Honolulu
Discover Honolulu
The capital of Hawaii and its primary point of entry, Honolulu is by far the state's largest city, with 980,000 people—two-thirds of the state's population—residing within the metro area as of 2018. Situated on the southern shore of the island of Oahu, Honolulu serves as the center of government and commerce for the state, the home of the largest airport in the Hawaiian Islands, and the site of the state's best-known tourist destination: Waikiki Beach. Given the city's size and its prominence as a traveler destination, this is definitely not the place to go for a "get-away-from-it-all" Hawaiian vacation. Honolulu is as fast-paced and dynamic as any large city, with all the associated problems such as heavy traffic, crime, and homelessness. But Honolulu still has the charm of the islands' laid-back atmosphere and culture, with some of Hawaii's best museums, the historic sites of Pearl Harbor and former palaces of Hawaiian royalty, splendid beaches, and striking natural scenery, all set amidst a dynamic mix of cultures which hail from all corners of the Pacific Ocean.
What to Experience in Honolulu
Famous Beaches
Taste of Honolulu...
For general information on the kind of food available in Hawaii, see the Eat section in the Hawaii article. Honolulu and Waikiki in particular offer a vast array of dining options for tourists. The local farmers markets are a great place for fresh and local food. Scattered around Oahu are various locations of the local Zippy's chain. It's the island equivalent of Denny's; but much more popular with the locals. They provide a wide variety of food, including plate lunches at reasonable prices. Most are open 24 hours and as such are very popular late-night spots to hang out. Zippy's signature dish is their chili, which they prepare in many different ways: such as served over rice, or over a burrito, or over french fries. Another popular chain is Genki Sushi, a Japanese-style eatery with employees shouting "irrashaimase!" when you enter, which is the Japanese word for "welcome." Very popular with the younger crowd; the eatery offers many types of sushi, often served on a sushi conveyor belt. There are several places open till 2AM. Some are open until 4AM. Most of Honolulu's bars and night clubs can be found along Kuhio Avenue and are covered in the Waikiki article. Not surprisingly, most hotels in Honolulu are found in Waikiki or its vicinity. Generally Hawaii is most popular when the weather is the worst on the U.S. mainland. High season in Hawaii is mid-December to March (high rates and tight booking), and June to September (high rates but somewhat easier booking).
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Honolulu into what it is today.
The name Honolulu means "sheltered bay" or "place of shelter" in Hawaiian, and its natural harbor catapulted this humble village to importance when King Kamehameha I moved his royal court from the island of Hawaii to Oahu in 1809, shortly after conquering Oahu to unite the Hawaiian Islands. In 1845, Kamehameha III moved the kingdom's capital from Lahaina on Maui to Honolulu. Honolulu's ideally located port made the city a perfect stop for merchant ships traveling between North America and Asia, and through the 1800s, descendants of missionaries who arrived in the early 1800s established their headquarters in Honolulu, making it the center of business and the main seaport for the Hawaiian Islands. The late 1800s and early 1900s brought the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and subsequent annexation by the United States. Under American rule, Honolulu saw the rise of tourism and the first hotels were constructed in Waikiki. The U.S. military also built numerous bases in the islands, including nearby Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor later became known for the surprise attack by the Japanese in 1941, which brought the U.S. into World War II in the Pacific. Statehood for the islands brought rapid economic growth to Honolulu, with all the state's major businesses headquartered in the city, the Honolulu airport as the primary entrance point for visitors, and Waikiki as the center of the island's tourism industry....
