Waikīkī or Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City & County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī. Geography The neighborhood extends from the Ala Wai Canal (a channel dug to drain former wetlands) on the west and north, to Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) on the east. Waikīkī Beach is noted for its views of the Diamond Head tuff cone, its usually warm and cloud-free climate and its surf break. The Waikīkī skyline is now dotted with an abundance of both high-rises and resort hotels. The beach is actually fairly short, with half of it marked off for surfers. For some distance into the ocean the water is quite shallow, although there are numerous rocks on the bottom. As with most ocean beaches the waves can have some force, particularly on windy days. The surf at Waikīkī is known for its long rolling break, making it ideal for long boarding, tandem surfing and beginners. History The area was a retreat for Hawaiian royalty in the 1800 (212 years ago). Much like the locals and tourists of today, Hawaiian royalty enjoyed surfing at Waikīkī on early forms of longboards. A few small hotels opened in the 1880 (132 years ago). In 1893 (119 years ago), Greek-American George Lycurgus leased the guest house of Allen Herbert and renamed it the "Sans Souci" (French for "without care") creating one of the first beach resorts. Later that year Robert Lewis Stevenson stayed at the resort; subsequently it became a popular destination for tourists from the mainland. Today, the area is filled with hotels like the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Halekulani hotel, the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī, the Sheraton Waikīkī, and historic hotels dating back to the early 20th century (such as the Moana Surfrider Hotel and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The beach hosts many events a year, including surf competitions, outdoor performances, hula dancing and outrigger canoe races. Over time, Waikīkī beach has had its problems with erosion, leading to the construction of groins and beach replenishment projects. For example, in the 1920 (92 years ago) and 1930 (82 years ago) sand was imported from Manhattan Beach, California, via ship and barges to Waikīkī. The importing of sand is said to have stopped in the 1970 (42 years ago) and officials are looking for ways to sustain the existing sand by eliminating loss due to tide flow. Waikīkī is home to public places of note, including Kapiʻolani Park, Fort de Russy Military Reservation, Kahanamoku Lagoon, Kūhiō Beach Park, and Ali Wai Harbor. Since 2001 (11 years ago), there have been free movies on the beach. Many tourists from around the world can view a movie on an outdoor 30 foot screen. This particular free movie event in Waikīkī is called "Sunset on the Beach".

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