Hawaii Magazine Article : "The New Waikiki"

[tikiyaki]

I read this and was wondering how the locals feel about this. It talks about how Waikiki is being redone after many years of building resrictions keeping Waikiki looking old and tacky.

Having been ther this past December, All I saw was one cement stucco monster after the next being erected, making it look like "anywhere, USA"

This article claims that the new Waikiki is more "authentic Hawaiian", and even boast how Don Ho himself bought a condo in the NEw Trump Tower.

I don't know, it seems like alot of smoke being blown up the wazoo, because alot of opinions in this forum seem to be against all the development.

So, what do you guys think ?

http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/magazine/24/2/new_waikiki

[Vanguard]

I have mixed feelings. One the one hand, when I was in Hawaii in the late 1990's, I didn't really like to go to Waikiki for the gaudiness and tackiness it had become (for some reason, my 1980's memories were so fond and happy). On the other hand, when I last visited Hawaii in 2003, the general feel and types of business and restaurants in Waikiki had too much of a California vibe, IMO. Perhaps all the major players are wrong for the time being.

[DannyWilliams]

I have seen pics of Lewers Street and stuff and its looks nice somehow but is it losing its local flavor?

Is Waikiki WAIKIKI?

With no movie theaters and no International Market Place its losing its Indentity for the locals born and raised there.

Will have to see if the new facelift is goin to benefit

[tikiyaki]

I have mixed feelings. One the one hand, when I was in Hawaii in the late 1990's, I didn't really like to go to Waikiki for the gaudiness and tackiness it had become (for some reason, my 1980's memories were so fond and happy). On the other hand, when I last visited Hawaii in 2003, the general feel and types of business and restaurants in Waikiki had too much of a California vibe, IMO. Perhaps all the major players are wrong for the time being.

I got a real "Beverly Hills" vibe out of the whole thing...you know, that "playground for the rich" feeling from it. It bummed me out a bit, like, I had no business being there because I don't go for all that designer crap.

Like it's suffering what the rest of the world is going thru, with all those stupid MTV shows like "The Hills" and "Laguna Beach", and the celebration of all the now, much revered by the youth culture, soulless affluence of the Paris Hilton generation. I didn't see much "authentic Hawaii", just alot of "newer, faster, better, more" kind of thing. I didn't dig it.

[Keanu]

The so called "Waikiki Renaissance" wasn't created with the intent of bringing locals back to Waikiki. These "improvements" were drawn with tourists in mind.

I find the authentic Hawaiian reference in the article to be pretty ludicrous.

I think the development stinks!

[tutusue]

Ditto what Keanu said. I will always love Waikiki only 'cuz I hang on to my first memories of it...1960. I was soooooo thrilled to be in Hawaii that I told my dad I'd move there some day. He didn't take me seriously! While Waikiki was wonderful then I wonder how many of the locals were saying the same thing about it then as the newer generation is now. Regardless, if I have the time when heading east I will always journey thru Waikiki instead of taking the freeway. Nostalgia rocks! :) But that doesn't mean I like what's happening to it. Trump Tower...pitttttuuuuie!

[Pomai]

O.K., Maddie just showed up after a long hiatus, so where's Kimo55 when we need him most? Kimo, any comments on this?

Personally, I stick with Duke's in the Outrigger Waikiki on the beach. Perfect blend of old Hawaii charm with all the neat nostalgic photos and tikibar style Koa (looking) wood paneled walls, along with the hustle and bustle of modern Waikiki. Plus a front-row view of Waikiki beach that's just as beautiful today as it was 100 years ago.

As long as they don't put anymore new highrises east of Kapahulu avenue, up to Diamond Head, it'll be fine.

I like the new Lewers Beachwalk. They did a fantastic job. It's a million times better than the cramped, undecorated corridor it was before it.

[tutusue]

[...]Personally, I stick with Duke's in the Outrigger Waikiki on the beach. Perfect blend of old Hawaii charm with all the neat nostalgic photos and tikibar style Koa (looking) wood paneled walls, along with the hustle and bustle of modern Waikiki. Plus a front-row view of Waikiki beach that's just as beautiful today as it was 100 years ago.
[...]
I like the new Lewers Beachwalk. They did a fantastic job. It's a million times better than the cramped, undecorated corridor it was before it.
I, too, love Duke's, and wish Lewers could've been designed to resemble it! No money to be made that way, tho'. <sigh>

When my nephew and entourage arrived last week-end they immediately went to Duke's because it's in the same hotel that they were staying. They loved Duke's. I made sure to tell 'em that isn't what the rest of Waikiki looks like...but it should. Then I met them at Don Ho's Island Grill! By then they thought I was nuts and that every place would have the nostalgic tropical look!