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IN HAWAII, natural landmarks fill the role of the mainland’s cardinal directions. That means saying a place is toward the mountains (mauka) or toward the sea (makai) but also, if you’re in Honolulu, toward or away from iconic Diamond Head, the volcanic ridge that steals the skyline from neighboring Waikiki Beach, where a less natural feature—the Ala Wai Canal—defines the area. Two miles long, palm-lined and stick-straight, the broad channel is the culmination of the Ala Wai Watershed, which runs from a high point in the Ko‘olau Mountains all the way down to Waikiki Beach. Almost all the rain that is not absorbed by the ground in this urban watershed which encompasses eight of Honolulu’s densest neighborhoods, is home to more than 160,000 people and welcomes additional 71,000 visitors every day—flows through the canal.
WATERSHED: Built in the 1920s, the Ala Wai Canal is 2 miles long, running from a high point in the Ko‘olau Mountains down to Waikiki Beach, passing high-rises on the way.
DOUGLAS PEEBLES PHOTOGRAPHY/ALAMY