Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu is the capital and most populous community in the state of Hawaii. In the Hawaiian language, Honolulu means “sheltered the bay” or the “place of shelter.” The census-designated place (CDP) is located along the southeast coast of the island of Oahu. The term also refers to the Honolulu district.

History

The first to settle on the Hawaiian Islands were probably Polynesian sailors from the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific. They arrived in approximately 900 AD followed by other sailors from Tahiti and New Zealand. Captain James Cook, the famous British explorer, was the first European to arrive on the shores of Hawaii on January 18, 1778. At first, the locals welcomed foreigners until they realized that they brought deadly diseases with them. In just one century, European diseases wiped out 80% of Hawaii’s population.

The next destructive wave came with the missionaries from the United States. His attempts to convert the Hawaiians in the first half of the 19th century changed the social dynamics of the island forever. It was foreigners who established Honolulu’s first town, and by 1850 its port was filled with merchant ships and whalers. The thousands of sailors who came ashore looking for fun often ended up creating trouble. Honolulu jails were continually full in this troubled age.

Honolulu’s first destination was to become the commercial port for much of the Pacific. Sugar was the king product during the late 19th century, and by itself, it turned this “town” into a prosperous and multicultural city. But Hawaii was also an obvious strategic outpost, and the global powers of the 19th century pushed for control over the islands. Foreign merchant settlers and farmers pressured the Hawaiian monarchy to cede most of their authority, and in 1893 a US-backed coup d’état overthrew the former kingdom of Hawaii.

In 1898 the United States annexed Hawaii, making Hawaii the 49th state in 1959. Before tourism became a mainstay of Honolulu’s economy, pineapple and sugar plantations dominated the island. The American military also arrived, creating the Pearl Harbor base and integrating itself into Hawaiian society. Waikiki’s first hotel opened in 1901 and when the steamboats discovered Honolulu, tourism exploded.

The attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II put Honolulu as a global focus in 1941. After the global conflict ended, Honolulu’s popularity as a tourist destination increased rapidly. Today this beachside city is not only one of the largest cities in the United States by population, but one of the world’s most popular destinations for business and pleasure. As a gateway to the Hawaiian Islands, everyone passes through Honolulu at one point or another.

Climate

Honolulu has two seasons, dry and wet, but is warm and breezy throughout the year. The annual average temperature is close to 25ºC, with very small fluctuations. Honolulu is located on the leeward side of Oahu, which gives it dry and warm conditions most of the year. The dry season corresponds to the summer months, from June to September, while the wet season corresponds to the winter, from November to March.

The best times to visit Honolulu are the middle seasons, April, May, September and October usually have perfect weather. Conditions are not very humid and not too windy. These periods are also low season, the number of tourists is lower, accommodation costs slightly cheaper and the local population is more relaxed.

Transport

Located at the western end of Honolulu proper, the Honolulu International Airport(HNL) is the main aviation gateway to the state of Hawaii.

Cultural institutions

Performing arts

Established in 1900, the Honolulu Symphony is the oldest symphony orchestra in the US west of the Rocky Mountains. Other classical music ensembles include the Hawaii Opera House. Honolulu is also a center for Hawaiian music. Major music venues include the Neal Blaisdell Center Concert Hall, the Waikiki Shell, and the Hawaii Theater.

Honolulu also includes several venues for live theater, including the Diamond Head Theater and the Manoa Valley Theater.

visual arts

Located near downtown Honolulu, the premier place for the visual arts in Hawaii is the Honolulu Academy of Arts. The Honolulu Academy of Arts offers the largest collection of Western and Asian art in Hawaii and also hosts a year-round film and video program dedicated to the presentation of arthouse and world cinema at Duke Theater. Doris from the museum. The Contemporary Museum in Makiki is the leading museum of contemporary art in the state. Downtown Honolulu hosts a monthly art walk on the first Friday of each month.

Gardens

• Foster Botanical Garden
• Liliuokalani Botanical Garden
• Walker Status

Museums, aquariums, zoos and cultural centers

• The Bishop Museum is the largest museum in the state of Hawaii and contains millions of specimens of natural history and cultural artifacts relating to Hawaii and the Pacific.
• The Honolulu Academy of Arts has consistently grown to become Hawaii’s largest private presenter of visual arts programs, boasting a permanent collection of over 40,000 works of art from cultures around the world.
• The Honolulu Waikiki Aquarium and Zoo are both located at the eastern end of Waikiki in Kapiolani Park.
• The Hawaii State Art Museum (HISAM) (Official Site) is located in the Downtown District at the Old YMCA Building and Features Local Artists. Blessed with a large collection and competent in-house staff.
• La de Shangri (Duke of Doris)

Sports

Currently, Honolulu has no professional sports team. However, Honolulu hosts the annual NFL Bowl Pro each February in addition to the Hawaii Bowl of NCAA football. Spectator sports fans in Honolulu generally support the football, volleyball, basketball, and baseball programs of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. High school sporting events, especially football, are especially popular. Venues for spectator sports in Honolulu include:

• Aloha Stadium (football)
• Les Murakami Stadium in UH-Manoa (baseball)
• Stan’s Sheriff’s Center at UH-Manoa (basketball and volleyball)
• Neal Blaisdell Center Arena (Basketball)

Sights

• Bishop Museum
• Honolulu Academy of Arts
• Diamond Head, Hawaii
• Arboretum of Lyon
• National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
• Waikiki Beach