Honolulu

Honolulu is the largest city in Hawaii, located on the southeast coast of the island of Oahu. It is believed that the first settlers Hawaiian Islands arrived from the Marquesas sometime between 500 and 800 and then from Tahiti around year 1000. The first European to explore the region was British explorer Captain James Cook, he arrived on the island of Oahu, on January 18, 1778.

In 1795, King Kamehameha the Great united the islands under one kingdom.

During Kamehameha’s reign Honolulu was a village consisting of small huts. The name Honolulu, means protected bay. By the 1820s, whaling ships began to stop in Honolulu.

As more westerners settled in the area they brought many diseases that nearly decimated the native population. Shortly after, missionaries began to settle on the islands, and Honolulu became the permanent capital of the kingdom of Hawaii in 1845 by Kamehameha III the first Christian ruler.

In 1898, the islands were annexed into the United States and Honolulu quickly became a military post and grew steadily through the early 1900s. Honolulu was incorporated as a city in 1907.

On December 7, 1941, after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, just west of Honolulu, this event marked the beginning of World War II for Americans. More than 50 of the bombs that fell on Honolulu were American Navy anti-aircraft shells that missed their targets.

Honolulu’s location in the middle of the Pacific, played a crucial role in the war against Japan. The residents of Honolulu lived under martial law for more than three years, the only place in the United States to implement martial law. Honolulu and the islands became armed military camps. During the war, as much as one-third of the island of Oahu was occupied by military forces.

In 1959 Hawaii joined the union as 50th State and Honolulu became its capital, shortly after, regular jet service began in Honolulu between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. Honolulu’s airport became a major hub between the Eastern and Western hemispheres.
Today in Honolulu, tourism is the city’s principal industry, followed by defense and agriculture. Honolulu is Hawaii’s largest and most bustling city and is packed with sights, activities and tourist attractions.

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Notable Events and Facts

• Iolani Palace in Honolulu is the only royal palace in the United States.
• Hawai is the most isolated place that supports a major population, its nearest neighbor California is 2,400 miles away.
• Honolulu is the largest city in the world in term of borders. The state constitution any island not named as belonging to a county belongs to Honolulu. This makes all islands within the Hawaiian Archipelago, that stretch to Midway Island (1,500 miles northwest of Hawaii) part of Honolulu.
• More than 100 world-renowned beaches are close Honolulu.
• Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee.
• Under-sea volcanoes that erupted thousands of years ago formed the islands of Hawaii.
• Hawaii has its own time zone, Hawaiian Standard Time.
• The Hawaiian archipelago spans the distance of 1,524 miles (2,451 km) making Hawaii the longest island chain in the world.
• Hawaii is the only U.S. state whose land area is increasing from volcanic eruptions.
• Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the United States. Life expectancy for males is 75, for females 80 years.

Historic sites, museums and Places of Interest

Bishop Museum and Planetarium

The Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in honor of his late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha family.
The Museum contains an extensive collection of Hawaiian artifacts and other Pacific island cultures.

The Bishop Museum is the largest museum in the state of Hawaii and the premier natural and cultural history institution in the Pacific, recognized throughout the world for its cultural collections, research projects, consulting services and public educational programs.

It also has one of the largest natural history specimen collections in the world. Serving and representing the interests of Native Hawaiians is a primary purpose of the Museum.

Bishop Museum and Planetarium
1525 Bernice Street,
Honolulu, HI, 96817
808-847-3511

Pearl Harbor – USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona is the final resting place for many of the ship’s 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives on December 7, 1941. The 184-foot-long Memorial structure spanning the mid-portion of the sunken battleship consists of three main sections: the entry and assembly rooms; a central area designed for ceremonies and general observation; and the shrine room, where the names of those killed on the Arizona are engraved on the marble wall.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the creation of the Memorial in 1958. Its construction was completed in 1961 with public funds appropriated by Congress and private donations. The Memorial was dedicated in 1962.

More than a million people visit the USS Arizona Memorial each year. They file quietly through the building and toss flower wreaths and leis into the water. They watch the iridescent slick of oil that still leaks, a drop at a time, from ruptured bunkers after more than 50 years at the bottom of the sea, and they read the names of the dead carved in marble on the Memorial’s walls.

