Honolulu on the island of Oahu, is the capital and largest city of the state of Hawaii. It is the center of government, transportation, and commerce for the state; home to a population of nearly one million people in the metro area (80% of the state's population) and Hawaii's best know tourist destination, Waikiki Beach.
The majority of visitors to Hawaii enter through this city, meaning this is definitely not the place to go for a "get-away-from-it-all" Hawaiian vacation - It is as fast-paced and dynamic as any city, with all its problems such as heavy traffic, drugs, crime, and homelessness. But Honolulu still has the charm of the Islands' laid-back atmosphere and culture.
PLACE TO VISIT
Aloha Tower - Completed in September 1926, the Aloha Tower was for a long time the tallest building in Honolulu and was the first thing that tourists arriving by ship would see. Today it still serves as the control center for Honolulu Harbor; a public observation deck provides panoramic views of downtown and the harbor. Free.
Hawaii State Art Museum - Occupies the second floor of a beautifully restored historic building with displays of visual art by Hawaii artists in three galleries with with both permanent and rotating displays. Also has evening concerts on the lawn. Free.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace - on the Fort Street Mall between Beretania Street and Chaplain Lane. Seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, the orignal structure dates to 1843.
Ali'iolani Hale - across King Street from `Iolani Palace. A historic building that is the seat of the Hawaii State Supreme Court and is noted for the Kamehameha the Great Statue in front, which is often adorned with leis.
Iolani Palace - Iolani Palace dates back to 1882 and was the official residence of the Hawaiian Kingdom's last two monarchs. As a result of careful restoration and continued preservation, today's visitors to this National Historic Landmark in downtown Honolulu can experience one of the most precise historic restorations and learn much about Hawaiian history and heritage. Next to the palace is `Iolani Barracks, a small fortress-like building. Audio tours $13 adults, $5 children; guided tours $20 adults, $15 residents/military, $5 children.
Kawaiahao Church - the Westminster Abbey of Hawaii, historic church of Hawaiian royalty, constructed between 1836 and 1842. A historic cemetery is adjacent to the church.
Kakaako Waterfront Park - just off Ala Moana Boulevard at the end of Cooke Street. A nice park southeast of Downtown, situated on the water. There's no beach, but a pleasent oceanside walk and some rolling, grassy hills. Just off-shore is a popular surfing spot known as "Point Panic".
Ala Moana Park - along Ala Moana Blvd between Downtown and Waikiki. A pleasent green space with plenty of grassy lawns and trees, as well as a lovely beach that's popular with local families. An outer reef keeps the water very calm, perfect for children or a nice swim. Lifeguards, showers, restrooms, picnic tables, and food concessions are available.
Diamond Head Crater - One of the defining landmarks of Hawaii is this ancient volcanic crater which dominates over Waikiki. An observation deck at the top offers breathtaking views of the southern coast of Oahu - after driving through a short tunnel, you can hike up a 0.75 mile (1.1 km) trail from a parking lot in the crater to the rim, up a couple flights of stairs, through a tunnel (bring a flashlight) and an old coastal artillery to the summit. The hike is very popular and not difficult, but the climb can be a little much for the average couch potato (bring water).
Kapiolani Park - a large public park at the east end of Waikiki (toward Diamond Head), home to the Waikiki Shell amphitheater and the Honolulu Zoo. Right across the street on the shore is the Waikiki Aquarium.
Kahanamoku Beach - Named after legendary surfer Duke Kahanamoku, this is a man-made beach and lagoon on the Ala Moana end of Waikiki, in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort.
Fort DeRussy Beach - Located adjacent to a park, this is the widest stretch of beach and one of the most popular. It is also a good spot for snorkeling, with a coral reef a little offshore.
Kuhio Beach - With an offshore retaining wall, this is a calmer section of beach that's great for families and beginner surfers. Along Kalakaua Avenue are four stones known as the Ancient Pohaku (Wizard Stones) which are believed to hold spiritual healing powers. There is also a statue of legendary surfer Duke Kahanamoku located here, often adorned with leis and a popular photo spot.
Queens Surf Beach - In front of Kapiolani Park, this is a quieter section of beach that's also popular with gays. The snorkeling is great here, with huge tangs, Moorish Idols and other fish.
Royal Manoa Beach - Located in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, this is perhaps the most crowded stretch of beach in Waikiki.
San Souci Beach - Located between the War Memorial Natatorium and the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, this is a much quieter section of beach that's protected by a reef; great for families and swimming.
