The world-famous Waikiki neighborhood in Honolulu was once a playground for Hawaiian royalty. With its first hotel, the Moana Surfrider, built in 1901, Waikiki was introduced to the world as “spouting waters.” Waikiki is now Oahu’s primary hotel, resort district, and a popular tourist meeting place. There are world-class shopping, dining, entertainment, activities, and resorts along Kalakaua Avenue.
In the early 1940s, tourism was stopped due to Pearl Harbor’s bombing and World War II. During the Pacific War, Waikiki became soldiers’ and sailors’ rest and recreation areas. From 1941-1945, The Moana Hotel served as a respite for these soldiers. Following World War II, Waikiki beach restoration efforts have occurred every few years. During the 1920s and 1970s, sand was imported from Southern California by boat and barge. More than a foot of shoreline was replenished annually at the cost of $2.4 million following chronic erosion of more than a foot.
#1 Kalakaua Birdseye Waikiki.
It is amazing to see how much open land there still was at this point in time on the mauka (inland) side of Kalakaua Avenue compared to the makai (ocean) side. But that would be changing quickly looking at the platted lots ready for homebuilders and businesses in the upper right quadrant.
