History[edit]

See also: Timeline of Honolulu

Port of Honolulu, as seen by German-Ukrainian artist Louis Choris in 1816

Queen Street, Honolulu, 1856, by George Henry Burgess

people in street watching fire in distance
The Great Chinatown Fire
Evidence of the first settlement of Honolulu by the original Polynesian migrants to
the archipelago comes from oral histories and artifacts. These indicate that there
was a settlement where Honolulu now stands in the 11th century.[18] However, after
Kamehameha I conquered O?ahu in the Battle of Nu?uanu at Nu?uanu Pali, he moved his
royal court from the Island of Hawai?i to Waikiki in 1804. His court relocated in
1809 to what is now downtown Honolulu. The capital was moved back to Kailua-Kona in
1812.

In 1794, Captain William Brown of Great Britain was the first foreigner to sail
into what is now Honolulu Harbor.[19] More foreign ships followed, making the port
of Honolulu a focal point for merchant ships traveling between North America and
Asia.

In 1845, Kamehameha III moved the permanent capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom from
Lahaina on Maui to Honolulu. He and the kings that followed him transformed
Honolulu into a modern capital,[20] erecting buildings such as St. Andrew's
Cathedral, ?Iolani Palace, and Ali?iolani Hale. At the same time, Honolulu became
the center of commerce in the islands, with descendants of American missionaries
establishing major businesses in downtown Honolulu.[21]

Despite the turbulent history of the late 19th century and early 20th century, such
as the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, Hawai?i's subsequent annexation
by the United States in 1898, followed by a large fire in 1900, and the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Honolulu remained the capital, largest city, and
main airport and seaport of the Hawaiian Islands.[22]

A view of the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 from Japanese Planes. The torpedo
explosion in the center is on the USS West Virginia.
An economic and tourism boom following statehood brought rapid economic growth to
Honolulu and Hawai?i. Modern air travel brings, as of 2007, 7.6 million visitors
annually to the islands, with 62.3% entering at Honolulu International Airport.[23]
Today, Honolulu is a modern city with numerous high-rise buildings, and Waikiki is
the center of the tourism industry in Hawai?i, with thousands of hotel rooms. The
UK consulting firm Mercer, in a 2009 assessment "conducted to help governments and
major companies place employees on international assignments", ranked Honolulu 29th
worldwide in quality of living; the survey factored in political stability,
personal freedom, sanitation, crime, housing, the natural environment, recreation,
banking facilities, availability of consumer goods, education, and public services
including transportation.[24]

Geography[edit]

Astronaut photograph of western Honolulu, HNL Airport, and Pearl Harbor taken from
the International Space Station
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Urban Honolulu Census-designated
place (CDP) has a total area of 68.4 square miles (177.2 km2). 60.5 square miles
(156.7 km2) of it (88.44%) is land, and 7.9 square miles (20.5 km2) of it (11.56%)
is water.[25]

Honolulu is the most remote major city in the world.[8] The closest location on the
mainland to Honolulu is the Point Arena Lighthouse in California, at 2,045 nautical
miles (3,787 km).[26] (Nautical vessels require some additional distance to
circumnavigate Makapu?u Point.) However, islands off the Mexican coast, and part of
the Aleutian Islands of Alaska are slightly closer to Honolulu than the mainland.

Neighborhoods, boroughs, and districts[edit]

Honolulu as seen from the International Space Station

Downtown at Bishop and King streets, with First Hawaiian Center (left) and Bankoh
Center (right)
Downtown Honolulu is the financial, commercial, and governmental center of Hawaii.
On the waterfront is Aloha Tower, which for many years was the tallest building in
Hawaii. Currently the tallest building is the 438-foot (134 m) tall First Hawaiian
Center, located on King and Bishop Streets. The downtown campus of Hawaii Pacific
University is also located there.
The Arts District Honolulu in downtown/Chinatown is on the eastern edge of
Chinatown. It is a 12-block area bounded by Bethel & Smith Streets and Nimitz
Highway and Beretania Street home to numerous arts and cultural institutions. It
is located within the Chinatown Historic District, which includes the former Hotel
Street Vice District.[27]
The Capitol District is the eastern part of Downtown Honolulu. It is the current
and historic center of Hawaii's state government, incorporating the Hawaii State
Capitol, ?Iolani Palace, Honolulu Hale (City Hall), State Library, and the statue
of King Kamehameha I, along with numerous government buildings.
Kaka?ako is a light-industrial district between Downtown and Waikiki that has seen
a large-scale redevelopment effort in the past decade. It is home to two major
shopping areas, Ward Warehouse and Ward Centre. The Howard Hughes Corporation plans
to transform Ward Centers into Ward Village over the next decade. The John A. Burns
School of Medicine, part of the University of Hawai?i at Manoa, is also located
there. A Memorial to the Ehime Maru Incident victims is built at the Kaka'ako
Waterfront Park.
Ala Moana is a district between Kaka?ako and Waikiki and the home of Ala Moana
Center, the "World's largest open air shopping center" and the largest shopping
mall in Hawaii.[28] Ala Moana Center boasts over 300 tenants and is a very popular
location among tourists. Also in Ala Moana is the Honolulu Design Center and Ala
Moana Beach Park, the second largest park in Honolulu.
Waikiki is the tourist district of Honolulu, located between the Ala Wai Canal and
the Pacific Ocean next to Diamond Head. Numerous hotels, shops, and nightlife
opportunities are located along Kalakaua and Kuhio Avenues. It is a popular
location for visitors and locals alike and attracts millions of visitors every
year. A majority of the hotel rooms on Oahu are located in Waikiki.
Manoa and Makiki are residential neighborhoods located in adjacent valleys just
inland of downtown and Waikiki. Manoa Valley is home to the main campus of the
University of Hawai?i.
Nu?uanu and Pauoa are upper-middle-class residential districts located inland of
downtown Honolulu. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is located in
Punchbowl Crater fronting Pauoa Valley.
Palolo and Kaimuki are neighborhoods east of Manoa and Makiki, inland from Diamond
Head. Palolo Valley parallels Manoa and is a residential neighborhood. Kaimuki is
primarily a residential neighborhood with a commercial strip centered on Waialae
Avenue running behind Diamond Head. Chaminade University is located in Kaimuki.