Honolulu is the capital of the state of Hawaii in the United
States. Honolulu is by far the largest city in Hawaii with a
population of around 337,000, mostly of Asian descent. At the
same time, Honolulu is also a county with a population of
910,000, about three quarters of the population of all of
Hawaii, and all of that in the southeastern tip of the island of
Oahu.
When the first King Kamehameha I defeated his Oahu
opponents at the Battle of Nuuanu and unified Hawaii, the
capital was still Lahaina on the island of Maui. He himself
moved his residence from the Big Island to Waikiki. Under
Kamehameha III, the capital was moved to Honolulu, and a new
residence was built with the buildings of the Iolani Palace and
the Aliiolani Hale.
But soon Honolulu grew on Asian
immigrants who were hired as cheap labourers: they lived in
China-Town just off downtown Honolulu, and soon the Hawaiians
were a minority in their own country.
The last ruler of
Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani, was arrested at Iolani Palace in
1893, and a few years later the former Kingdom of Hawaii was
annexed by the United States. By the way, the queen was very
musical, the song "Aloha Oe" was set to music by her.
Honolulu gained notoriety during World War II when the Japanese
attacked Pearl Harbor, even though the port is outside of the
city limits but in Honolulu County.
By plane
Most tourists land at the Honolulu airport, but it is
also possible to fly into Maui from San Francisco and travel from there
to Honolulu.
Honolulu International Airport (Daniel K. Inouye
International Airport, IATA: HNL)
By train
The rail lines that
used to run on Oahu have long since been dismantled. A new rapid transit
system called "HART" is scheduled to open on Oahu between 2020 and 2025.
By bus
The bus system "TheBus" opens up almost all parts of Oahu.
A single ride costs $2.75, a day ticket $5.50 (as of 2018)
By
boat
There is no scheduled service between the United States mainland
and the Hawaiian Islands.
Cruise ships dock at 2 Honolulu Cruise
Termnial at Pier 2 or at Pier 11 at the Aloha Tower.
Unlike many cities in the mainland U.S., Honolulu is not on a strict
compass point grid. Honolulu's roads follow coastlines, valleys, and
ridges. This can be confusing to those accustomed to a linear grid. At
the same time, however, it is not too difficult to navigate if one is
familiar with the following major highways and terminology.
Because it is difficult to distinguish north from south on the island,
directions are usually indicated by local landmarks. The most common
terms are mau-kah, meaning "toward the mountains," and mah-KAI, meaning
"toward the ocean. In the case of Honolulu, which is located on the
south shore of Oahu, "mauka" means roughly north and "makai" means
roughly south. Also, the terms "Eh-vah" and "Koko Head-bound" are often
used in connection with downtown Honolulu, the former meaning roughly
"west" (toward the town of Ewa on the southwest shore of Oahu) and the
latter roughly "east" (toward the volcanic crater, Koko Head, in East
Honolulu). Those living in the western suburbs may use "Town-bound"
(east toward Honolulu; locals call Honolulu "Town").
However,
highway signs use standard compass directions, so if the freeway says
"toward Ewa," look for the on-ramp to H-1 West.
Before driving
extensively, it is a good idea to invest in a map of Honolulu. Members
of the American Automobile Association (AAA) can order free folding maps
from your local office. Rand McNally paper folding maps are available at
many stores. For more extensive coverage, you can also purchase a
Bryan's Section map (a popular choice among locals) at most bookstores
for about $9.50. To navigate Honolulu and Oahu, you can also use a
GPS-enabled device.
Honolulu's roads are very narrow compared to
the mainland. Honoluluans are used to these narrow roads, but if you are
from the mainland and used to wider roads, be prepared to drive very
close to the cars around you. With a little caution, this is not a
problem. Once you get to the outskirts of Honolulu, the roads get a
little wider.
Many intersections, especially on Kapiolani
Boulevard, prohibit left turns due to traffic flow and various other
reasons.
