Waikiki Beach Walk Honolulu: Top Things to Do, Eat & Watch
The Waikiki Beach Walk is a pedestrian path that follows Waikiki Beach, providing spectacular ocean views along with unique shopping, award-winning dining, entertainment, and nightlife.
This is your chance to experience a bit of daily life on the island, with locals and visitors alike taking advantage of the many activities available here both day and night.
Of course, there are many destinations with shops, restaurants, and various types of entertainment in Waikiki, so why visit Waikiki Beach Walk?
Why Visit Waikiki Beach Walk
Visitors to the Waikiki Beach Walk can mingle with the locals while shopping, dining, and enjoying entertainment that includes Hawaiian music, hula performances, and many other types of cultural activities and events.
The architecture, landscaping, mix of retailers, and outdoor entertainment plaza here were all inspired by Hawaiian culture.
Just a few of the highlights to enjoy at the Waikiki Beach Walk include:
Hula shows & live entertainment
The Waikiki Beach Walk hosts an outdoor garden stage featuring hula shows and a variety of live entertainment events – and, even better, it’s all free.
Hula performances often consist of traditional, classic hula dances that are rooted in sharing the Aloha spirit.
If you’re inspired, there are often complimentary hula classes held on the Waikiki Beach Walk Plaza in the morning, with all ages welcome.
Concerts are held here too, often featuring award-winning, local performers who share the folklore and traditions of their ancestors with the audience.
On Tuesday afternoons in this open-air gathering place, schools known as Hula halau tell Hawaiian stories through song and dance.
Plus, the Waikiki Steel Guitar Festival is held here annually in July, showcasing well-known steel guitarists and students with a focus on Hawaiian music.
Shopping
This is an ideal place for avid shoppers to indulge their habit with the Beach Walk Market taking place on Mondays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the plaza lawn.
Support the local businesses while scoring some great finds from handmade art to one-of-a-kind souvenirs and specialty food items.
There are many other shopping experiences to enjoy at the Waikiki Beach Walk too, with some of the best boutiques in the district selling locally made products.
You’ll find independent shops with items that aren’t sold anywhere else, selling everything from apparel and jewelry to art, souvenirs, and island-inspired gifts.
A few of the top locally owned companies at the Waikiki Beach Walk include Na Hoku Jewelers, Sunshine Swimwear, and Mahina Clothing, known for its Hawaiian-style apparel.
There are some outstanding national retailers too, such as Park West Fine Art Museum & Gallery, with impressive works created by some of the biggest names in contemporary and classical art.
Pampering
While being on island time is a great way to melt stress away, you can take it up a notch at the Waikiki Beach Walk.
Blue Sky Thai Massage & Spa offers a full menu of massage therapies, including authentic Thai massage.
After a day of exploring, surfing, hiking, or any other activities, indulging in a massage is the perfect way to refresh and do it all over again!
Dining
The impressive range of restaurants provides diverse dining experiences from Hawaiian favorites to international fare, serving as the anchor for Waikiki Beach Walk.
If you start your day here, you can fuel up with locally roasted coffee and pastries or a fresh Acai bowl.
No matter when you visit, there are plenty of casual eateries, whether you’re looking for quick and nutritious at a health food bar, or indulgent comfort cuisine.
Full-service dining is available, with some highly acclaimed upscale restaurants here like popular Ruth’s Chris Steak House and the renowned Roy’s Waikiki, serving Hawaiian fusion fare.
If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, you can find that too, including authentic Italian gelato.
As locals who visit Waikiki Beach Walk frequently, we’ve tried almost everything and can recommend the must-try eats to help make a difficult dining decision a bit easier.
Need a Break? 5 Must-Try Eats at Waikiki Beach Walk
When you’re ready for a break and hunger pangs hit, but you aren’t sure what you want, these are the must-try eats at Waikiki Beach Walk.
Musubi Cafe IYASUME Waikiki Beach Walk: Musubi
Musubi is essentially a rice ball filled with various ingredients, with Spam musubi especially popular in Hawaii, featuring a slice of grilled Spam on rice that’s wrapped in nori (dried seaweed).
The Musubi Cafe offers the best musubi at any of the Waikiki restaurants, with a variety of other options available like salmon and tuna musubi, all made with love daily.
Nalu Health Bar & Cafe: The Nalu Bowl
The Nalu Bowl at Nalu Health Bar & Cafe is an açai bowl with just the right amount of sweetness. The organic acai comes straight from the Amazon, and it’s naturally sweetened with guarana and banana – no juices, no frozen berries, and no milk.
Arancino on Beachwalk: Spaghetti alla Pescatora
Arancino on Beachwalk is frequently named the “Best Italian Restaurant in Hawaii.”
Opening its doors here in Waikiki in 1996, the dishes at this restaurant are inspired by Naples’ cuisine, but with a Japanese twist.
No matter what you select at this restaurant, it’s bound to be packed with flavor, but if we had to pick one must-try, it would be the Spaghetti alla Pescatora with shrimp, scallops, calamari, clams, and mussels.
Cajun Crab Waikiki: Seafood Boil
The classic seafood boil experience can be enjoyed at the Cajun Crab Waikiki, renowned for its perfectly cooked, fresh crab.
The spice levels are customizable, ranging from mild to Xtreme, while the staff is friendly, upbeat, and attentive without being intrusive, all coming together for the perfect, if messy, seafood feast.
IL Gelato: Authentic Gelato
A gelateria and cafe-style restaurant, Il Gelato offers artisan gelato that’s made fresh daily, with locally sourced ingredients and some that come straight from Italy.
This is creamy, authentic handcrafted gelato, the way they do it in Italy, using authentic Italian processes and Italian gelato equipment.
You might want to visit more than once to determine your favorite flavor, with mouthwatering options that include everything from Mango Lilikoi to Dark Chocolate Truffle.
Now that you know why Waikiki Beach Walk is truly a must-experience, we’ll conclude with a couple of insider tips.
Conclusion
If you’re driving, parking in Waikiki can be challenging, but complimentary valet parking is available at Wyndham Vacation Resorts (Club Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk) or Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk, daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To park for free, present a receipt totalling $10 or more, dated the same day from a Waikiki Beach Walk shop or restaurant, and your validated parking ticket from any of the participating establishments.
Finally, to save money on accommodation, which can be used for a memorable meal, a special gift, or anything else at the Waikiki Beach Walk, consider a stay at FIRST CABIN INTERNATIONAL HAWAII, a Japanese-style capsule hotel only a short stroll away.
