Stretching from Duke Kahanamoku Beach near the
Hilton Hawaiian Village to the Duke Kahanamoku statue
on Kuhio Beach and beyond, you can swim, snorkel,
sunbathe, or take your first surfing lesson or group
canoe ride.
For beginners, the gentle waves at Waikiki Beach
(once surfed only by Hawaiian royals) are ideal.
Ask a friendly Beach Boy for a lesson or rent a
board by the surfboard racks on the sand.
Other water adventures that may be on your list such as shark tours, scuba
diving, fishing, sailing, kayaking, jet skiing,
parasailing, wakeboarding are all available in this
water wonderland that is Waikiki and Hawaii.
North Shore Shark Adventures
Snorkeling
Snokeling is an
inexpensive pastime that is easier to learn than
surfing or scuba diving and can be done either by
booking a cruise or finding a good spot on a beach.
If you book a cruise, expect gear, lunch and other
amenities to be provided.
The history of surfing is shrouded in the mists of time, as the origins of surfing are unknown.
The art of surfing was first observed by Europeans in 1767, by the crewmembers of the Dolphin at
Tahiti. Later, Jackson Crane, an American serving under explorer Captain Cook, was the first
American to witness surfing, in Hawaii in 1778.
Surfing was a central part of ancient Polynesian culture. The chief was the most skilled wave
rider in the community with the best board made from the best tree. The ruling class had the
best beaches and the best boards, and the commoners were not allowed on the same beaches, but
they could gain prestige by their ability to ride the surf on their extremely heavy boards.
When the missionaries from Scotland and Germany arrived in 1821, they forbade or discouraged
many Polynesian traditions and cultural practices, including, on Hawaii, leisure sports such
as surfing and holua sledding. By the 20th century, surfing, along with other traditional
practices, had all but disappeared. Only a small number of Hawaiians continued to practice
the sport and the art of crafting boards.
Around the beginning of the 20th century, Hawaiians living close to Waikiki began to revive
surfing, possibly in protest to the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and soon
re-established surfing as a sport. Duke Kahanamoku, "Ambassador of Aloha," Olympic
medalist, and avid waterman, helped expose surfing to the world. Kahanamoku's role was
later memorialized by a 2002 first class letter rate postage stamp of the United States
Postal Service . Author Jack London wrote about the sport after having attempted surfing on
his visit to the islands. Surfing progressed tremendously in the 20th century, through
innovations in board design and ever increasing public exposure.
Surfing's development and culture was centered primarily in three locations: Hawaii, Australia,
and California. Until the 1960s, it had only a small following even in those areas. The release
of the film Gidget boosted the sport's popularity immensely, moving surfing from an underground
culture into a national fad and packing many surf breaks with sudden and previously unheard of
crowds. B-movies and music based on surfing and Southern California beach culture (Beach Party films)
as it exploded, formed most of the world's first ideas of surfing and surfers.
This conception was revised again in the 1980s, with newer mainstream portrayals of surfers
represented by characters like Jeff Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Today's surfers are no less enchanted by the sport. When the surf's
up, all else pales in significance.
Surfing captures one's body and soul through the very power and fury of the ocean, and it never
lets you go. Waikiki, with reliable waves almost all year round, is a good choice for beginners. Waikiki's
Beach Boys rose
to fame in the 1930's when they took charge of the beach, the waves, and the fun. Beach boys, who are required
to be licensed lifeguards, still give lessons. > Surfing Rentals & Lessons
Scuba Diving
Hawaii's underwater landscape is unique thanks to the lava that poured into the ocean for centuries, creating an underwater
topography extraordinaire. The lava tubes, arches, caves and cavers, canyons, crevices and pinnacles, as well as
sunken vessels, provide for great diving opportunities. Add warm water, high visibility and an abundance of reef fish and sea
creatures, and you can look forward to an awesome dive.
Waikiki.com is very happy to be partnered with Aqua
Zone Scuba Diving and Watersports Center. Aqua Zone
features two resort locations in Waikiki, a friendly
and knowledgable staff, 2 dive boats, 2 dives daily
and FREE Scuba Lessons for first time or rusty divers.
After your FREE Scuba Lesson, take it to the next
level on a Beginner Boat Dive. Venture out with
your instructor by your side to amazing dive sites
on Oahu. Already Certified? Book your reservations
online and receive 10% off your 2 tank boat dive.
Choose from 2 dives daily - one at 8:00 am and the
other at 11:00 am. Aqua Zone is a 5 Star PADI Resort
Facility with two Dive Shop Locations in Waikiki.
One way to gain a different perspective on Waikiki is to sail a catamaran. You can take a sunset jaunt, a dinner cruise or a
leisurely midday sail in waters of Waikiki Beach. Other cruise catamarans dock at Kewalo Basin and also sail out around
Diamond Head. On some vessels you can swim with turtles and snorkel with tropical reef fish and dolphins that frequent the area.
> Catamaran listings
Fishing
Imagine yourself a few miles off the Waikiki shoreline on a boat trailing colorful lures. The morning sun is rising as the
captain heads toward his favorite fishing grounds. You're scanning the horizon for the evidence of baitfish and birds
flying just above the waterline, telltale signs of plentiful fish. All you can see for miles is deep blue ocean and the Honolulu
skyscape receding in the distance.
No reason to daydream about deep sea fishing when you can charter a fishing boat and get the real thing. There are a number
of fishing charters to choose from in Waikiki, moored in Kewalo Basin just minutes from Waikiki. > Charter Fishing Boat Listings
Snokeling is an
inexpensive pastime that is easier to learn than
surfing or scuba diving and can be done either by
booking a cruise or finding a good spot on a beach.
If you book a cruise, expect gear, lunch and other
amenities to be provided. 
Today's surfers are no less enchanted by the sport. When the surf's
up, all else pales in significance.
Surfing captures one's body and soul through the very power and fury of the ocean, and it never
lets you go. Waikiki, with reliable waves almost all year round, is a good choice for beginners. Waikiki's
Beach Boys rose
to fame in the 1930's when they took charge of the beach, the waves, and the fun. Beach boys, who are required
to be licensed lifeguards, still give lessons.
Hawaii's underwater landscape is unique thanks to the lava that poured into the ocean for centuries, creating an underwater
topography extraordinaire. The lava tubes, arches, caves and cavers, canyons, crevices and pinnacles, as well as
sunken vessels, provide for great diving opportunities. Add warm water, high visibility and an abundance of reef fish and sea
creatures, and you can look forward to an awesome dive.
One way to gain a different perspective on Waikiki is to sail a catamaran. You can take a sunset jaunt, a dinner cruise or a
leisurely midday sail in waters of Waikiki Beach. Other cruise catamarans dock at Kewalo Basin and also sail out around
Diamond Head. On some vessels you can swim with turtles and snorkel with tropical reef fish and dolphins that frequent the area.
