Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil. Photograph by Ray Mark.
For too lengthy, guests have solely recognized Waikīkī as a bustling vacationer vacation spot with high-end purchasing, packed seashores and the world-famous mai tai. That’s altering. Extra Native Hawaiians are reclaiming this area and reintroducing traditions as soon as misplaced to the postcard picture of white sand and palm bushes.
Earlier than visiting these points of interest, it’s useful to grasp the historical past of Hawaiʻi’s hottest vacationer vacation spot.
A Very Transient Historical past of Waikīkī
Lengthy earlier than Capt. James Cook dinner arrived on Kauaʻi, Waikīkī – Hawaiian for “spouting waters” – was lined in wetland loʻi kalo (taro fields) and loko iʻa (fishponds). Within the late 1700s, King Kamehame I took up residency right here, and it was a well-liked retreat for royalty.
The whole lot started to vary within the 1820s when American missionaries arrived to transform Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) to Christianity. Foreigners moved into Waikīkī, immigrant laborers got here to Oʻahu to work sugarcane plantations and Matson steamships started bringing guests to see “paradise.” By the late 1800s, the primary lodges opened in Waikīkī, and former plantation employees started planting rice in what had as soon as been kalo fields.
In 1893, with the assistance of the U.S. navy, American businessmen illegally overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy. 5 years later, regardless of the efforts of Queen Liliʻoukalani and the Hawaiian individuals, the USA annexed the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.
In 1906, the Honolulu Board of Well being declared Waikīkī’s wetlands a public well being menace, which led to dredging, the creation of the Ala Wai Canal and the filling in of fishponds and wetlands to make approach for actual property improvement – now residence to Waikīkī’s lodges, companies and seashores. Houses that after belonged to Hawaiian royalty have been demolished.
By the 1960s, Waikīkī lodges have been at full occupancy, and, second solely to New York Metropolis, it had turn out to be the preferred trip vacation spot in the USA.
Waikīkī Seashore. Courtesy of Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. Photograph by Ben Ono
At the moment, Waikīkī points of interest that share Hawaiian tradition will be present in artwork exhibitions, performances and even a world-renowned circus. Every one introduces the world to guests in an entire new gentle – and shouldn’t be missed.
‘Auana: Cirque du Soleil
This 12 months, Cirque du Soleil launched its first resident manufacturing in Hawaiʻi. Held at The Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Lodge, ʻAuana – which means “to wander” or “veer off the crushed” path – tells the story of Waikīkī advised by way of a Hawaiian lens, that includes Cirque’s signature acrobatics, sound design and visible artistry.
Present director Neil Dorward labored with a Native Hawaiian inventive crew to make sure that each ingredient of the manufacturing displays neighborhood voices and your entire manufacturing is advised in ʻolelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language).
Performances are Wednesday by way of Sunday at 5:30 p.m. and eight:30 p.m.
Particular Offers:
From now by way of 2026, visitors who e book a keep at any OUTRIGGER property recieve 10% off tickets to ‘Auana. Click on here to view particular resort charges and package deal offers. ‘Auana tickets should be bought individually to obtain the low cost.
Kama‘āina will even recieve a reduction of as much as 30% off tickets and The Aloha Friday supply permits locals to obtain a free keiki (baby) ticket with the acquisition of an grownup ticket for Friday performances.
The Household Pack supply, obtainable to all visitors, supplies as much as 15% off when buying a minimal of 4 tickets, together with at the least one grownup and one baby. To redeem, go to cirquedusoleil.com/auana and examine all present gives below the Offers tab.
Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil. Photograph by Ray Mark.
In The Southern Solar
Offered by international artwork collective POW! WOW! and curated by native artist Kamea Hadar, this immersive artwork expertise situated on Kalākaua Avenue on the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Seashore Resort and Spa traces Waikīkī’s layered historical past by way of murals and interactive installations. This first-ever street art exhibit in Waikīkī is rooted in Native Hawaiian views of place, seasonality and cultural reminiscence.
“‘Āina Wonderland & Ahupua’a Hale” by illustrator and proprietor of Punky Aloha Studios Shar Tuiasoa. Photograph by Sarah Burchard.
The Return of Kapaemahu
The Healer Stones of Kapaemahu are an historic sacred web site of therapeutic situated on Waikīkī Seashore, throughout from the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Seashore Resort and Spa. The Return of Kapaemahu is a free hula present introduced by Qwaves Kanaka Pakipika – an area non-profit “devoted to acceptance, respect and inclusion for all” – as a part of their Lei Pua ʻAla, or “garland of aromatic flowers,” mission. The efficiency shares the centuries-old story of Tahitian māhū (a 3rd gender, a person who embodies each female and male spirit) and the healer stones, which stay deeply important in Hawaiian tradition.
The present is carried out each Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the Kūhiō Seashore Hula Mound close to the Duke Kahanamoku Statue.
Photograph by Mahina Choy Ellis
Wahi Pana: Kū‘ena‘ena at Kapiʻolani Park
Wahi Pana, or storied locations, is an island-wide public artwork initiative funded by the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Artwork Problem. It explores the advanced historical past of Hawaiian land by way of 11 site-specific multimedia installations by Native Hawaiian artists and storytellers.
Every web site, situated throughout Oʻahu, invitations guests to replicate on historical past by way of sculptures, images, poetry and mele (music). From 2025 to 2028, guests can stroll the world of every exhibit to have interaction with its tales.
In Waikīkī, Kū‘ena‘ena at Kapiʻolani Park contains a collection of photographs that honor the brilliance of conventional Hawaiian information.
