Surfing (and Bodyboarding) at Waikiki

I went to Kailua Beach every morning during my Hawaiian holiday. After all, my beach cottage was only a stone's throw away. But I spent as much time at Waikiki as I did anywhere else on the island. (I never did surf Diamond Head. The waves were blown out while I was there.) Here I am walking to Queens along Kalakaua Ave. 

You can view about a gazillion videos on YouTube of people walking along this famous sidewalk. I especially enjoyed watching all the tourists and the families with small children as they romped on the sand and enjoyed the placid waters of Waikiki. Because I park in the Honolulu Zoo parking lot, it takes me only a few minutes to get to where I'm headed. 

The waves at Queens weren't huge while I was there but they were certainly rideable, and you even saw a set or two of larger waves. 

Now, just as much fun as surfing at Queens is bodyboarding at the Waikiki Wall (also called Walls). Surfboards are strictly prohibited here. 

All you need is a boogie board and a pair of fins. 

It's a great spot and it typically has pretty mellow regulars as long as you maintain basic etiquette and say hi. Walls is not the same as anything you've ridden on the mainland (whether west or east coast). It's a reef break and the wave is also a bit thicker so it can have some punch to it. 

Coming up ... bodysurfing Sandy Beach and Makapu'u.