The USS Arizona Memorial is approximately a 45-minute drive from Waikiki.

USS Arizona Memorial

Iolani Palace

The Iolani Palace was inaugurated on August of 1882. It was the residence of the last king and queen to rule Hawaii. David Kalakaua was descended from the chiefs of Kona who aided Kamehameha I in his conquests and in the consolidation of the Hawaiian Islands into one kingdom.

Iolani Palace offers two tour options, a docent Guided Tour and a Self-Led Tour, it is suggested you allot approximately 90 minutes for either tour.

The first floor consists of the public reception areas the Grand Hall, State Dining Room, reception rooms, and the Throne Room. The second floor consists of the private suites the King’s and Queen’s suites, Music Room, and the Imprisonment Room, where Queen Lili`uokalani was held under house arrest for five months following the overthrow of her government.

Iolani Palace
364 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96804
808-522-0822

Mission Houses Museum

The Museum interprets the “missionary period” of Hawaiian history, 1820-1863, which was instrumental in shaping contemporary Hawai‘i.

The settlement was built in 1831 and three of the original buildings still remain on the site in historic downtown Honolulu.

Mission Houses Museum is comprised of three historic houses, and a research library. The Society also compiles the genealogical records of the American Protestant missionaries in Hawai‘i and promotes the participation of missionary descendants in the Society’s activities.

The Society collects and preserves the documents, artifacts, and other records of the “missionary period” of Hawai‘i’s history (1820-1863).

Mission Houses Museum

553 S. King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
808-447-3910

Honolulu Academy of Arts

The Honolulu Academy of Arts is Hawaii’s premier art museum, with a collection of more than 60,000 works from Asia, Europe and America. The Academy also administers the Academy Art Center at Linekona, the largest private art school in the Islands.

The Honolulu Academy of Arts was founded by Anna Rice Cooke on April 8, 1927.

Since then, the museum has grown steadily, becoming one of the finest museums in the United States. Included on the premise is a library, an education wing, a gift shop, a cafe, a contemporary gallery, a 280-seat theater, an art center for studio classes and expanded educational programming, a children’s interactive gallery and lecture hall.

The Honolulu Academy of Arts is the only art museum in Hawai’i accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM).

Honolulu Academy of Arts
900 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96814
808-532-8700

Nuuanu Pali Lookout

Located at Nuuanu Pali State Park, the lookout overlooks the 985-foot cliffs of the Koolau Mountain Range. (Translated, “pali” means “cliffs.”). It has a panoramic view of the north coast of Oʻahu. From this vantage point you can see Kaneohe Bay, Chinaman’s Hat, and Hawaii Pacific’s Windward Campus. You will also experience strong trade winds forming a natural wind tunnel.

There is a trail at the lower end of the lookout, which allows a different perspective on the views from the Pali. This trail follows along the route of the Old Pali Highway.

Kamehameha I forced his enemies over the cliffs. Making the Nu’uanu Pali the site of one of most important and bloodiest battles in Hawaiian history. In 1897 while building what is now the Old Pali Road, workers found some 800 human skulls and other human bones at the foot of the cliffs, believed to be remains of Kalanikupule’s slain warriors.

It is opened daily and the admission is free.

Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Beach is located on the south shore of Honolulu, meaning ‘spouting waters’ in Hawaiian. Waikiki is Oahu’s main hotel and resort area where Kalakaua Avenue follows Waikiki Beach you’ll find world-class shopping, dining and entertainment.

This beach has gently curved shores of beautiful light blonde sand, forested mountains to the side, and in front, just the bluest, purest waters you’ve ever seen and soak in some of the most memorable sunsets you’ll ever witness.

The calm waters of Waikiki are perfect for a surfing lesson legendary Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku known as the father of modern surfing grew up surfing the waves of Waikiki. The Duke Kahanamoku Statue has become an iconic symbol of Waikiki.

Waikiki beach is within a half hour of a variety of Oahu attractions, including Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palace, the Nuuanu Pali Lookout and Hanauma Bay.

