Queen's Surf Boardwalk, Waikiki

The Queen's Surf Boardwalk, part of San Souci State Recreational Park, runs 700 meters from the Waikiki Wall jetty and gazebo, and ocean swimming pool or ponds, at the end of Kapahulu Ave in the north, to the Natatorium and Waikiki Aquarium in the south. It starts as a beautiful cement path in a parklike setting under banyan trees with long tarzan ropes, hundreds of coconut trees, wide shady monkeypod trees, and always the blue sea in view. Stop a while and sit under a monkeypod tree enjoying the breeze. Many benches and lampposts line the walkway, and there is a bronze statue of a surfer on a wave at the beginning of the walk. You pass wonderful swimming spots at Queen's Surf Beach, and a smaller rock jetty with a lifeguard shack nearby- jump in the water to cool off! Barefoot Beach Cafe is a spot where you can grab a snack- it is open morning to evening. At this point the boardwalk becomes a path directly on the water- there is no beach. It is magical! The waves crash on the boardwalk and you feel alive! I like to walk here first thing in the morning before the crowds. Local residents are on the lawn exercising, and it feels like you live here, without all the tourists around. Continue past more amazing huge trees and picnic tables. Now you walk behind the Waikiki Aquarium and touch tanks, and you can see the Natatorium up ahead. It was built after World War I, in 1927, to honor the 179 residents who died in the war. It had a 100 meter saltwater pool, where all the fancy flapper ladies would swim. You now pass an area of banyan trees full of atmosphere, and then see the grand Beaux Arts entrance arch of the Natatorium. You are at Hau Tree Beach, and the boardwalk has ended!

This area where the boardwalk is located is called Queen's Surf because there used to be a nightclub here in the 1950s and 60s called Queen's Surf Polynesian Garden and Samoan Bar (where the Barefoot Beach Cafe currently stands). It had a torchlit luau with Tahitian Rum Punch and traditional Hawaiian food cooked underground in the imu. There was a chanter called a high priest, Kent Ghirard and the Hula Nani Girls (hula dancers), a comedian, a fire dancer, a "Tahitian Bombshell," entertainment by Sterling Mossman (from Hawaii Five-O), and music by Mahi and Nona Beamer, plus many other star entertainers. There was Thursday fashion show luncheons, dinner dancing on the surf lanai on Saturdays, and dancing every night on the upper terrace. Monday was Muumuu Night, when you could win a prize for your Hawaiian wear. Surfwagon dinners with fried chicken and prime rib were also served, at the water's edge. 
The nightclub was torn down in 1971. Before that, it had been the location of Queen Lilioukalani's seaside cottage. The mansion where the nightclub was located was created as a residence in 1914 for W.K. Seering of the International Harvester Co in Illinois, by famous Chicago architects Holabird and Roche (I'm still checking the facts on this). Fleischmann yeast entrepreneur Chris Holmes lived there next, in 1937. After, it was acquired by the city and rented out as a nightclub.
Another nice boardwalk right on the waves is the Halekulani Boardwalk, further north on Waikiki Beach. Also check out the Fort DeRussy boardwalk, a fun area. 

Directions

The Queen's Surf Boardwalk, part of San Souci State Recreational Park, runs from the Waikiki Wall jetty and gazebo at the end of Kapahulu Ave in the north, to the Natatorium in the south.

Click on map for interactive view