It's really a tiny pocket beach between the Sheraton Waikiki and the Halekulani. I guess they call it Grey's Beach and its a nice spot. There's a beautiful shady hau tree that's nice to sit under when the homeless haven't commandeered it. And when the tide is low, the swimming is wonderful with a nice sandy bottom. Too bad there's almost no place to put your towel down.

A private company plunks down beach chairs and umbrellas and rents them out for the day. (the chairs say Outrigger Enterprises but I'm not clear on exactly who). The chairs occupy the primo real estate on Grey's Beach, as they do along the beach in front of Fort De. Russy. I'm all for making a buck in Waikiki -- that's what it's there for, right? But this staking out public beach and excluding it from public use while pocketing cashola -- with no permit that I am aware of, mind you -- seems tasteless at best and potentially illegal at worst. I know this has already raised hackles with locals but apparently no one is really addressing this. I can only wonder what tourists think about the practice.Any one out there know what's up with this? It sure angered me as a local.

—Alex, 11/27/06