Climate
Honolulu has a moderate warm to hot climate, with very little change of temperature throughout the year — the average high is 80-90°F (27-32°C) and the average low is 65-75°F (19-24°C) any time of the year. The summer months do see some humidity alongside the heat, with typical heat indices in the late summer averaging around 92 °F (33 °C) during the day and 77 °F (25 °C) at night. Heat indices seldom rise above 98 °F (37 °C), though there are a few nights where heat indices don't go below 80 °F (27 °C) in the late summer. Water temperature averages 82°F (27°C) in the summer months and 77°F (25°C) in the winter months. Daylight hours also do not see any significant variation either, with sunrises and sunsets occurring at 5:50AM and 7:15PM in the summer months, and 7:10AM and 5:50PM in the winter months. The only noticeable variation in seasons is in terms of rainfall.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe Airport Waikiki Express provides shuttle service to hotels in Waikiki every half hour ($9/$15 one-way/round-trip). The local city bus company (known simply as "The Bus") operates Route W, which comes through the airport every 15 minutes, going through downtown and on to Waikiki. There are no machines to buy tickets from. Exact change is required, $3 per ride, bills and coins accepted. You can catch Route W at bus stops on the upper level of the airport access road outside Terminals 1 and 2. Large luggage is not permitted; these are standard city buses, without luggage racks. Lelepaua station of the Skyline light rail is located between the domestic and international parking buildings, connected to both Terminals 1 & 2 by an elevated walkway (5-10 min walk). However, the line only serves Western Honolulu, with an extension towards Downtown not expected to be completed until 2031 at the earliest....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Unlike many cities on the U.S. mainland, Honolulu is not laid out in a strict compass-point grid. Its street system conforms in large part to the shorelines, valleys, and ridges, with lots of twists and turns. It can be confusing for people used to straight grid systems. However, at the same time, it is not that difficult to navigate in, as long as you are familiar with the major arterials and terminology below. Because it is difficult to differentiate north and south on an island, directions are normally given in terms of local landmarks. The most common terms that you will run into are mauka (Mow-kah) meaning "toward the mountain" and makai (mah-KAI) meaning "toward the sea". In the case of Honolulu, which is on Oahu's south shore, "mauka" is a rough north, and "makai" roughly south.
Where to Stay
Not surprisingly, most hotels in Honolulu are found in Waikiki or its vicinity. Generally Hawaii is most popular when the weather is the worst on the U.S. mainland. High season in Hawaii is mid-December to March (high rates and tight booking), and June to September (high rates but somewhat easier booking). Low season is from spring (April to June) and fall (September to mid-December), when the best bargains are available. The area code for Honolulu, and the rest of Hawaii, is 808. Although Honolulu is relatively safe as far as violent crime goes, the risk of property crime is much greater. Take particular care when parking vehicles in popular tourist spots, especially Diamond Head and the Halona Blowhole near Sandy Beach; always lock your vehicle; and do not leave any valuables in your car. Keep all valuables within sight and within reach at all times.
Money & Budget
There are several shopping centers in Honolulu, ranging from your typical large strip malls to more unique areas popular with tourists. The International Market Place in Waikiki is one such spot, filled with market stalls and shops laid out amongst a jungle-like backdrop of banyan trees. Also in Waikiki is the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, the duty-free T Galleria by DFS, and the Waikiki Shopping Plaza, also very popular with tourists. Downtown also has a few shopping areas. The Aloha Tower Marketplace on the harborfront next to Aloha Tower is popular with tourists. Between Downtown and Waikiki is the Ala Moana Center, the largest shopping mall in Hawaii and the largest open-air shopping center in the world. There are also the Victoria Ward Centers.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Although Honolulu is relatively safe as far as violent crime goes, the risk of property crime is much greater. Take particular care when parking vehicles in popular tourist spots, especially Diamond Head and the Halona Blowhole near Sandy Beach; always lock your vehicle; and do not leave any valuables in your car. Keep all valuables within sight and within reach at all times. Your car is not a safe place to store anything: Thieves have commonly dismantled locks and broken into vehicles, or conversely will just bash open your window to get in. Use extra caution when visiting less savory parts of town, including the Chinatown district after dark, but during the day you should have no problem. It is illegal in Honolulu for pedestrians to look at their cell phones while crossing the street. Talking on phones is permitted, and the ordinance doesn't apply to sidewalks. There's a popular bumper sticker here: "Slow down, brah. This ain't the mainland.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Honolulu
aerial photography of buildings during daytime
Aerial shot of Honolulu, Hawaii during the month of June.
aerial view of green and brown island under blue sky and white clouds during daytime
A memory of our 2017 vacation at Hawaii’s most popular beach - Waikiki. There’s only one like it, where the long sets of waves allow even the most inexperienced to hire a Malibu Longboard and give surfing a go. So much to enjoy in Waikiki, even with it’s popularity. Somehow people get absorbed into the many hotels, bars, shops, tours and, of course, the beach and Pacific Ocean. We hired a convertible Mustang to tour the island - great day out! (Photo taken from the Sheraton Hotel through glass)
island surround by green sea under cloudy sky
an aerial view of a city next to the ocean
an aerial view of a city and the ocean
LOCAL MOTION HAWAII (localmotionhawaii.com) | Local Motion is a Hawaiian surf wear company that sells surf gear and much more! Please support local and buy Local Motion today!!
an aerial view of a city by the ocean
paradise :)
aerial photography of buildings during daytime
Aerial shot of Honolulu, Hawaii during the month of June.
aerial view of green and brown island under blue sky and white clouds during daytime