Waikiki: Sunsets, Surfing, and Don't Burst My Bubble
February 23, 2016
When thinking of Waikiki, we think about sticking our toes into white sand while sipping mai tais and watching the sunset. There is an old-world romance that exudes from Waikiki, despite the modern landscape the area has today. It’s a feeling of fun, of relaxation, of happiness.
Why Waikiki? Because it’s a special place filled with natural beauty and a culture rich in history.
Love of Hawaii
The love of Hawaii may well have started when mainland readers were introduced to fictional character Charlie Chan in the 1925 novel House Without a Key. Written by Earl Derr Biggers during his visit to the Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach, the novel was named after one of the restaurants at the hotel. It was eye-opening in its time for its honesty about cultural differences while giving readers a feel for the island experience.
Up until this time, Waikiki was largely a destination reserved for the richest around the globe, accessible only by ship until the 1950s and 1960s when surf culture and traveling by plane placed it firmly on the map as a must-experience destination.
1950s & 1960s
While the Halekulani Hotel may have influenced the writing of a classic novel, it wasn’t Hawaii’s first resort destination. That spot is reserved for The Royal Hawaiian that opened its doors in Waikiki on February 1, 1927. They served as many as 1,200 guests at a time including presidents, actors, and wealthy businessmen.
While it continues to be a popular resort to this day, it’s no longer just for the rich and famous.
The rise of passenger flights in the 1950s and 1960s brought everyday folks like me and you through doors of The Royal Hawaiian to enjoy history, food, culture, and much-needed relaxation but hotels aren’t the only Hawaiian attraction.
Music & Culture
The Beach Boys’ music, Elvis Presley’s movies like Blue Hawaii, and a television show called Hawaii 5-0 made surf culture mainstream in the 1950s and 1960s, bringing many to Waikiki beach in search of the perfect wave.
It was surf culture — boardshorts, surfboards, bikinis, and a laidback beach lifestyle — that attracted tourists and new residents to Waikiki, placing Hawaii firmly on the map as a place for vacations, living a life of relaxed, and natural goodness.
Grab a piece of Waikiki today with our Don't Burst My Bubble Collection at Foterra Jewelry.
I absolutely love them. I wear them with a lavender colored blouse. I'll have to check to see if you have them in other colors.
By the way, the photo in my string bracelet, which was of a flower, fell out. Is it a press fit, or should I glue it back in?
This necklace is even more beautiful in person. I love it. The packaging was very nice as well. Will definitely buy again from foterra and this artist!
