For centuries, Hawaiians enjoyed Waikiki as a place of rest, and its rich agriculture and aquaculture nurtured the royalty of the past. Today, Waikiki thrives as a bustling vacation destination that offers a diverse dining experience seasoned with creativity and Hawaiian-inspired flair.

Today's Waikiki, with its renovated iconic hotels and mix of trendy, upscale and hole-in-the-wall restaurants, recently inspired Travel Channel host and chef Anthony Bourdain to film an episode of "No Reservations" here. Many Waikiki hot spots and top Oahu chefs were featured, and Anthony spent several fun-filled days and nights interviewing them, producing a rollicking show that revealed Waikiki's wild side.

But, like everywhere, Waikiki was a different place many years ago.

Waikiki translates to "spouting water." The Hawaiians and generations of immigrants to Hawai'i used its natural springs and streams to farm. Waikiki was surrounded with beautiful taro patches, rice paddies, and aquaculture farms where fish and ducks were raised.

Then in the 1950s, Waikiki boomed when Hollywood and visitors from all over the world discovered its many charms, including the abundant sunshine and excellent surfing conditions. The cuisine back then was primarily classical European and casual American styles with just a hint of local flavor. Fine restaurants were filled with well dressed visitors, and skilled waiters in tuxedos prepared caesar salad, duck a l'orange, chateaubriand and banana flambé right at the table. I remember working with a waiter who wanted to show off his flambé skills and poured too much liquor in the pan. Before you knew it, his customer was on fire! It was quite a dining experience back then, but Waikiki's dining scene has evolved today to include more of the flavors of Hawai'i.

Tableside service with a gorgeous oceanfront view is still the specialty at Michel's at The Colony Surf. Beachhouse, a sophisticated steak and seafood restaurant, has emerged at the Moana Surfrider hotel, the oldest hotel in Waikiki. This beautiful beachfront restaurant brings out the romance of Waikiki. On its famous veranda, you can experience a delightful afternoon tea, a tradition perpetuated from the early 1900s.

Another landmark oceanfront restaurant that remains a favorite today among visitors and locals is Duke's Waikiki at the Outrigger Waikiki hotel. This popular seafood restaurant continues to provide fresh local seafood like mahi-mahi and ono, plus live entertainment, in a friendly open-air setting. Duke's is named after Duke Kahanamoku, the legendary Hawaiian actor, surfer and Olympic gold medal swimmer.

The evolution of Waikiki's dining scene started in the 1980s, when upcoming chefs began to collaborate with local farmers. The farmers proved equally creative and produced diverse crops like exotic fruits, gourmet lettuces, vine-ripened, multi-hued tomatoes, gourmet mushrooms, fresh seaweed, fresh farm-raised seafood and more. This new wave launched the Hawai'i Regional Cuisine movement that continues to evolve and dazzle diners today.

Waikiki today is an exciting, romantic culinary destination with a wide variety of ethnic cuisine, unpretentious eateries, and top chain restaurants with young, innovative and talented chefs. Waikiki provides travelers a dining experience in a relaxed environment, with abundant natural beauty and the Aloha spirit so abundant in our people. At the end of the day, you can sit by the swaying coconut trees on the sands of Waikiki or at any beachfront restaurant or bar, listen to sweet Hawaiian music, and enjoy a plate of ahi poke (deliciously seasoned, ultra-fresh raw fish). Your eyes wander out across the Pacific Ocean, perhaps as the sun is sinking, and you will feel the tranquility that still flows through Waikiki.