Waikiki
Surfing at Waikiki Beach, concerts at Kapi’olani Regional Park
Maybe the most well-known stretch of sand in O’ahu, Waikiki Beach is considered by many as the birthplace of modern surfing. The Waikiki Beach Boys, a group of native Hawaiians, revived the sport here in the early 1900s and have taught people how to ride waves ever since then. Like most of the southern coast, the water stays at about 75 degrees year-round, and sea life is a common sight in crystal-clear reefs. The area is made up of several beaches, really, but they’re often grouped together; northern beaches such as Kahanamoku and Fort DeRussy likely have fewer tourists, and the same can be said for Kuhio and Queens Beaches on the southern end. The latter beaches lead to Kapi’olani Regional Park, a 200-acre green space and the former site of King Kalakaua’s polo fields in the 19th century. Along with waterside paths and sports courts, this park hosts the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium. The Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell, toward the middle of the park, is a frequent venue for the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra and musicians from around the world. Le'ahi — or Diamond Head National Monument — is just east along the coast, and it’s a volcanic cone that formed about 500,000 years ago. Today, this crater-like park is one of the most popular parks in Honolulu, as its hiking trails have elevated views of the city. Across from Waikiki’s northern canal, the Ala Wai Golf Course is a public 18-holer that’s hosted some United States Golf Association championships.High-rise condos and apartments are steps from the beach
Mixed in with hotels and resorts, high-rise condominiums and apartments offer vacation-style living, and they often have views of Waikiki Beach. Their recreation centers usually have pools, gyms and other amenities, and they were mostly built in the 1970s. Most buildings have minimalist architecture, colored in earth tones and topped with flat roofs. These properties are often second homes, so they’re usually occupied by part-time owners or renters. Many listings are leasehold: property rights transfer to the tenant for the duration of the lease and, afterward, revert back to the original owner. Unlike fee-simple or traditional leases, the property owners might only own the unit and not the land itself. Prices depend on the length or existence of this lease, in addition to beach proximity and square footage. Closer to the canal and farther from the beach, small units typically have one or two bedrooms. They start at $50,000 for summer-long lease periods but can reach $500,000 for longer-term rentals. Properties above this mark likely don’t have a lease, and buyers can own them outright. They’re likely a similar size to the leaseholds, and units can be found in the $600s. Luxury units often have views of the ocean and more square footage, and they can go above three million. Like most of Honolulu, some properties are in a flood zone: heavy rain in May 2024 resulted in a road closure along Seaside Avenue, and Hurricane Douglass resulted in minor damage in 2020.Beachfront meals and luxury shops
Waikiki has some of the most popular restaurants in O’ahu, clustered around resorts and hotels. Ones closer to the coast have views of the water, and for these upscale spots, live music often accompanies the meal. Thanks to their location and popularity with tourists, restaurants here often have a big price tag; Duke’s Waikiki is always busy because of its beachfront surf and turf, and Hula Grill Waikiki specializes in pupu and fish tacos. The International Market Place is an open-air mall closer to the canal, featuring a food court with tastes from around the world. “It’s a big draw for people,” says Fran Magbual, a Realtor-Associate with Coldwell Banker since 2016. “My family loves Liliha Bakery in there, and they’re known for their cream puffs and oxtail soup.” This complex also houses one of Honolulu’s only Magnolia Ice Cream locations, another local chain that Magbual recommends. A center for entertainment, the Market Place has Polynesian song and dance on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. Well-known stores are here, too, including Macy’s, Billabong, Fabletics and Pandora Jewelry. The Royal Hawaiian Center is close by, and luxury brands here include Hermès and Tiffany & Co. This neighborhood, though, has everything from clothing boutiques to gift shops.Year-round festivals in these crowded streets
More than constant performances from musicians, Waikiki has a lot of signature events throughout the year. Waikiki Spam Jam is rated as one of the top annual food festivals in Hawai’i, a block party that celebrates the iconic canned meat. During this late April festival, vendors sell Spam-related merchandise, and local restaurants serve Spam-based dishes — a tradition that’s been called “Can to Table Restaurant Week.” POW! WOW! takes place in mid-February, and it’s a weeklong mural festival that draws artists from around the world. March brings the Honolulu Festival, a three-day celebration of Honolulu’s art, music and food scenes.Walkable schools with Hawai’i State Department of Education
President Thomas Jefferson Elementary is on the south side of Waikiki, and it gets a B from Niche. Its 300-plus students are a diverse group, representing about 25 different countries; they can take courses such as Hawaiian Studies and Garden Club. President George Washington Middle is about a mile north of the neighborhood and scores another B. It has a School Community Council, where staff members are elected by peers to advise the principal. The council works in tandem with WMS Ohana, a parent organization, to improve the school. About 2 miles north of Waiki, Kaimuki High receives a B-minus. Its campus is decorated with colorful murals, and sports include judo, water polo and paddling.Walking around town, driving to other parts of O’ahu
The beach is less than a half-mile from most homes, so walking around Waikiki is common. Wide sidewalks cater to crowds of tourists and surfers lugging boards, next to heavily trafficked thoroughfares such as Kalakaua, Kuhio and Koa avenues. Streets are busy with taxis and Ubers, but bike routes increase toward the coast. O’ahu also has a bike share program called Biki, and rentals are just over $10 per day. The island’s bus system, TheBus, has been recognized as America’s Best Transit System by the American Public Transportation Association, and it has routes all around Honolulu. If residents prefer to drive, they might struggle to find a spot. “Parking in Waikiki is a whole thing,” says Magbual. “People will sell their parking spaces or rent them out. You could live in one building and rent a space two buildings down because that’s the only place you can find parking.” Ala Moana Boulevard follows the coast north into downtown, Chinatown and other popular parts of the city. The H1 Interstate is just north of Waikiki, and it runs along the southern side of O’ahu. This interstate also connects to the H2, H3 and others, so all sides of the island are accessible. To fly to another island or the mainland, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is about 9 miles up the coast.


Agents Specializing in this Area
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Tom Presler
Compass
(808) 400-9334
62 Total Sales
10 in Waikiki
$80K - $975K Price Range
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Fran Magbual
Coldwell Banker Realty
(808) 465-4554
79 Total Sales
3 in Waikiki
$195K - $245K Price Range
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DA
Deborah Arguello
Fathom Realty HI LLC
(808) 374-5480
44 Total Sales
1 in Waikiki
$355,000 Price
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Sherine Duncan
eXp Realty
(808) 201-2526
224 Total Sales
28 in Waikiki
$205K - $790K Price Range
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Caroline Faringer
Responds QuicklyBerkshire Hathaway HmSvc HI RE
(808) 824-4580
21 Total Sales
5 in Waikiki
$255K - $620K Price Range
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Myron Kiriu
Responds QuicklyBHGRE Advantage Realty
(808) 755-3889
530 Total Sales
16 in Waikiki
$84K - $1.4M Price Range
Schools
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Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Waikiki | US |
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Homicide | 3 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
Robbery | 4 | 4 |
Burglary | 3 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
Larceny | 4 | 4 |
Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Waikiki Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Waikiki, Honolulu sell after 108 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Waikiki, Honolulu over the last 12 months is $789,515, up 116% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
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Saturday, Aug 22 - 5pm
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Sunday, Aug 32 - 5pm
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Sunday, Aug 32 - 5pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
Good Transit
Transit Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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