The administrative center of which islands is the city of Honolulu. Is it worth going to Honolulu? Waikiki Shell Concert Venue

Let’s continue his monologue: “Do you know where Honolulu is? In what country? In our minds, Honolulu is associated with the azure tropical sea, snow-white beaches and slender palm trees. And we turn out to be right about this. Because Honolulu is a city in the Hawaiian archipelago. But the answer to the question of which state it belongs to may surprise you. United States of America! Yes, yes. Residents of Honolulu (and, according to the 2010 census, there are about four hundred thousand people) consider Washington to be their capital. Although this city cannot be called a backwater either. After all, it is the capital of the whole and, of course, a tourist Mecca. Read about sunny Honolulu in this article.

Geographical location

The Hawaiian archipelago lies in tropical latitudes between 19 and 22 degrees north latitude and near the 160th meridian west longitude. The islands are washed by waters Pacific Ocean. The main city in the Hawaiian archipelago is Honolulu. Where is the capital of this US state? It lies on the southern edge of the archipelago's third largest and most populated island, Oahu. The name Honolulu itself translates as “protected, quiet bay" And this is the honest truth. Typhoons, tornadoes and hurricanes avoid Honolulu. And even the rainy season here does not look as heavy as in other tropical countries. And all because the area where Honolulu is located lies with the trade winds. It is reliably protected from strong whirlwinds mountain range Koolau. Not far from the city, the Diamond Head volcano rises - a point of pilgrimage for tourists.

How to get to Honolulu?

Isolated from the rest of the world, the islands leave you no other choice. Only a plane will take you to a tropical archipelago lost in the Pacific Ocean. From Moscow you can outline two routes. The first is through Frankfurt and Los Angeles, and the second is through New York and Los Angeles. From this last American city it takes five and a half hours to fly to Honolulu. The lion's share of passengers arriving in the archipelago land at Honolulu International Airport. Where is it in relation to the city? The airport is located in the western suburbs, near the Pearl Harbor War Memorial and the Bishop Museum. This is one of the major hubs in the USA. It welcomes more than twenty million passengers annually. The airport consists of several terminals, between which free Vicky Bus shuttles run at intervals of several minutes. If your plane lands late at night, you won't need to take a taxi. City buses run 24 hours a day. To the center (downtown) follow route No. 19. The most favorite with tourists The location is the Waikiki beach area. SpeediShuttle minibuses and city routes No. 20 go there.

History of Honolulu

The first Polynesian settlement arose on the island of Oahu in the eleventh century. The “calm bay” became the capital in 1804, when King Kamehameha I of Hawaii moved here with his court. At first, the palace stood in the area of ​​modern Waikiki, but a little later it was built where the business center of the city is now located. Europeans learned where Honolulu was located in 1794, when the British sailor William Brown sailed into the "quiet bay." In 1845, under Kamehameha III, the capital of Hawaii was again moved from Oahu. Since then, Honolulu has taken on a modern look. The Royal Palace of Iolani, St. Andrew's Cathedral and Aliyolani Hale were built. In 1898, the archipelago became part of the United States of America. In the vicinity of Honolulu there was naval base US Pearl Harbor, which was attacked in December 1941 by Japanese aircraft carriers. After World War II, Hawaii experienced rapid development due to its tourism industry.

Climate

They lie in a tropical natural area. However, the rain shadow from the Ko'olau Range, where Honolulu is located, reduces precipitation. Even the dry and wet seasons, so typical of the tropics, are not clearly defined here. It just rains a little more in the winter months. In general, we can say that the holiday season in Honolulu lasts all year round. The climate here is favorable. In summer, the thermometer fluctuates between +27 and +31 °C, and in winter it is +18-25 °C. Hawaii is a sunny archipelago. Meteorologists count no more than 90 cloudy days a year here. The sea off the coast of Honolulu is always warm. The water temperature never drops below 23 °C, and in summer it warms up to 28 °C. Severe storms are rare. There are also no dangerous currents.

Beaches

Waikiki Beach is a magnificent wide strip of golden sand stretching for many kilometers. The name translates as “flowing water.” There are many streams here that flow from the mountains into the sea. Waikiki Beach is something of a calling card of Honolulu. Where to relax is up to you. After all, Oahu has many beaches for perfect... various categories holidaymakers. Waikiki is home to money-bags and entertainment lovers, shallow Sunset Beach is home to parents with small children, and Hanauma Bay is chosen by divers and snorkelers. North Store on the northern tip is famous for its high and stable waves, which is why professional surfers go there. Kailua Beach is located on the windward side of Oahu. It is ideal for windsurfing.

Prices

Hawaii, and Honolulu in particular, cannot in any way be called budget resort. Prices here are high, and for all goods, since almost 99% of the necessities for life are delivered from the mainland. Hawaii has the highest real estate values ​​in the United States. Therefore, you should not choose a holiday in the Waikiki area (Honolulu), where the sector of luxury luxury hotels is located. You may be able to find affordable housing in Chinatown or the countryside. Despite the smooth climate throughout the year, Hawaii has high and low tourist seasons. Peak prices occur in the winter months and March. In summer, the so-called middle season begins. If you want to at least slightly minimize your vacation costs in Hawaii, choose the off-season (spring or fall).

