For many, Waikiki Beach and Kalakaua Avenue, its main thoroughfare, are too tacky-touristy to take seriously. But walk along the 1.3 mile stretch that abuts one of the world’s most lovely beaches, and you’ll notice that the young people are not sightseeing. Their faces are focused and reveal that they’re here to fulfill a dream. Couples, having just been married in Japan, experience a second wedding ceremony and to have their pictures taken in front of iconic stores such as Harry Winston and Cartier. Young men, like the tattoo artist, are looking for jobs and, perhaps, a foothold on a new career. And everywhere there are young Japanese women, eager to embellish their resumes as world-class shoppers.
