Know All About Honolulu, Hawaii

During the reign of King Kamehameha the Great, Honolulu was merely an itsy-bitsy place nestled near water-bodies. A few years later, Captain William Brown named the city "Fair Heaven," which was somehow came to be known as "Brown's Harbor", and later it came out to be a famous land fondly called as "Honolulu". With the passage of time, Honolulu became a major military post for the United States. During the early 1900s, the military scene of the city grew steadily. In December 1941, Japanese aircrafts targeted the famous Pearl Harbor, located west of Honolulu, and bombed it without any prior intimation of war engagement. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is said to be the brain behind this unfortunate bombing attack. It resulted into the America's involvement in World War II. The lives of denizens were adversely affected as the aftermath of this war. During the early twentieth century, Honolulu's Waikiki District used to be wetlands and fertile land for agriculture. By the course of time, it witnessed the establishment of over 30,000 hotels. It resulted into the growth of tourism by fetching more and more visitors every year. Tourism gave birth to dozens of employment opportunities in market though most of them were the jobs with low remuneration. By the 1990s, tourism became the driving force of Honolulu's economy. Today's Honolulu is packed with a cluster of significant buildings with Waikīkī famed as the center of the tourism industry in the state.

Iolani Palace  

You will be amazed to know that it is the only royal palace in the United States, and Honolulu became the lucky one to have it. Iolani Palace belonged to the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and Kamehameha III became its first ruler under the Kamehameha Dynasty. Queen Liliʻuokalani was its last ruler under the Kalākaua Dynasty. This National Historic Landmark was built in 1882. Delve into Hawaii’s royal heritage and take the joy of living restorations. Kauikeaouli, Kinau, Hakaleleponi, and Likelike are the four principal gates of this majestic creation. The Coronation Pavilion is considered the centerpiece of this palace and used by The Royal Hawaiian Band to perform its concerts. Get more information here.

Diamond Head is situated near the eastern edge of Waikiki’s coastline. It is famed as he most prominent landmark in Hawaii attracting visitors for its hiking trail, intriguing military history, and splendid coastal views. Spreading across 475 acres of land, Diamond Head was formed about 300,000 years back. This volcanic tuff cone is also fondly called Lēʻahi. It has been inactive for 150,000 years. A lighted tunnel linking to a narrow spiral staircase inside a coastal artillery observation, water fountain at the foot of the trail, and stunning view of the shoreline spreading from Koko Head to Wai‘anae are a few major highlights of Diamond Head. Click here to fetch more information.

The Waikiki Aquarium made its entry on March 19, 1904. It is popular as the second oldest public aquarium in the nation. It was formerly known as the Honolulu Aquarium. According to a world-famed biologist David Starr Jordan, this aquarium is believed to possess the finest collection of fishes around the globe. In 1904, Frederick A. Potter became the first Director of the Waikiki Aquarium. Visit the link and get insights of the place.

Sprawling across 42-acre of land, Honolulu Zoo is nestled in Queen Kapiʻolani Park. There are three tropical ecological zones in the zoo: the African Savanna, Pacific Islands, and Asian and American Tropical Forests. Marianas Fruit Dove, Cuban Amazon, Palawan peacock pheasant, Golden lion tamarin, Ruffed lemur, Black rhino, White-handed gibbon, Galapagos tortoise, Nile crocodile, and Giant South American River turtle are amongst some beautiful endangered species residing at the Honolulu Zoo. Click here and discover about the zoo.

The stones of Mission Cemetery were laid in 1823 on the grounds of Kawaiah a`o Church. A private Hawaiian Mission Children's Society maintained the facility. The Mission Cemetery is famed as the oldest Christian graveyard in the state. Elizabeth Edwards Bishop, the second wife of the Reverend Artemas Bishop, was the first adult missionary buried at the cemetery. It also conducts educational tours for the people of all group of ages. Its public programs include family days, workshops, historic house tours, lectures, backpacks, and exhibitions to educate visitors on museum's story and mission. Click here to know more.

Located on the island of Oahu, this cylindrical-shaped tower has the largest lens of any lighthouse in the nation. It was constructed in 1909. In 1977, it was honored by listing its name on the National Register of Historic Places. The light emitting from this 46-foot high lighthouse is marked as white with red lantern. Don't miss a chance to enjoy the panoramic coastal views by visiting this historic lighthouse. You can also encounter some whales surrounding the foot of the lighthouse.

Address: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

The Hawaii Theater is nestled in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii. The charm of this facility can be estimated from its presence on the list of the State and National Register of Historic Places. It is more fondly called as the “Pride of the Pacific". This historic Vaudeville theater and cinema has been entertaining its audience for over 90 years. Satiating the entertainment needs of the audience, the theater hosts a lot of vaudeville, ballets, plays, silent films, and music concerts. Find detailed information here.

USS Arizona Memorial  

People and Culture of Honolulu