| By Crystal
Christened in the early 1900’s by surfers due
to it’s location in front of Queen Lili’uokalani’s
beach front home, “Queens” is a soft, sloping
right. It is a spot frequented by tourists on rented
boards (nearby rental stands offer everything from surfboards,
to surf lessons, beach chairs, umbrellas, canoe rides,
etc) and sun-bronzed nose-riding locals alike. Queens
is ideal in larger conditions (think 3-5 feet Hawaiian
scale, 6-8 foot faces) when the wave has the opportunity
to double up on the inside.
If you’re not bold (or agro) enough to brave the
territorial crowd – in Waikiki everything from guys
screaming at one another to people kicking out their 10
foot longboard’s at one another is commonplace –
you might want to consider surfing Queens at night. On
any given evening, but particularly on summer nights when
there is a full moon out, you’ll find a small group
of surfers enjoying the balmy trades, the soft lilt of
Hawaiian music drifting from bands playing at bars on
the strip, and most importantly, the empty, crowd-less
break. For specific surf spot location check out our Oahu
surf maps.
Crowd factor: Ridiculous even on days
when there are only ankle-high ripples. Bring a large
stick and some mace.
Bottom: Sandy bottom but beware the
odd stick of coral.
Ability level: Beginner, but that
doesn’t mean you won’t piss off the local
talent.
Access: It’s easiest to park
at Kapiolani Park or the Honolulu Zoo parking lot. Feed
the meter for a good two to three hours worth and enjoy
a short stroll down Waikiki. Your heart will thank you
when you’re older.
What board to bring: LONGBOARD...
or better yet, bring your 12 foot tanker if you want
to catch waves. If you show up on a shortboard you must
either be a. REALLY, REALLY GOOD b. a sponsored, well-known
professional (however, this isn’t even a guarantee)
c. a regular. But to be on the safe side, LONGBOARD
IT. You’ll catch more waves and won’t regret
it when the longboarders start chanting “shortboarders
go in!”
Places to stay: The Royal Hawaiian
Hotel, also known as “The Pink Palace of the Pacific”
due to its lovely coral hue, remains an icon of vintage
Waikiki. The hotel’s 528 rooms and suites are
perfect for everything ranging from a weekend getaway
to a honeymoon vacation. Rates range from $420 to $725
and up a night.
2259 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815
(Ph) 808-923-7311
Places to eat: Rainbow’s Drive
In is a must. Conveniently located on Kapahulu Blvd,
this delectable hot spot serves up everything from Loco
Moco, yummy mix plates, to slushee floats, and French
fries, etc hit the spot. Bonus: it’s outdoors
so you don’t need to change out of your bathing
suit but good luck finding parking. (Ph) 808-737-0177. If you're staying near the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center you'll find a variety of great Waikiki restaurants including The Cheesecake Factory, PF Changes, and some fast food options like Panda Express, Sbarro, etc.
Tourists or surfers wanting to do touristy activities should try a Waikiki Luau. Luaus here in Hawaii aren't as cheap as Rainbows or Mcdonalds but they do provide a very enjoyable experience, a taste of Polynesian culture, and great tasting Hawaiian food!
Zippy’s is also located on Kapahulu Blvd, a local
favorite that is infamous not only for its chili but
also for their Zip Pacs. If you’re in the mood
for something sweet they also have an bakery with an
extensive pastry/pie/cake menu. You can hit up this
hot spot (a favorite local hang out) any time of the
day or night as it is conveniently open for business
24/7.
Surf shops in the area: Local Motion
is conveniently located at the beginning of Kalakaua
Ave. This trendy, two-story venue sells everything from
swim suits, surfboards and rashguards to wax, surf apparel,
etc. It’s wonderful for those days that you go
to the beach without a damn thing but your credit card.
(Ph) 808-979-7873.
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