Things to do nearAla Wai Canal

Built in the 1920s to drain the wetlands and fishponds that once spread behind Waikiki, the Ala Wai Canal transformed the area from marshland into the bustling district it is today. The project was completed in 1928, and the canal has served as both a practical drainage channel and a community gathering place ever since.

The paved path along the canal is one of Honolulu's most popular corridors for walking and jogging, and outrigger canoe clubs have made the waterway their training ground for generations. You can watch skilled paddlers navigate the calm water at almost any hour, and kayaking tours sometimes use the canal as a gentle introduction to paddling before heading toward the ocean. Just steps away, Ala Wai Community Park provides open green space where locals play tennis, softball, and soccer.

The canal connects Waikiki to the broader Ala Wai Boat Harbor area, and the surrounding neighborhood is rich with local eateries and small shops frequented more by residents than tourists. The atmosphere along the water is noticeably calmer than the busy streets of Waikiki a short walk to the south.

For visitors seeking an authentic glimpse of everyday Honolulu life beyond the resort strip, the Ala Wai Canal offers a genuinely local perspective that makes it well worth an afternoon.