This crescent shaped beach conjures up visions of magic. Majestic Diamond Head. Bronze and buff beach boys. Hula maidens calling your name with their eyes and flowing hands—and those vibrating, bump and grind hips. Wait. There’s more…

Of course, Waikiki was not always the tourist jewel in Hawaii. Once it was swamp land. Chiefs would ride their surf boards on mile long ocean waves. Naked.

Way back (nice segway, huh?) in the early 1800s, Kamehameha the Great assembled an army of 7,000 warriors on Waikiki beach (along with a few dozen armed schooners, a gunboat, and 500 war canoes) to attack the island of Kauai. Alas, SARS, or something like it, infected the warriors and the attack was called off. What for lack of Nyquil, the scene of Hawaii could be much different today.

Today Waikiki beach bustles with bikinis, babes, beach boys, tourists and hotels. Waikiki as a resort area traces roots back to the later 1800s when locals built cottages and entertained in the seclusion of the swampy area.

There’s not much seclusion in Waikiki these days. The swamps were drained dry by Ala Wai Canal, hotels top the skyline, and shops dot the streets. And pink bodies litter the beaches.

What’s a resort without pink bodies. The pinkest are from Japan. Canadians still wear socks with their sandals. A few unknowing Europeans go topless. No one says anything but cameras conspicuously begin clicking.

Waikiki runs about two miles in length from near Ala Moana Shopping Center to the base of Diamond Head. It’s only half a mile wide as the Ala Wai Canal forms a straight ribbon barrier to the mountain side of Waikiki.

Along the beach is a fine, luxurious, powder sand. Soft and sensuous. And imported from elsewhere on the island.

Waikiki is a must see. It’s often called the world’s longest shopping center. With a beach. Sunsets in the late fall, winter, and early spring months are stunning.

Pros: Wonderful beach, many amenities. Actually, the beach is average in Hawaii.

Cons: Crowded

Want to know the best places to eat in Hawaii? Click over to Ono Dining for totally biased reviews on Hawai's best (and not so best) restaurants.