If coming from the mainland, the speed limits on
Honolulu's streets are generally lower than one is accustomed to. For
example, the six-lane King Street is 25-30 mph for its entire length.
Most streets are 25 mph or less. In addition to this, many people drive
at a snail's pace, ignoring the speed limit, which can be frustrating.
In fact, even the speed limits on interstate highways are lower than
those seen on the mainland. For example, the speed limit on H-1 through
downtown Honolulu is 45 mph, and even parts of H-3 in rural areas have
lower-than-average speed limits.
During nighttime hours when it
is raining, even people with good eyesight have difficulty seeing lane
markings on the road. Use extreme caution during these times.
Most of Honolulu's major highways run through Ewa-Diamond Head
(running roughly east-west, as described in the previous section).
Honolulu has two major highways: Nimitz Highway (Hawaii 92) runs from
Pearl Harbor through Honolulu Airport to downtown Honolulu and Waikiki.
H-1 is a short distance from Waikiki, so travelers must take public
roads to and from Waikiki. There are two main routes to access H-1 west
of Waikiki to the suburbs:
Take Ala Wai Boulevard toward Mauka and
continue toward Ewa until you reach McCully Street. Continue on McCully
Street toward mauka for approximately 1 mile and cross over H-1. At the
bottom of the bridge, turn left on Dole and then left again on Alexander
to the freeway on-ramp.
Take Kuhio Avenue or Kalakaua Avenue toward
Diamond Head to Kapahulu Avenue. Continue on Kapahulu Avenue toward
Mauka for approximately one mile, passing under H-1 and onto the freeway
on-ramp.
To return to Waikiki from H-1 East, take one of the
following routes
Take Exit 22 (Kinau Street); turn right onto Ward
Avenue and continue to Ala Moana Boulevard. Turn left onto Ala Moana
Boulevard to Waikiki.
Take Exit 23 (Punahou Street). Turn right onto
Punahou Street and stay in the third lane from the left. This lane is
for turning right onto the left side of Beretania. From Beretania, turn
immediately left onto Kalakaua Avenue and follow Kalakaua to Waikiki.
Take Exit 23 (Punahou Street). Continue straight and merge onto Bingham
Street. Turn right onto McCully Street and continue left to merge
through the overpass. Follow McCully Street to Waikiki.
Take Exit 25A
(King Street); when it merges onto King Street, stay to the right; take
the second right onto Kapahulu Avenue (follow signs to Waikiki) Follow
Kapahulu to Waikiki.
There are also several routes to and from
Downtown from H-1; to get to Downtown from H-1 East, take one of the
following routes
Exit 20B (Vineyard Blvd.). This will take you to the
northern part of downtown.
Take Exit 21A (Pali Highway). Turn right
onto Pali Highway, which curves left to become Bishop Street. This will
take you to the downtown business district and Aloha Tower.
Take Exit
21B (Punchbowl Street). Head towards the Capitol District.
Take Exit
22 (Kinau Street). Turn right onto Ward Avenue, then right onto
Beretania Street. This will take you to the Capitol Area and Chinatown.
To get to H-1 West from downtown, take one of the following routes
Take Punchbowl Street north (from the Capitol). At the end of the ramp,
take a left at the fork.
Go north on Alakea Street (from the
direction of Chinatown), turn left onto Beretania Street, turn right
onto Pali Highway, turn left onto School Street and continue Turn left
onto the H-1 ramp.
Go east on Kinau Street, turn left onto Piikoi
Street, turn left onto Lunalilo Street and continue left onto the H-1
ramp.
Continue west on Vineyard Blvd. past the H-1 overpass to Halona
Street. Continue left onto the H-1 ramp.
