The busiest tourist destination in Hawaii, Waikiki is often confused for a city—but it's not. It is in Honolulu, and it's not even technically downtown Honolulu, at least according to locals and the bus lines. Waikiki is actually one neighborhood fronting a stunning beach that's made safe and swimmable by a sea wall built along the shoreline. Hotels started opening on the beachfront strip in 1901, and by the '70s this neighborhood was known throughout the world as the epicenter of white sand, luau, mai tais, and surfing. All of that is still preserved—the Royal Hawaiian Hotel was recently revamped, while music superstar Don Ho and surf legend Duke Kahanamoku both have legacies in the local entertainment offerings. Waikiki has a big-city feeling that's more in keeping with Miami or San Diego than laid-back Hawaii, and since there's no going backward, the neighborhood continues to develop with projects like the new tower at Hilton Hawaiian Village and the $450 million Waikiki Beach Walk.