Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki’s main artery, might be called the Rodeo Drive of Hawaii.
Among the luxe retailers here are Tiffany, Chanel, Gucci, and Yves Saint Laurent. Royal Hawaiian Center entices visitors with 110-plus stores and restaurants, including Cartier, bebe, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, and the Cheesecake Factory.
Its complimentary cultural program features moolelo (storytelling), lomilomi massage demonstrations and ukulele, lei-making, and hula lessons. The Rock-A-Hula show in the 750-seat Royal Hawaiian Theater combines performances by “tribute artists” portraying Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and other stars with Polynesian music, hula, and fire-knife dancing.