King Street and
Beretania Street are the two main streets in central Honolulu. King
Street runs from Ewa to Diamond Head, and Beretania Street runs from
Diamond Head to Ewa. Both streets run parallel to each other through
downtown Honolulu. King Street runs from 'Ewa to Diamond Head, Beretania
Street runs from Diamond Head to 'Ewa, and both streets parallel
downtown. The dividing line between North and South is Nuuanu Street in
downtown Honolulu, which runs through Mauka Makai. Ala Moana Boulevard
is an important route from Waikiki to downtown Honolulu. Past the
Honolulu Harbor, Ala Moana becomes Nimitz Highway, which continues to
the airport and beyond. The tree-lined Kapiolani Boulevard, another
boulevard that runs through Middle Honolulu, connects the Waikiki area
and eastern part of the city with downtown, becoming Waialae Avenue in
Kaimuki. Dillingham Boulevard runs from Middle Street in Kalihi to Aala
Park just outside of Chinatown and continues to Liliha as Liliha Street.
McCallie Street runs from Waikiki to the H-1 freeway, a convenient route
to the interstate and out of Waikiki. The two major streets from Ala
Moana to residential Makiki and H-1 are Pensacola Street and Pikoi
Street, which run through Makai in Ala Moana and Mauka in Makiki,
respectively. In downtown, Pali Highway from the Windward side of the
island becomes Bishop Street, the main one-way thoroughfare through
compact downtown, running from Makai to Aloha Tower, and its opposite,
Alakea Street, one block east, from Aloha Tower to Down It runs to
Vineyard Boulevard, which forms the unofficial northern boundary of the
Town. Past working-class Kalihi is Kalihi Street, which becomes Likelike
Highway running upwind to Kaneohe.
In Waikiki, Kalakaua Street
(one-way along Waikiki Beach from Ewa to Diamond Head), Kuhio Street
(two-way), and Ala Wai Boulevard (one-way along Ala Wai Canal from
Diamond Head to Ewa) are the three main streets from Makai to Mauka.
Traffic congestion in Honolulu and on Oahu in general (especially on
the south shore) is a persistent problem. In fact, Honolulu's rush hour
ranks among the worst in the nation. Nearly one million people live in a
relatively small area, and there are only a few major routes connecting
the island's major population centers and downtown Honolulu. Therefore,
a single traffic accident can cause island-wide traffic congestion.
Visitors to Oahu who travel on weekdays should be aware of traffic
problems.
The normal weekday rush hour in Honolulu is from 5:00
AM to 8:00 AM for upbound traffic and from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM for
downbound traffic. Expect heavy traffic on Interstate H-1 and H-2,
Nimitz Highway/Ala Moana Boulevard, and public roads in downtown
Honolulu and Waikiki. However, traffic congestion is normal during most
of the day, often crawling along at less than 10 mph on freeways and
near on-ramps and off-ramps on public roads. On H-1 between the Likelike
and Punahou exits, traffic is slowed in both directions for most of the
day; eastbound H-1 (toward downtown Honolulu), the Middle Street
interchange (H-1 and H-201), the on-ramps at Vineyard Boulevard and Ward
Avenue, the H-1 and H-2 merges are the worst bottlenecks, especially
during rush hour. The merge at Middle Street is said to be the most
congested freeway section in the nation. Traffic is also less heavy
during the summer and holidays when the University of Hawaii at Manoa
and public and private schools are closed. Honolulu is unique in that,
despite the heavy traffic, drivers are generally courteous and will let
you through if you signal and wave in advance.
However, driving
on Oahu is a lot of fun once you get off the interstate. If you have a
car on Oahu, you can tour all of Oahu in a few days. Once you get a
little further inland, traffic is not too bad, and there is less traffic
in the agricultural areas. Unless you are used to this climate, you
should raise the top of your convertible when the sun is shining.
The local bus service in Honolulu is called, with remarkable
succinctness, TheBus.
One-way fares are $3.00/adult, $1.50/child,
$1.25/senior (no change given). The one-way fare no longer includes free
transfers between routes; once you get off the bus, a new fare is
required.
If you would like any kind of pass with free transfers,
you will need to buy a Holo card. The cards cost $2.00 for a new card,
and can be purchased and loaded (cash-only) at 7-Elevens, ABC Stores,
and some small local grocery stores. Holo cards provide several
advantages over a cash fare:
Free transfers: Unlike a cash fare, if
you pay the appropriate fare on a Holo card, you do not have to pay
another fare for 2.5 hours.
