Waikiki in Honolulu in Honolulu County, Hawaii — Hawaiian Island Archipelago (Pacific Ocean)

Waikiki

Waikiki Historic Trail

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 15, 2014

1. Waikiki Marker

Inscription. Waikiki means “spouting water” because it was a vast marshland fed by many streams. You are in fact standing on what was the mouth of an old stream, the Kuekaunahi. From ancient times Waikiki has been a popular surfing spot which is one of the reasons why the chiefs made their homes and headquarters here for hundreds of years. Though it’s been called “the sport of kings,” everyone surfed. Surf spots had their special names and the most famous in Waikiki was Kalehuawehe or “take off the lehua.” It was so named when a legendary hero took off of his lei of lehua blossoms and gave it to the wife of the ruling chief with whom he was surfing. Romance and surfing often went together.

“I tried surf bathing once, subsequently, but made a failure of it… The board struck the shore in ¾ of a second, without any cargo, and I struck the bottom at the same time, with a couple of barrels of water in me.”
~Mark Twain, Waikiki, 1866

Believe it or not, by 1900 surfing had nearly died out in Hawai’i partly because of the missionary opposition to the sport which took people away from worship and other religious obligations. Waikiki has some of the best summer waves in the world. The swells vary in height from 2 to 8 feet and on rare occasions, have reached as high as 35 feet. A ride can easily extend a hundred yards or so. The longest ride recorded took place in 1917 when the great Duke Kahanamoku caught a 35 foot wave and rode it to shore, a distance of a mile and a quarter.

Duke Kahanamoku, was famous as an Olympic Champion before his surfing. He introduced surfing to Australia and demonstrated the sport up and down the California Coast.

Erected by City and County of Honolulu. (Marker Number 2.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 21° 16.293′ N,

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157° 49.374′ W. Marker is in Honolulu, Hawaii, in Honolulu County. It is in Waikiki. It is on Kalaukaua Ave, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2586 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu HI 96815, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in North America,

in Polynesia,

in the Pacific Ocean,

in North Pacific,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Beaches of Waikiki (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole (about 700 feet away); Duke Paoa Kahanamoku (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Stones Of Life (approx. 0.3 miles away); The First Lady of Waikiki (approx. 0.4 miles away); Victoria Kawekiu F Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapu Ka’iulani Cleghorn (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mahiole (approx. ¾ mile away); Kawehewehe (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Honolulu.

Regarding Waikiki. The second photo caption: This photo from the 1920's

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 15, 2014

2. Waikiki Marker

shows three surfers in various stages of catching a wave. Diamond Head, or Mr. Leahi as it was known to the Hawaiians is in the background.

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 15, 2014

3. Waikiki Marker

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 15, 2014

4. Waikiki Marker

Makua and Kila Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 15, 2014

5. Makua and Kila Plaque

Based on a children's story by Fred Van Dyke honoring Hawaiian values of Love & Respect for Ohana (Family) and the Ocean.

Makua and Kila statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 15, 2014

6. Makua and Kila statue

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 15, 2014

7. Waikiki Marker

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 15, 2014

8. Waikiki Marker

Hui Nalu, organized in the early 1900s as a club for social and competitive water sports, showed that the rebirth of surfing was in full swing.

Duke Kahanamoku image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 15, 2014

9. Duke Kahanamoku

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2014, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,214 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on April 21, 2014, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.