Ala Wai Canal, Major drainage canal in Waikiki, Honolulu, United States.
The Ala Wai Canal is an artificial waterway running roughly 2 miles along the northern edge of Waikiki, collecting water from multiple streams in central and eastern Honolulu before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The canal is crossed by several bridges and bordered by walking paths that follow its entire length through the urban landscape.
The canal was constructed between 1921 and 1928 by Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company under Walter F. Dillingham's leadership to convert Waikiki's swamplands into developable land. This engineering project transformed the area from wetlands into the modern urban and tourist center it is today.
The canal marks a clear boundary between the tourist-oriented Waikiki area and residential neighborhoods like McCully and Moiliili. Local residents and visitors alike use the waterfront paths as part of their daily routines.
Main access points with walking paths and bridges are located at McCully Street, Kalakaua Avenue, and Ala Moana Boulevard, making the waterway easy to explore on foot. Paths run along the entire length of the canal, though shade is limited during midday hours in the tropical sun.
The waters host Hawaiian seahorses that have developed brown coloring to blend with the canal's murky bottom, a rare adaptation to urban waterways. Observing these creatures reveals how marine animals adjust to survive in built environments.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
