Honolulu's Waikiki Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

This hunk of concrete goes all the way back to 1904, when President Taft demanded that a “Ring of Steel'' be built around Hawaii’s coast to protect it from attacking battleships. NOTE: The tour is over 14 miles long, with more than 45+ audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

Deeper blues surround a strip of light blue, where the bottom of the ocean is a clean slate of sand. This marks one of the four ancient healing sites in Waikiki.

These waters have been the lifesource of the Hawaiian people since ancient Polynesians first settled here between 400 and 1100 CE.

Waikiki has seen plenty of famous figures, but one of its most beloved was Hawaii’s last heir to the throne, Princess Kaiulani.

When Princess Ka’iulani passed in 1899, another Hawaiian hero began to rise in her stead. He was Duke Kahanamoku, the surfing legend of Hawaii. His story begins in the shadows of the palm trees - or rather, on the crest of a breaker in the distance.

One of Hawaii’s most iconic landmarks, this hotel debuted in 1927. Since then it’s hosted celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, presidents like Franklin Roosevelt, and legendary Waterman Duke Kahanamoku himself!

Built in 1901, the Moana featured the first electric-powered elevator in Hawaii, which is still in use today! But it’s more famous as the site of one of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries: The murder of Jane Stanford.

In the early 1900s, most people had never seen anyone surf. And then here came one of the greatest surfers of all time to show them how it was done! Nearly everyone who watched Duke surf immediately wanted a piece of the action. Duke kicked off a surfing fever that swept across the world!

We’re approaching Kuhio Beach, one of the best beaches in town. Doesn’t this spot seem perfect for relaxing? If you’re into snorkeling or bodyboarding, this is the spot to do it! With both sides of this beach enclosed by concrete walls that stretch into the ocean, it’s also a calm wading pool for families with children.

This is Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole, the youngest son of a high Hawaiian priest. He lived in a home on this very spot in Waikiki with his wife, princess Elizabeth Kahanu.

Off to our right stands the Waikiki Wall. At first glance, this concrete wall kind of looks out of place sitting in this tropical paradise. But the walls have been here for so long, they’ve become part of the scenery.

By the time Duke retired from the Olympics in 1932, he’d earned three gold and two silver medals. Later, he fought in World War II, served multiple terms as Sheriff of Honolulu, and did so much more to bring fame and honor to Hawaii.

This statue is “Makua and Kila,” a young surfer and his unlikely friend: A Hawaiian monk seal. Greet them with aloha! They’re always glad to see visitors. They’ve been sending aloha to folks like you since they first came to this beach.

The spirit of Duke and everything he stood for is alive and well in Waikiki. People surf and swim. They laugh and love. And until his death in 1968, all Duke hoped was that these things would live on.