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. 

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."

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. 

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.  
 

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.

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.  

 

 

 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. 

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.

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. 

 
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.

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

Linking with:
Weekend Travel Inspiration

Hawaii Five. Oh.

Oh, nothing.
I just liked the title.

Here are five faves from Hawaii.  

 

Linking With:

Weekend Travel Inspiration

Our World Tuesday

Skywatch Friday 

A WINNER! Where In The World Is Ms. Toody?

Are you ready to find out who won the

"Where In The World Is Ms. Toody?" contest?

Every agreed that I was in Hawaii...
 I guess it was the pineapple that gave it away :)
Guesses ranged from Oahu to the Big Island to Maui to Kaui. 

I was actually on two islands, and the winner had to come closest in miles 
to where I stayed in both locations. 

 
The clues for my first destination seemed to WAY too easy,
with quite a few people guessing Waikiki Beach.
And they were right! 
We spent the first three days of our vacation at the Moana Surfrider Hotel at the world-famous Waikiki Beach, on the island of O'ahu.

Many people recognized Diamond Head at the top of the photo...
and some people recognized the US Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor 
in the lower left hand corner. 
 Only if you were really familiar with Waikiki, 
would you recognize the Banyan Tree and the statue of Duke Kahanamoku, 
on Kuhio Beach in Waikiki.
And, of course, there were the surfboards.
 

 The second set of clues was deliberately a little tougher.
Guesses included Kauai, Maui and the big island of Hawaii.
The answer is...
Maui!
But where on Maui?

The winner nailed it!
 She identified Black Rock at the top of the photo, 
which was literally on our hotel property
(you can't get closer than that!),
as well as Ka'anapali Beach, which was where our hotel, 
the Sheraton Maui Resort, was located.
She even guessed that the mountain view photo was taken 
on a helicopter tour of the Lao Valley. 
Bingo!

As for the other clues...
The water in Maui is a unique shade of blue...which is why I included that picture;
The waffles and sugar cane juice sign was taken on the road to Hana, 
and the photo is a clue to all of the sugar cane that grows on Maui;
the Hibiscus and shave ice were two other generic Hawaiian clues.

So...who was the winner? 
It was Fiona B, from Las Vegas!

Here is her answer:

Location 1: You were at Waikiki Beach, Oahu. The other photos in that first set are all on Oahu like Pearl Harbor, Duke Kahanamoku at Kuhio Beach, and banyan tree.Location 2: You also visited the island of Maui. The beach/stayed at is located on Kaanapali beach and the rock picture is Black Rock. Black Rock is where you can dive off and snorkel. The mountain view looks like a helicopter ride around Iao valley or Haleakala mountain. 

The reason Fiona was so accurate was that she lived on Maui for a few years 
while she was in high school, but says, 
"in my heart, it is still home."
I'm so happy to be sending her a little box of Hawaii!  
Her mother-in-law reads my blog, and suggested that Fiona enter the contest...
so, Fiona is going to share the prize with her MIL!

Fiona just turned 30 on Christmas, and is a new stay-at-home working mom.
Check out her websites...
Las Vegas Coupon Momma, where she teaches people simple couponing methods, helping them to shop economically, 
and Origami Owl, where she is an independent designer for a jewelry company.

Honorable mention goes to Dayle at A Collection of Days, who was the second and only other person to pinpoint both Waikiki and Ka'anapali Beach.

Thank you to everyone who played along...

I had so much fun shopping for goodies, and I can't wait to send them off to Fiona !

I will definitely do this again the next time I go away, 
whenever and whenever that may be.

And now that I have disclosed my whereabouts over the holidays,

I can finally publish my December Photo Diary...

even though we are half way through January!

Where In the World Is Ms. Toody? Giveaway!

 Are you ready for the second Where In the World Is Ms. Toody giveaway?

All you have to do is guess where I spent my holiday vacation.
The person who comes closest in miles to the correct answer will receive 
an awesome souvenir goody box from me, valued at approximately $65!
(I seriously bought more gifts for the winner than I did for myself).  

My first "Where in the World Is Ms.Toody" giveaway was back in July, 
and the winner of that competition was Linda from On The Road Again, 
who came within 82 miles of my location.
If you'd like to see what I sent to Linda, click here. 

This contest is a little harder, because I was actually in two different places.

The first person who comes closest to guessing both locations will be the winner...
BUT...if no one guesses both correctly, 
then the first person to come closest to guessing one of my destinations will win. 
 
Let me give you some advice.
Be specific - don't just guess the name of a country or state.
Narrow it down to cities or geographical areas,
since that is how I will determine who comes closest in miles. 

Okay...let's get this new year off to a fun start!

Here are the clues to my first vacation spot...

And here are the clues to part 2 of my vacation...

WHAT ARE YOUR TWO GUESSES???

Before submitting your answers, please read these rules.

1. The winner will be the first person to leave a comment that comes closest 
(in miles) to guessing both destinations.
 "Destination" is defined as where my hotels were located. 
If no one guesses both locations, the winner will be the first person to come closest to guessing one of the two destinations.
Please do not simply guess the name of a country or a state. Be more specific!
2. Include your email in the comment so that I have a way to contact you.
3. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to me,
otherwise, I will have to go to the next closest guess.
4. Personal friends and family who know where I was cannot participate. Sorry :(  
5. The contest will end on Wednesday, January 7. 

PS - My December Photo Diary will have to wait until after I have disclosed my whereabouts (or by this time, my was-abouts), since obviously that will give it away).

PPS - There are a couple of clues in two of my posts from November/December. 

GOOD LUCK!!!