Daily fare cap: After you have paid the
equivalent of two and a half fares in one day with a Holo card
($7.50/adult, $3.75/child, $3.00/senior), you will be able to ride for
free for the rest of the service day (until 2:59AM the next morning).
Monthly passes can be loaded on to Holo cards at 7-Elevens and
supermarkets. Monthly bus passes begin on the first of each month and
cost $80 (all-you-can-ride) regardless of which day of the month you
purchase the pass.
Monthly fare cap: If you ride enough times to
pay $80 in fare for the calendar month, you can ride for free for the
remainder of the month, giving you the benefits of a monthly pass
without the up-front cost.
All buses in the fleet are equipped with
bike racks that can hold two or three bikes. Buses are also wheelchair
accessible. A map of Waikiki Beach shows TheBus routes to various points
of interests. Larger groups may want to tour the city via charter bus;
there are several chartering companies available on the island.
In Waikiki, there are tourist buses that will take you to local
attractions, most notably Waikiki Trolley.
A taxi ride from Honolulu International Airport to Waikiki will cost about $40 plus tip. Taxis are locally regulated, so fares will be the same regardless of the company. Some taxi companies also offer tours around the island of O'ahu.
Much delayed and hugely over budget, the mostly elevated Skyline finally opened for service in far Western Honolulu in June 2023. Alas, it is unlikely to be of much use to casual visitors for some time, since planned extensions to the airport, Honolulu/Downtown and the Ala Moana Center will not open until 2031 at the earliest.
When most people think of beaches in Hawaii, they probably think of
the famous Waikiki Beach. The tourist center of the Hawaiian Islands,
this white sand beach is often the most crowded, framed by hotels and
Diamond Head in the background. Waikiki is a great spot for swimming,
sunbathing, catamaran and outrigger canoeing, and for beginner surfers
and bodyboarders (there are many surf schools in Waikiki for lessons).
Surprisingly, you can find some fairly quiet beaches in Waikiki.
If you want to get away from the crowds, there are plenty of other
beaches to choose from. To the west, near downtown, is Ala Moana Park, a
lush green area with trees, grass, and a sandy beach popular with
locals, perfect for families and calm swimmers.
There are several
excellent beaches around Makapuu Point in eastern Honolulu, including
Hanauma Bay, which is located in the crater of an extinct volcano and
now has coral reefs facing the ocean. While not ideal for swimming or
surfing, the calm waters and abundant marine life make it ideal for
snorkeling and scuba diving. Even if you don't go in the ocean, the
scenic views make it a great place for sunbathing and picnicking,
although parking may be an issue.
Just off Hanauma Bay is Halona
Beach Cove, known as the "peephole. It is a small rocky cove that is
easy to swim in when the waves are calm, but it is at your own risk as
there are no lifeguards. Nearby Sandy Beach has lifeguards and has been
popular with surfers and bodyboarders for decades. On calm days, it is a
great place to enjoy swimming. Makapuu Beach is located a short distance
up the road and is very scenic. Makapu'u Beach may not be the best place
to swim because of the big waves, but it is a great place to surf.
Pearl Harbor in western Honolulu is widely known as the site of the
December 7, 1941 attack by the Japanese that killed more than 2,000
people and marked the day the U.S. military entered World War II. The
port, which still serves as a naval base today, is home to several
monuments honoring the war dead of that day and subsequent wars. The
centerpiece of these is the USS Arizona Memorial, built over the hull of
the sunken USS Arizona battleship. The memorial itself can be entered
after a short ferry ride with an introductory movie, where visitors can
see the sunken ship and the names of the war dead.