Diamond Head

Located on the South-east Coast of O’ahu at the end of Waikiki Beach, overlooking the Pacific Ocean Diamond Head is the most famous volcanic crater in the world. The name is derived from British sailors as distance, as from a distance the calcite crystals in the lava rock appeared to glimmer in the sunlight.

The Diamond Head crater which has been extinct for some 150,000 years, is 3,520 feet in diameter with a 760 feet summit (232 meters). As part of the United States harbor defense strategy, Fort Ruger was constructed in 1898, where canons were installed, providing protection from invading enemies.

This moderately challenging trail includes two sets of stairs, totaling 175 steps, as well as dark, underground tunnels and old military bunkers that require a flashlight. The stunning views at the top of Diamond Head are well worth the effort.

The Monument is located off Diamond Head Rd. between Makapuu and 18th Ave. on the south shore of Oahu. The Monument opens at 6:30 AM and closes at 6:00 PM year round. It costs $1.00 to walk in or $5.00 per car. There is ample parking.

The only restroom is at the bottom, there is only a stand where you pay and get a brochure.

Shopping

Ala Moana Center

Ala Moana Center contains over 290 stores and restaurants in a unique indoor/outdoor setting. Located 20 minutes from Honolulu International airport, and within walking distance of most Waikiki hotels.

Ala Moana Center is one of the world’s largest open-air shopping center. The Ala Moana Pink Line Shopping Trolley provides convenient transportation between the Center and 10 locations in Waikiki every 10 minutes, 7 days a week.

In addition to great shopping, Ala Moana also has a variety of different events and activities throughout the year. The Royal Hawaiian Band and hula dancers are regular guest at Center Stage, one of the most popular amphitheatres in Hawaii.

1450 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96814
808- 955-9517

DFS Galleria Honolulu

DFS Galleria is a great place to shop contains a variety of exclusive upscale duty free shops. The DFS Galleria in Waikiki is a fashionista’s dream come true. There are also traditional Hawaiian gifts and souvenirs.

DFS Galleria is located on Waikiki Beach behind the Royal Hawaiian hotel.

DFS is an enormous space, three floors high and half a block wide. A free show is presented nightly at 7pm.

The shopping center is open daily from 9am to 11pm.

330 Royal Hawaiian Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815-2520
808-931-2700

Royal Hawaiian Center

The Royal Hawaiian Center offers 310,000 square feet of with more than 110 shops and restaurants, the Center is one of Hawaii’s largest shopping malls.

It includes a wide variety of shops such as surf shops, jewelry stores, craft shops and practically everything else conceivable.

The Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m and is is located in the heart of Waikiki, within walking distance from all the main hotels and activities in Waikiki.

2201 Kalakaua Avenue,
Honolulu, HI, 96815
808-922-2299

Nightlife

Zanzabar Night Club

Zanzabar Nightclub is a massive nightclub that can accommodate up to nearly 1,000 people. It is one of Honolulu’s top nightclub destination. Zanzabar is located in the center of Waikiki inside the Waikiki Trade Center at the corner of Seaside and Kuhio Avenues.

Waikiki Trade Center
2255 Kuhio Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
808-924-3939

Nashville Waikiki

Hawaii’s only real country western tavern, it features free Line Dancing Lessons, Pool Tournaments, Guys and Girls Boxers Contest, Wii Gamesa and darts.

Open 7 days a week from 4pm to 4am

2330 Kuhio Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815-2951
808-926-7911

Pipeline Cafe

Pipeline Cafe is an indoor concert venue that plays host to a wide array of local and international talent across all genres of music. Pipeline has hosted the Black Eyed Peas, Fall Out Boy, Jenny Lewis. If there’s isn’t a concert there’s always something going on. It’s also a comedy venue every Wednesday, two opening acts, then the headline.

There are 2 floors with a capacity of 1,500 people and features a simple food menu.

805 Pohukaina St
Honolulu, HI 96813
808-589-1999

Geo

Latitude: 21.3069444 N
Longitude: -157.8583333 W
County: Honolulu County
Elevation is 0ft (0 m)
Average High Temperature (July): 87.8 ° F (31° C)
Average Low Temperature (January): 65.7° F (18.7° C)

Bio

Honolulu‘s population according to the Census bureau estimate for 2008 is 374,676 and it is ranked as the 49th largest city in the United States.