Waikiki Revamp - Hawaii
Airing Date: Jul 14th, 2007
America's tropical island state,
Hawaii, is made up of seven islands. The most popular of these islands is
Oahu, home to seventy precent of the states population.
It's also the most popular island with the tourists too - with its endless sun, surf and sand, as well as endless shopping and entertainment on offer.
Waikiki is the world's most famous city beach, stretching along
Oahu's southern shore. It was this very beach that gave
Hawaii the tourism jumpstart in the 1920's and is now the most densely built of
Hawaii's beach resorts. This is where you'll find
Hawaii's biggest crowds. Nine out of every ten visitors to the islands stops here!
It has two miles of the best beach on the planet, and it's all the better for being recently widened with sand pumped from offshore. This was just one of the many improvements that took place as part of the
Waikiki revamp which was unveiled in April 2007. Nearly eight acres along the popular 'strip' at
Lewers Street have been completely rebuilt and transformed into
Waikk's newest shopping, dining and entertainment destination, the
Waikiki Beach Walk.
Located on the
Waikiki Beach Walk is
Malibu Shirts, it's a shop and a surfing museum at the same time. It's filled with surf memorabilia and pictures. Here you can choose a vintage surf t-shirt design off an old photograph and have it personally reproduced.
When it comes to the biggest Hawaiian tradition of surfing, the Waikiki Beach Boys are a true legend and their legacy still lives on today. Back in the 20's the original beach boys taught visitors to surf and of course a thing or two about Hawaiian culture. This tradition is still being carried on today by people such as the Waikiki Beach Services, they're still taking people out for surf lessons and outrigger canoe rides every day!
To get a real Aloha feel for the Waikiki area and beyond, Platinum Activities and Limousines have gigantic Hummer Limo's that can seat up to 18 people and have you cruising the streets of Honolulu in true superstar style!
When you're in Hawaii, you may notice that the locals have a true love for Spam - the canned ham. They really love it here and eat around 7million cans a year! It's served everywhere and they even have a festival dedicated the canned meat they consider a staple! If you happen to be in town in April you'll have to check out the Spam Jam festival, it's a fun street festival and great way to mingle with the locals. Mahalo!
FURTHER INFORMATION
Royal Hawaiian- Rooms from $600 per night. For more information, visit
www.royal-hawaiian.com Prices correct at 14/07/07 Prices include taxes, subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply.
Hawaiian Airlines- fly return to Honolulu from $1755 ex East Coast. For more information, visit
www.hawaiianair.com.au Prices correct at 20/06/07. Prices subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply.
Hummer Limo Tours- From $194 per hour. Seats 18 people. For more information visit
www.platinumactivities.com
