Waikiki is known for its surf culture, luxury resorts and beautiful beaches.
But on another part of the island, along a remote coastline, is a place few tourists ever see: a homeless encampment with hundreds of occupants.
Hawaii has the highest per capita homeless population of any state in the US, with an estimated seven thousand people living on the streets of the 'Aloha State'.
Some of the homeless people in the camp used to live in Waikiki Beach where they were much more visible.
Officials said that was hurting the tourist industry, which is crucial for the local economy.
So the city banned sitting or lying on Waikiki pavements last year, forcing many to relocate to a nearby camp in a city park.
Hawaii lawmakers say the state faces unique challenges in dealing with the homelessness problem, including high housing costs and low wages.
About 40 percent of the homeless people in Hawaii do have jobs.
The islands' homeless shelters must deal with a steady influx of homeless from the US mainland and Micronesia who think life will be better on the beaches of Hawaii.
While advocates push for more affordable housing to be built, local officials have conducted periodic sweeps, clearing out the camps, including the one in the city park, forcing them to find another place to live, once again.
The tourism industry is also supporting a programme that helps fly homeless migrants back to where they came from after the dream of paradise fades.