Next to the
visitor center in Pearl Harbor is the World War II-era submarine USS
Bowfin, which offers a glimpse of life on a submarine. Ford Island, in
the middle of the harbor, is home to the Pacific Aviation Museum, where
you can see many World War II-era fighter aircraft. There is also the
Battleship Missouri Memorial on this island. The Battleship Missouri
Memorial is well known as the place where the Japanese government
officially surrendered to the Allied Forces and World War II ended. The
Battleship Missouri Memorial is open for tours and commemorates the end
of the war where it began for the United States by watching over the USS
Arizona.
Also in Honolulu is the National Memorial Cemetery of
the Pacific, located at Punchbowl Crater, just above Makiki and near
downtown. This cemetery is the final resting place of more than 45,000
Americans who served in the military and includes a memorial to those
missing in action during World War II and a panoramic view of Honolulu.
The cenotaph has a mural with a timeline and map that tells the story of
the Pacific theater of World War II.
The Bishop Museum, located in west Honolulu, is one of the most
extensive museum complexes in the city, with a large collection of
Hawaiian artifacts. The majority of the museum is dedicated to Hawaiian
history, with a growing number of science-based exhibits, including a
planetarium, a large natural history hall, and an area devoted to
volcanology. The museum is very large, so several hours are needed to
take a good look around.
There are several museums in downtown.
On the grounds of the State Capitol is the ornate Iolani Palace, the
former official residence of the last two monarchs of the Kingdom of
Hawaii, which is now open for tours. Nearby are the Mission House
Museum, which features three restored 19th-century Honolulu homes, and
the Hawaii State Art Museum, which exhibits visual art by Hawaiian
artists.
The Honolulu Museum of Art is the largest museum in the
city and has an extensive Western collection, including Van Gogh,
Picasso, Gauguin, Cezanne, Monet, and Modigliani. Further east on the
Paris Highway is Queen Emma's Summer Palace. It was the summer home of
King Kamehameha IV and his family and is now a museum commemorating the
successive residents.
Kapiolani Park in Waikiki has a zoo and
aquarium. The Honolulu Zoo is quite small, but quite enjoyable with many
exotic animals, including such well-known animals as lions, elephants,
rhinos, zebras, and giraffes. The Waikiki Aquarium, located along the
beach, is also small but quite impressive, with marine life from all
over the Pacific, including sharks, octopus, colorful reef fish,
jellies, and an outdoor exhibit of seals. On the east side of the island
is Sea Life Park, which features marine life exhibits as well as
dolphin, sea lion, and penguin shows.
Being Hawaii, there is no shortage of natural scenery, even near
major cities. This ancient volcanic crater in eastern Honolulu overlooks
Waikiki, and from the top you can see the entire city. The trail leading
to the World War II-era bunker has two sets of stairs, 99 and 76, that
would be a challenge for the average couch potato to climb. There is no
shade except for a 70-meter-high unlit tunnel.
If you're looking
for a view that doesn't require a long hike, the hills of Makiki are the
place to go. Punchbowl Crater, home to the National Memorial Cemetery of
the Pacific, offers panoramic views close to downtown. Puu Ualakaa State
Wayside is located above Makiki along Tantalus/Round Top Drive and has a
lookout overlooking southern Oahu from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor,
including Honolulu and Manoa Valley. Picnic shelters are available, and
hiking trailheads are located at various points along the drive. Six
miles north of downtown on State Route 61 (Pali Highway) is the Nuuanu
Pali Lookout. This lookout, nestled between two incredibly high cliffs,
offers a panoramic view of Windward Oahu. The lookout is often subject
to strong winds, but it is more than worth it.
If ocean views are
your thing, the rocky shoreline of Makapuu Point is the place to go. In
addition to the scenic beach, the Makapuʻu Point State Wayside offers
great views of Makapuʻu Point and the Windward Oahu coast. The trail at
Makapuʻu Point offers spectacular views of the offshore islets and the
historic red-roofed Makapuʻu Lighthouse, built in 1909. The popular
nearby Halona Blowhole, one of the many blowholes in the area (an
underwater cave with a hole in the top through which sea water blows out
the top), is easiest viewed from the large parking lot overlooking it.
