The Hawaiian Islands are home to one of the world’s most famous beach destinations: Waikiki. Located within Honolulu city limits and bound by Ala Wai Canal to the north and west, Kapahulu Avenue to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the south, Waikiki is the most popular destination in Hawaii for beach-bumming, shopping, dining, entertainment, and activities, and is packed with luxury resorts and hotels. But that’s not all Waikiki has to offer: it’s home to plenty of history, which is showcased along the two-mile Waikiki Historic Trail.

Created to promote the islands’ rich history and culture, the Waikiki Historic Trail shows visitors and locals alike the history of this famed location, long before the first hotel was built and the first tourists stayed here.
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr
This walking tour that meanders from Kapiolani Beach across Waikiki to the Rainbow Tower at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort traces the history and cultural legacy of an area where chiefs and commoners alike once lived.
Lindsey Turner/Flickr
Bronze-cast trail markers in the shape of surfboards describe a Waikiki only a few knew existed. Part swamp, part playground for Hawaiian royalty, Waikiki was a center of Hawaiian hospitality and seat of Oahu’s government.
Rosa Say/Flickr

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There are nearly two dozen stops along the route, which include markers installed along the Ala Wai Canal, at Kuhio Beach where the trail begins, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, and at various statues erected in the area, including one of Princess Kaiulani, Duke Kahanamoku, and King Kalakaua.
Wally Gobetz/Flickr
Other stops along the way include the residences of Queen Liliuokalani and King Lunalilo as well as Na Pohaku Ola Kapaemahu a Kapuni, a set of stones once thought to have healing powers.
Wally Gobetz/Flickr
Of course, you’ll also see some of the area’s most famous hotels, including the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the Ilikai Hotel as well as the U.S. Army Museum, Fort DeRussy, and the recently revamped International Marketplace.
Alan Light/Flickr
A joint project between the city and the private sector, this two-mile historic trail will allow tourists and locals alike to learn all about the area’s historic and cultural significance while soaking up that signature Hawaiian sunshine and providing plenty of ocean views.
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr

Address: Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, HI 96815

History buffs especially will love this unique journey, but there’s something for everyone to love along the Waikiki Historic Trail.

For more information, visit the Waikiki Historic Trail website. Have you ever embarked on this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Waikiki? What did you learn? Share your opinions and experiences in the comments below.

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Waik?k? Beach, Waikiki, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA