The neighborhood of Waikiki begins from the Ala Wai Canal which is a channel dug to drain the former wetlands of the area on the west and north of the island and ends on the Diamond Head also known as Leahi on the eastern side.

The name of Waikiki when translated in English means spouting fresh water in Hawaiian language and it is termed as that for springs and streams that once fed wetlands which used to separate the neighborhood of Waikiki from the inner side of the island. The place has been a popular tourist resort for many years and was one of the abodes of the Hawaiian royalty in the 19 th century in times of retreat. There are now many popular hotels constructed in the neighborhood and it is the paradise of many tourists. The popular hotels of the area include Hilton Hawaiian Village , the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, the Halekulani hotel and the Sheraton hotel, Waikiki .