Nearby downtown are two beautiful gardens. Foster Botanical Garden
has rare and beautiful plants from tropical regions of the world, and
the nearby Liliuokalani Botanical Garden is the only one of the five
botanical gardens to have only native Hawaiian plants. Part of this
7.5-acre botanical garden belonged to Queen Liliuokalani, the last
reigning monarch of Hawaii.
Outdoor Recreation
Land
Hawaii's year-round tropical climate
makes for perfect running weather throughout the year. Kapiolani Park
and Ala Moana Beach Park are popular destinations for joggers in
Honolulu. The 4-mile (6.4 km) course circling Diamond Head is also
popular for its scenic beauty. Tantalus Drive, a winding two-lane road
above Makiki, is relatively safe for joggers. The Honolulu Marathon,
held every year on the second Sunday in December, is a major event with
20,000 to 25,000 runners participating each year.
Cycling
Honolulu's streets and bike paths is also a great way to explore the
city and stay fit. There are several bike stores in the city that rent
various types of bicycles. You can also take Highway 72 east of Honolulu
to Waimanolo.
The Ice Palace in western Honolulu is a great
getaway for those who don't like hot weather.
On the Water
There are some great surfing beaches in the Waikiki area. At Waikiki
Beach, beach boys offer private surf lessons daily; one-hour lessons
include dry-land and in-water instruction. Instructors teach paddling,
timing, and balance skills. Reservations are not required and can be
made at the Waikiki Police Department's stand on the beach at Diamond
Head. There are many surf schools in Waikiki to experience.
Performing Arts
In addition to the traditional luau and hula shows,
Hawaii offers a wide variety of theaters, concerts, clubs, bars, and
other events and entertainment. Honolulu has two major theaters. The
oldest and most popular is the Diamond Head Theater, which has been
entertaining audiences with Broadway-style performances since 1919 and
has been called the "Broadway of the Pacific. The other theater is the
Hawaii Theatre in downtown Honolulu. It has been presenting performances
similar to those of the Diamond Head Theater since 1922. Other
performances are also held at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena and Concert
Hall and the Waikiki Shell.
Honolulu has several shopping centers, ranging from the typical large
strip malls to unique areas popular with tourists. International Market
Place in Waikiki is one such example, with market stalls and stores set
against a jungle-like backdrop of banyan trees. Also in Waikiki are the
Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, the duty-free T Galleria by DFS, and the
Waikiki Shopping Plaza, which are also popular with tourists.
Downtown Waikiki also has several shopping areas. The Aloha Tower
Marketplace on the harborfront next to Aloha Tower is popular with
tourists. Ala Moana Center, located between Downtown and Waikiki, is the
largest shopping mall in Hawaii and the largest open-air shopping center
in the world. There is also the Victoria Ward Center. Uniquely, there
are food and seafood markets in Chinatown, and lei (flower necklace)
makers abound on every street corner.
In eastern Honolulu, there
are two regional malls, Kahala Mall and Koko Marina Center, with a
variety of large stores and movie theaters. In western Honolulu, swap
meets are held every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at Aloha Stadium,
where you can shop from local merchants and artists at much lower prices
than elsewhere. Past Western Honolulu in the suburb of Aiea is the
Pearlridge Center, the largest indoor mall in the state, and further
outside Waipahu is the upscale outlet center, Waikele Premium Outlets.
For general information on the types of food available in Hawaii, see
the "Eating" section of our Hawaii article. Honolulu and Waikiki in
particular offer a wide variety of dining options for tourists. Local
farmers' markets are great places to get fresh, local produce.
Various local Zippy's chains are scattered around Oahu. They are similar
to Denny's, but much more popular with the locals. They offer a variety
of dishes, including plate lunches, at reasonable prices. Most of the
restaurants are open 24 hours a day, making it a popular late-night
gathering spot. Zippy's signature dish is chili, which is served over
rice, burritos, french fries, and many other preparations. Another
popular chain is Genki Sushi, a Japanese-style diner where employees say
"Irasshai-mase! when you enter the restaurant. It is popular with the
younger crowd and offers many varieties of sushi on a conveyor belt.
