
Waikiki (Spouting Water) is another world, a concrete jungle of tourists and tourist-oriented activities. The area only covers seven-tenths of a square mile. On any given day, about 110,000 people crowd its beaches and boulevards, making it one of the most densely populated areas on earth. Some 60,000 of these are tourists; 30,000 are workers largely catering to the tourists who commute from other area of Oahu; and 20,000 actually call Waikiki home. The turnover is about 80,000 new tourists a week and the pace rarely slackens. To the head shakers, these facts condemn Waikiki as a mega-growth area gone wild. To others, these same figures make Waikiki an energized, fun filled place where if you don't have a good time, it's your own fault.
For the naïve or out-of-touch looking for a grass-shack paradise, the closest they'll come to it in Waikiki is likely to be a painting on a souvenir ashtray. However, those drawn to a smorgasbord of activities, that are adept at choosing the best and ignoring the rest, will have a ball! The people and non-stop action in Waikiki are as constant as the ever-rolling surf. George and Mary Lou Stott own a condo unit in Waikiki on Lewers St. they use as an overnight hideaway. For over ten months in 2005, they lived in the condo while their house in Kailua was being remodeled. Several evenings a week, George walked to and from a gym at the other end of Waikiki. George believes he has looked inside almost every hotel, store, bar, restaurant, etc. in Waikiki and in doing so, gained a whole new perspective of Waikiki. There are countless interesting places both on and off the beaten path with something always seeming to be going on. Moreover, the people watching, by itself, is worth the price of admission.
Homes in Waikiki consist almost exclusively of high-rise condominium units. They come in all sizes, shapes and price ranges from under $100,000 for a leasehold studio unit to several $million for something large with a spectacular ocean view. If you're searching for properties, select Home Search from the top of the page. Then, select Conduct Your Own Search and click on the Metro area of the map. If you click on the Waikiki in heavy black, it will put you into the Metro area. That area is broken down into a number of neighborhoods; Near the bottom of the page is Waikiki.
|
|