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Hawaii's best resource -
the PEOPLE of Waikiki, Ala Moana & Kakaako
www.tomBROWER.com Email:Tom
2006 POSTCARDS & History of Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kakaako.
This page includes pictures of Hawaii state house district 23; above is the view from
Ala Moana Beach Park looking mauka to Kakaako and downtown Honolulu.
Photo: View at Magic Island peninsula to Diamond Head and Ala Moana "Bowls."
HISTORY: Currently, Waikiki (spouting water; refering to the springs that
flowed to the area) is 1.5 square miles, in old Hawaii it included the neighboring
valleys of Manoa and Palolo. During the 1400's, Chief Kalamakua designed an area irrigation system that consisted of fishponds and taro patches. Soon at this time Waikiki was established as the center of government on Oahu.
Waikiki had several historic Hawaii battles. In 1794, the Big Island's Kamehameha I
and his canoe army invaded Waikiki Beach and drove toward Nuuanu to Oahu's chief Kalanikupule. Kamehameha’s army forced Oahu's warriors to retreat up the valley, where they were driven off the cliffs of Nuuanu Pali, near today's lookout. |
Waikiki aboard Hawaiian Airlines Flight to Hilo.
Photo: View includes Yacht Harbor Towers, Hawaii Prince Hotel, Discovery Bay
condominium, the Ilikai Hotel and condominium, and the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Though our Waikiki neighbors represent less than 3 percent of the state's
population, they live in the state's greatest economic resource, with nearly
85,000 daily visitors and 30,000 workers. Over 160,000 jobs are directly and
indirectly affected by visitor expenditures. A Waikiki Business Improvement
District 2002 survey shows that 4,650 commercial parcels in Waikiki, valued
at nearly $5.7 billion, contributed $55 million in property taxes. |
Commercial ships at Kewalo Basin.
Photo: Waikiki Beach, ewa across from the Hilton Hawaiian Village lagoon.
In 1812, King Kamehameha moved his court from Kailua-Kona to Honolulu. Soon after Waikiki became a vacation retreat for the kingdom’s royalty; including
Kamehameha IV and V, Lunalilo, Kalakaua, Liliuokalani and Princess Kaiulani.
During the 20th century Waikiki become a visitor destination. The Ala Wai Canal wasbuild in the 1920s to drain the swamp area as hotel construction began as the area became a world class visitor destination. |
Photo: View at Tantalus Lookout above Manoa, the Univesrity of Hawaii and Makiki.
While receiving over half of the state's 7 million visitors in 2004, with 40 percent of
Oahu's visitors being international travelers, Waikiki accounted for 8 percent of our
state's GDP, about $3.6 billion. According to the latest 2006 figures of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, 10 percent of all civilian jobs statewide and 12 percent of all state and county tax revenues can be attributed to Waikiki tourism. |
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Kakaako Waterfront Park: (Point Panic surf spot)
With months of attention, focus and debate on Kakaako's future, area residents and business owners can now say with clarity that a consensus on the 670-acre development has been made. They say it is mandatory that a moral responsible, development plan include substantial open space, sufficient public beach access and parking. And ideally, no housing on state land makai of Ala Moana Boulevard, especially if the state needs to sell the land for development. This area must not be overdeveloped. |
Kuhio Beach in Waikiki.
View of Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, Hilton Hawaiian Village from Ala Moana Beach.
Queen's Surf Beach near Kapahulu Avenue.
Diamond Head Crater.
SEE PICTURES: Tom & his neighbor's apartment
views; Waikiki, Ala Moana. His Mom and her
neighbors view Ala Moana, Kakaako.
www.tomBROWER.com
Waikiki, Ala Moana & Kakaako's
people, pictures and issues
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