Waikiki means “spouting water” in the Hawaiian language, which references the rivers and springs that flowed into the area. Following is a timeline tracing Waikiki from its rural days of first being discovered to its current urban state of hotels and tourists flocking the area.

1450 – Waikiki was established as the governmental center of Oahu.

1778 – Hawaiian islands were first discovered by European explorers.

1830 – Foreign visitors began visiting Waikiki.

Mid-late 1800’s – Waikiki served as a vacation retreat for Hawaii’s royalty.

1901 – Building of Waikiki’s first hotel, The Moana Hotel.

1907 – Planned for tourism development, widening streets and building bridges.

1927 – Building of the Honolulu Zoo and the Natatorium War Memorial.

1927 – Opening of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

1934 – Hawaii music gains popularity.

1941 – Bombing of Pearl Harbor; Waikiki became a place of rest and recreation for soldiers and sailors.

1940’s & 1950’s – Tourism continued to thrive; airlines began offering regular flights from the west coast.