There are several places that stay open until 2am. Some are open until 4am. Most of Honolulu's bars and nightclubs are located along Kuhio Avenue.
Not surprisingly, most of Honolulu's hotels are located in or near Waikiki. Hawaii is generally most popular when the weather is at its worst on the mainland. High season in Hawaii is mid-December through March (expensive and hard to book) and June through September (expensive but somewhat easier to book). Low season is spring (April to June) and fall (September to mid-December), when the best deals are available.
The area code for Honolulu and the rest of Hawaii is 808.
Honolulu is relatively safe with regard to violent crime, but the risk of property crime is greater. Take special care when parking your car at popular tourist spots, especially Diamond Head and the Halona Blowhole near Sandy Beach. Always keep valuables within easy reach. Thieves often break locks to get into cars, or vice versa, and break windows to get into cars. Be especially careful when visiting less secure areas, such as the Chinatown district, after dark, but during the day it should not be a problem; since October 25, 2017 it has been illegal for pedestrians to look at their cell phones while crossing the street.
It is unknown when Honolulu was first settled or when the name was
first used, but oral histories suggest that the area was first settled
by Polynesians in the 12th century. The Port of Honolulu is also called
"Kulolia" or "Ke Awa O Kou". The first European to reach Honolulu was
British Captain William Brown with his ship Butterworth; he came in 1794
and named the port "Fair Haven". Others also called it "Brown's
Harbour". Honolulu quickly became Hawaii's largest port. At that time
the trade in the wood of the sandalwood tree was important. Furthermore,
Honolulu was an important supply point for whalers. In 1845 Kamehameha
III. Honolulu the capital of the Kingdom of Hawai'i. It was also the
capital of the Republic and Territory of Hawaii and is still the capital
of the US state of Hawaii today.
Ten structures and sites in
Honolulu have National Historic Landmark status, including Pearl Harbor,
'Iolani Palace and the USS Arizona Shipwreck. The city has 103
structures and sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP) as of November 2, 2018.
East of Honolulu is Diamond Head, 750 feet (232 m) high, made of
tuff. The mountain is the symbol of the city.
city outline
Honolulu is divided into 5 districts:
Downtown Honolulu: This
district, which includes historic Chinatown, is home to the island's
most important government and commercial buildings. It is also the
political and economic center of Honolulu. There are many attractions,
several museums, the Hawaii Theater and the tallest building in Hawaii.
The most important government buildings are the Hawaii State Capitol,
Washington Place and City Hall Honolulu Hale. Also in the historic
center is the statue of King Kamehameha I and the ʻIolani Palace.
Waikīkī: Waikiki is located directly on the sea and is framed in the
north by the Ala Wai Canal. To the east lies Diamond Head Crater.
Hotels, restaurants and bars are mainly located in the district.
Mānoa Makiki: The district borders downtown Honolulu to the north and
the terrain is more mountainous. The highlight of the landscape is the
extinct Punchbowl Crater. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is located
in Mānoa Makiki. This is the area where Barack Obama grew up.
Eastern
Honolulu: This region has many sandy beaches and rocky coastlines. It
consists of five residential areas and extends to the southeastern tip
of O'ahu. To the west are Waikiki and Diamond Head.
Western Honolulu:
This district is where the airport is located. It consists of three
residential areas. Here is the famous military port of Pearl Harbor.
Honolulu's climate is tropical with dry summers (April to September) and some rain in winter (October to March). However, one cannot speak of a rainy season. The number of sunshine hours is consistently high throughout the year, as is the temperature. The year-round maximum temperature is between 26.7 and 31.5 degrees, the minimum temperature is between 18.6 and 23.4 degrees. The lowest temperature ever measured was 13.3 degrees.[9] Even though Honolulu is in the tropics, hurricanes are very rare. The water temperature on the beaches of Honolulu is also consistently warm year-round and is at least 24 degrees even in winter.