It's Not Venice, But It's Close: Living on the Ala Wai Canal

Right now we have the good fortune to live near one of Waikiki's most famous features: a long, straight channel of water called the Ala Wai Canal. Constructed in the 1920s to drain the many streams in the area, the dredged dirt was then used to fill in the swampland along the beautiful Waikiki shoreline.

Building permits were issued, hotels and shops quickly went up- a tourist center was born.


People flock to the paved path that runs the length of the canal. From the crack of dawn until late in the evening tourists and locals alike run, cycle, power walk or take a lazy ramble along its placid waters.

It's definitely an outdoor culture here. On any given day you'll see young families with strollers, kids on skateboards, people feeding pigeons, and the occasional homeless person sleeping peacefully on a bench. There are lots of fish, but only two kinds, and some birds. The water is not very clean because of regional storm run-off, but this doesn't seem to bother the fishermen who regularly come to try their luck.

Although motorized boats aren't allowed on the canal, we do see a dozen or more outrigger canoes plying the waters each day. The paddlers are out on the water as the sun rises, and back again in early evening when it's cooler out, and they've finished work. We've seen many more boats out practicing in recent weeks now that it's racing season.



Just across the canal are the public ballfields, bustling by afternoon with baseball, soccer and basketball games all going on simultaneously. It's a busy place. The lights stay on late into the night- we often hear the crack of baseball bats and the swell of cheers as we're falling asleep. Small groups gather for doggie play-dates at the fringes.


Even on a rare rainy day, you can still enjoy wonderful views and a canal-side meal at The Cream Pot. Their crepes are fabulous!