just for the past 30 years! You did a real nice job showing what's fun about my neighborhood. Plus it is GORGEOUS here today!



    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    <3

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  5. what a great place to visit! and such lovely photos. bet you would love NZ though :D

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  6. What a great post today. We spend 10 days in Nov, we love Waikiki. This was our 25th time to this visit paradise...thanks for sharing some wonderful picture.

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  7. How fun! My husband went a few months ago and I skipped the trip because I had so much going on at the time. It was for work and he'll be back so there's always next time. Tough job, hmmm? He pretty much said what you did. He wasn't impressed at first, but after reflecting on it he wants to take me and the our boys there. Our boys love American History and have been asking to go see Pearl Harbor. They even know the date and time the Japanese attacked. They are so funny!

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  8. Amy, You convinced me...but I've been there and agree. I love the way you did Diamond Head...my kind of adventure. Thanks for linking up with Weekend Travel Inspiration!

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  9. Yes, we were in Honolulu in the same area you showed. We were there for several days then went on to the big island and Kauai. Two weeks in Paradise was wonderful. Swimming, parasailing, surfing lessons, helicopter rides, sightseeing, etc. The Arizona Memorial is absolutely a must see ----our whole family was deeply moved.

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  10. I haven't been to that part of the world but I would lOve to. Though I come from a country (Philippines) with lots of beautiful islands, I still am very interested in visiting other beautiful islands. It seems to be a wonderful place judging from your pictures and narration.

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  11. That was a fun trip. Thank you for taking me along. I should visit Waikiki. It looks like a fun place to visit.

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  12. What a great place - looks like a lot of fun.

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  13. I have just got to visit. Hawaii was my brother's favourite destination and he was always telling me to go and have a look. As it's a long journey from the UK I have never been but when he died three years ago, his wife and daughter got permission to scatter his ashes near Pearl Harbour so now there is another reason, as well as all the ones you have listed, for me to one day visit this beautiful part of the world.

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  14. Great post on Waikiki! Yes, I have been there three times and to Hawaii four times. It is a fun place to visit, lots to see and do.. Great photos! Have a happy day!

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  15. I would love to travel there someday. Hawaii is definitely on my bucket list.

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  16. I love staying in Waikiki. The Husband and I can tumble out of the hotel to the beach, to the restaurants, to the stores, to the bus stop, to a car or scooter rental. We like swimming at the east end of Waikiki, by the wall, in the early morning. For less of a crowd, we walk east through the park to a beach. Someone told me once that that Waikiki was a sacred place for the ancient Hawaiians.

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  17. Wow! Waikiki looks amazing! The pics are awsome!

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  18. Loved your post! What fun to read right after I visited Waikiki. We've been to 4 Hawaiian island so far and I like the way they all have a different personality. Yes, Oahu and the Waikiki beach area are crowded and busy but that's actually what I liked about it. There was a great energy to the place and it was nice to start out there and then head over to quieter Maui afterwards. I would definitely go back to Waikiki again - and would definitely stay at the Moana Surfrider again. Your photos gave me chills...I just loved that hotel!
    Shelley

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  19. That looks amazing! I have always wanted to visit Hawaii (any island will do!).

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  20. Hmmm, I´d like to go there one day!
    I love the original Magnum series, but reckon it´s just over my budget. I don´t mean the Ferrari ;-)

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