Waikiki, Honolulu vacation rentals

Few stretches of sand are as renowned as this two-mile length spanning the south shore of Honolulu, where Hawaiian royalty once frolicked. Visitors will find themselves basking in Waikiki Beach’s unquestionable beauty, tempted for a swim or surf by its calm and shallow aquamarine waters brimming with brightly colored and toe-tickling tropical fish. These views come below skies painted nearly every evening with otherworldly swirls of color that will convince you that this sunset is the best one ever. If you’re planning a little shopping, you’ll find numerous high-end boutiques and stylish eateries luring visitors from the soft sand onto the glitzy main strip of Kalakaua Avenue — a tropical catwalk where flip-flops aren’t just welcome, but practically mandatory.

Summers in Honolulu are warm and dry, with an extended season stretching from April through November. Shielded by the island’s pleasant trade winds, temperatures dip only nominally between December and March, but the winter season does tend to bring larger crowds seeking escape from cold weather elsewhere. So if you’d like a little more of the beach to yourself, plan for a spring vacation to Honolulu, when visitors thin out but the weather remains comfortable and pleasant, with a plenitude of off-season airfare offers tempting an extended stay. Waikiki weather rarely demands anything beyond short sleeves, shorts, or a light dress. A light sweater or jacket comfortably pairs well with shorts for the evening, but sunscreen and sunglasses are mandatory.

Learn to surf

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to catch a wave, Waikiki Beach’s gentle breaks and shallow waters make it an ideal spot to pick up the basics. Best bet: rent a board close to sunset, when rental prices drop alongside beachgoers who otherwise crowd out promising waves during the afternoon.

Leahi Beach Park

A leisurely half-hour stroll from Waikiki Beach, this pocket park dotted with palm trees under the looming Diamond Head Crater offers a wonderful spot to escape the crowds and enjoy a shaded picnic lunch. Sandwiched between oceanside estates, the park is fairly small, but usually uncrowded, a spot where you might watch anglers hoping to hook one of the plentiful local fish.

Kalakaua Avenue and Kuhio Avenue at Night

Nights in Waikiki are just as lively as during the day. But where the beach rules daytime, evenings are best spent along Waikiki’s two main avenues, which taper to a point at the King David Kalākaua Statue with numerous backstreet eateries, small local shops, and other inviting spots to duck into on a whim