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Aloha ... and welcome to the Honolulu Waterfront Tour. Before we get underway, if this is your first tour of Hawaii, you might want to look at some basic information about Hawaiian words. This tour will take us along the Honolulu waterfront roughly from Ala Moana (pronounced "ah lah mow ah nah") Beach Park just Ewa (west) of Waikiki, past the famous Ala Moana Shopping Center in that same area, downtown Honolulu, Ala Moana Tower and Marketplace on the ocean side of Honolulu, and the shipping and light industrial neighborhood (probably the least attractive area of Oahu), to Sand Island near the airport. More of the waterfront is covered on the Windward and East Honolulu, Waikiki, and Submarine Tours. Click here for a note about your comfort on the tour. 1. Leaving the Hotel Starting off from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on the ocean in Waikiki, it certainly looks like a nice day. In Hawaii, however, it's a little difficult to tell just how the day will turn out or what the weather will be wherever we go. Although we have beautiful weather most of the time, it can be raining cats and dogs in some places and be sunny and bright other places. The ocean has a big influence on the weather here, and there's a lot of variation in the terrain here. What's happening over the ocean can be quite different from what's happening over land, and what's happening over flat land can be very different from what's happening over some of the highest peaks in the U.S. In general, the windward (eastern) sides of the island get the most rain, while the leeward (western) sides get relatively little. Anyway, it's certainly nice right here, so we'll hope for the best. 2. Kuhio Avenue 3. Ala Wai Promenade The low bridge between Waikiki and the Ala Moana area will mark the "real" start of our tour. We'll stop at a number of great places, including beaches, shopping centers, harbors, and parks. Crossing the bridge over the Ala Wai Canal, we leave Waikiki. The picture on the left shows the Ala Wai Canal as seen from ground level. On the left side of the canal but out of view at the top is the Hawaii Convention Center (Waikiki and Downtown Tours). The picture on the right is the scene from the bridge. The promenade with attractive landscaping, a well designed walkway, benches, etc. is quite new, an improvement completed at about the same time as the Convention Center at the far end. A few more views of the walkway along the Ala Wai Canal. 4. Ala Moana Shopping Center On the right side of Ala Moana Boulevard before we make a left turn into Ala Moana Beach Park is the large and very popular Ala Moana Shopping Center. Located on 50 acres of prime commercial property within easy walking distance of Waikiki, the nearly two million square foot center is home to more than 230 shops and services, including large Macys, Sears, and Nieman Marcus department stores. An average of 42 million people visit the center each year, and more than 2,000 buses come and go daily. 9,000 parking spaces are available on four levels. There is a 1,300 seat Food Court with over 20 international food concepts. At the center of the complex is Centerstage where annually more than 500 musical performances and events are held. The central mall that is open air on the upper level, the third level restaurants that overlook Ala Moana Beach Park and the ocean, and the lush landscaping throughout the center all create a constant sense of presence in tropical Hawaii. For many visitors to the islands, the Ala Moana Shopping Center is by itself the main attraction. 5. Ala Moana Beach Park A very short distance ahead is Ala Moana Beach Park. At the traffic light we make a left turn and head into the park. Past the entry (photo at right), gradually the road curves right along the beach. Before we go too far, we'll turn left into an area of the park known as Magic Island. Rather than an island, though, it's really a peninsula, or spit of land, with a lagoon at the end. We can't drive out to the end, so we'll park, get out, and walk around Magic Island. As we walk straight out to the ocean, the beach next to Magic Island is in clear view (left). This is a beautiful sand beach, and the water is always as calm as it is today. So close to Waikiki and so close to hotels and condominiums in the immediate area of the park, you'd think the beach would be packed with people every day. But it's usually about like we see it today, maybe a little busier on weekends. Continuing on our walk toward the ocean, the scene is greener. This footpath (right) loops around the peninsula and will lead us right back to the parking lot from where we came. At the very end of the peninsula is a lagoon (left). It's a nice place to swim, but most people prefer the longer beach we passed a moment ago. Past the restrooms and on the other side of the peninsula now (right), there are great views back toward Waikiki and the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor visited on the Waikiki Tour. The cloudier sky toward the mountains compared to the clear sky over the ocean is rather typical. Out of Magic Island and back on the beach road now we travel along the beach at the left. The picture on the left is from the sidewalk that parallels the road. Clean golden sand and sunny days -- this is what it looks like year round. Just a little farther along (right) we look straighter out at the ocean. In the distance is Magic Island where we were about five minutes ago. On the right side of the road is an open grass area (picture at the right) with trees, picnic tables, etc. At the end of the park just before we get back onto Ala Moana Boulevard is a pond. The picture on the left is a view over the pond toward the Nauru Tower Condominium that overlooks the park. Panning slightly to the right (picture on the right) we see some picnicers next to the pond. The tarps are to provide shade and to protect against possible rain. But tents, tarps, etc. for overnight camping are prohibited. The park closes at 10:00pm.