The Beaches of Waikīkī
This section of Waikīkī Beach contains four distinct areas: Outrigger Canoe Club, Sans Souci, Kapi‘olani Park, and Queen’s Surf. The Outrigger Canoe Club Beach fronts the club, Which was founded in 1908 to revive surfing and canoe paddling and to promote other sports and activities. Sans Souci (from the French “without care”) takes its name from a small hotel that once stood on grounds now occupied by Kaimana Beach Hotel. In 1893 the famed Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson spent five weeks convalescing at Sans Souci. He praised the hotel for its “lovely scenery, quiet, pure air, clear sea water, good food, and heavenly sunsets…” Next to San Souci is the war memorial Natatorium, a monument to the 179 island men who lost their lives in World War I. This unique athletic facility, with its 100-meter salt-water pool, opened in 1927.
Sponsored by: Shirahama Tourism Association of Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
GPS Coordinates: 21.163438°N, -157.49375276°W
Kapi‘olani Park Beach is part of the 100-acre Kapi‘olani Regional Park which was dedicated in 1877 by King Kalākaua in honor of his Queen Kapi‘olani. The park’s main feature was a horse track in early years. The U.S. Army used the open ground there was an encampment after the annexation of Hawai‘i in 1898. The Queen’s Surf was one of the most popular restaurant-night clubs in Honolulu during the 1950s and 1960s for both visitors and residents. It was named for the famous surf break offshore. The structure was demolished in 1971 to make room for park improvements. In traditional times, there were at least two temples or heiau located near the shoreline in this area. One was Kupalaha, at Queen’s Surf Beach. It may have functioned in connection with the famous Papa‘ena‘ena‘ heiau where it is believed the last human sacrifices were made by Kamehameha I in Waikīkī. The other was Makahuna near the foot of Lēʻahi (Diamond Head) which was dedicated to Kanaloa, the god of the ocean, and was attended to by fishermen and seamen.