The Contemporary Museum - is the sole museum in the state of Hawai‘i dedicated exclusively to contemporary art—specializing in art from 1940 to the present. It offers a wide array of visual art, providing interaction with art and artists in gorgeous indoor/outdoor environs. TCM’s Makiki digs are located at the historic Cooke-Spalding house and gardens in a residential area.
The Honolulu Academy of Arts - This museum, founded in 1927 by Anna Rice Cooke, encompasses 32 galleries surrounding six courtyard gardens. The Honolulu Academy of Arts houses one of the largest collections of Asian art in the United States.
Lyon Arboretum - A massive botanical garden at the top of Manoa that's run by the University of Hawaii with a wide variety of tropical plants as well as scenic waterfalls and views of Manoa.
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - is situated in the middle of Punchbowl, an extinct crater. It’s the final resting place for over 38,000 personnel from WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam. A shrine also commemorates the missing-in-action. It’s also the resting place of Stan Dunham, Barack Obama’s grandfather. The rim of the crater offers panoramic views of Honolulu.
Nu'uana Pali Lookout - One of the more popular scenic vistas on Oahu and the site of one of the bloodiest battles in Hawaiian history, the Pali Lookout provides a panoramic view of Windward Oahu. Also interesting at this site is the Old Pali Road, formerly the highway connecting Windward Oahu to downtown Honolulu. A note of caution: due to its location between two high cliffs, the Pali Lookout is often buffeted by high winds.
Puu Ualakaa Park - provides a stunning view of southern Oahu which includes Diamond Head, Waikiki, downtown Honolulu, Punch Bowl Crater and the airport. There are also hiking trails which allow you to completely forget that you are in a city, taking you into a lush rainforest.
Sea Life Park - A Sea World-esque theme park with marine animal shows and an aquarium. For a small fortune, you can also swim with dolphins or sea lions. $30 adults, $20 children.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve - Hanauma Bay is not a place for beach sports but is instead a bay formed in the crater of an extinct volcano and filled with a wonderful coral reef and many fish. The calm waters and abundance of marine life make it an excellent place for snorkeling and scuba diving. A wide stretch of beach also makes it a scenic place to picnic or sunbathe.
Halona Beach Cove - near the Halona Blowhole. Known as "the Peering Place", this is a small, rocky cove with a small sandy beach that is great for swimming when the surf is calm. It requires a small hike down to the beach, and there's no lifeguard or facilities, so it's swim at your own risk. Also, do not swim when the water is rough.
Sandy Beach - just south of Makapu'u Point. True to its name, this is a nice, wide stretch of beach that's great for swimming when the surf is calm. When the water is rough though, the shorebreak and rip tide currents make it rather treacherous for swimming but quite popular with surfers. Lifeguards and facilities are available.
Makapu'u Beach - just north of Makapu'u Point. A very scenic, rocky beach that's too rough for swimming but is a very popular spot for surfing.
Bishop Museum - Founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop, the last direct descendant of Kamehameha I, this massive museum is by far the largest in Hawaii, with a complex of buildings holding a excellent collection of artifacts from the islands. The main building, the Hawaiian Hall, holds three floors of exhibits on the history and culture of Hawaii, with numerous artifacts, recreations of Hawaiian villages, and a complete whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling.
Moanalua Gardens - A scenic public park is the Moanalua neighborhood, home to a small cottage which was home to Prince Lot Kamehameha (who would later become Kamehameha V) and a large monkeypod tree known as the "Hitachi Tree".
Pearl Harbor - Well known for December 7, 1941, the "day that lived in infamy", when a surprise attack by Japanese forces killed over 2,000 U.S. military personnel and brought the United States into World War II. Today the harbor, still functioning as a navy base, is the site of several memorials honoring the fallen of World War II.
Sand Island Beach Park - Tucked away behind an industrial area facing the Honolulu Harbor, this large park offers plenty of green lawns, excellent views of Downtown, and a very calm sandy beach that's never crowded and with fairly good swimming. No lifeguards; restrooms and picnic tables available
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Honolulu International Airport is the main aviation gateway for the Hawaiian Islands. The main terminal is served by most major American airlines from the mainland U.S., and by many international airlines from other countries around the Pacific Rim. Its Inter-Island Terminal is the home base of Hawaiian Airlines which offers frequent local service to the other Hawaiian islands. It is quite a walk between terminals, so be sure to take the free Wikiwiki Shuttle that runs every few minutes. It's easy to miss it so be sure to ask somebody where it is.
By ship - Cruise ships frequently link Honolulu with the US mainland. These voyages are designed for tourists, and are rarely used as one-way passenger service.