Historical landmarks

Don't limit yourself only beach holiday. Where Honolulu is located, there is something to see for an inquisitive tourist. In the city itself, this is the only royal palace in the United States. It's called Iolani. Translated, it means “palace of the bird of heaven.” The building was built in 1882 and acquired electricity and telephones earlier than the White House and the residence of the Queen of Great Britain. Now in the building royal palace The museum is open.

Another attraction of Honolulu is the Pearl Harbor Memorial Complex. But there is no Barack Obama house museum in Honolulu, although it is known that the 44th President of the United States was born here and graduated from the local high school.

Natural attractions

The luxurious nature of the island of Oahu, where Honolulu is located, attracts tourists like a magnet. From the city you can see the crater of Diamond Head Volcano, which you can climb. The view from the top is stunning. Another attraction of the island is Hanauma Bay on the southeast coast. Children will be interested in visiting the Waikiki Aquarium, where about two hundred species of fish and waterfowl are on display. The Bishop Museum houses a rich collection of Polynesian culture. You can walk through the jungle to Manoa Falls (about a kilometer from the city). Or visit the local zoo. Sacred in Hawaii, 335 meters) can only be seen from the air. Many travel companies offer helicopter excursions to this unique natural site.

Information

In 2015 240.00 passengers visited Honolulu. There are 2 mooring places for cruise ships in the capital of Hawaii:

  • Cruise terminal Pier 11, known as Aloha Tower, is located almost in the center of Honolulu. Waikiki's most popular beach is 5 km away.
  • Pier 2 located even closer to Waikiki.

Hawaii's most visited island, Oahu, has many different attractions for every taste. It’s difficult to see everything during the ship’s stay. Therefore, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with and interesting places islands and decide what interests you most.

Main attractions:

The city of Honolulu itself. It is rightfully considered one of the best cities peace. Quite compact.

There are many bass tourists from different companies traveling around Honolulu. For example, Waikiki Trolley. The cost of a ticket to the center is $18, to the Diamond Head caldera - $30. To be honest, we don't recommend it. The city center is only 5 km from the pier. It's better to walk to Waikiki Beach. There's a lot along the way interesting buildings. Many coastal hotels have green and picturesque territory. Free admission.

Video of Waikiki from above

Bus number 23 goes to Diamond Head. The fare is $2.5. Please note that you will have to walk up to the observation deck for about 30 minutes. In the heat, this walk is not for everyone.

At the end of Waikiki Beach is a zoo. Ticket costs $14. Nearby on the shore there is a small aquarium. Entrance – 12$

Pearl Harbor Memorial Complex. The most important place of worship for Americans in memory of World War II. There are separate museums on the territory of the complex:

  • Memorial to the sunken battleship Arizona.
  • battleship Missouri. It was built in 1944.
  • submarine "Bowfin" 1942 buildings.
  • aviation museum. There are 43 aircraft in total, including the Soviet MIG-15 and MIG-21.

Entrance to the complex itself is free, but a ticket to all museums costs $63. You can choose to visit.

Video review of Pearl Harbor

From the cruise pier to Pearl Harbor you can take buses No. 20,42,62 in 45 minutes. The ticket costs $2.5. The memorial is of greater interest to history and technology buffs.

  • ethnographic center Polynesian Cultural Center, where 6 cultures of the peoples of Polynesia are represented. Very interesting place. It is located 50 km from the cruise pier in the northeast of the island. In an hour and a half you can take bus No. 55 ($2.5) along the picturesque coast. If parking time allows, we recommend taking a ticket with the evening show and Admission and Show w/ Free Dinner for $70. It runs from 7 to 9 pm.
  • sea ​​animal park Sea Life Park. Ticket costs $30. You can get there by buses No. 22 and 23 from Waikiki Beach in 45 minutes.
  • Buddhist temple Byodo-In Temple.
  • Dole pineapple plantation. Feel free to skip, nothing interesting.

Excursions cruise companies on Oahu, as usual, dear ones. Cost using the example of the Princess company.

There are more than 100 beaches on the island. The most beautiful ones are on the east coast. Beaches are divided into 2 categories - for swimming and for surfing. Read more about them.

All beaches are free, except Hanauma Bay. Entrance $7.5. According to many cruisers, the beach looks better in photographs than it actually is. Snorkeling is quite mediocre, a lot of people, not everywhere good entrance in the sea.

The most famous beach is of course Waikiki Beach in the center of Honolulu. Protective jetties prevent waves from crashing onto the shore. There are changing rooms and toilets on the beach. Umbrellas and sun loungers are expensive. All vacationers sit on towels or mats.

When traveling to the north of the island east coast The order of beaches worthy of attention, starting with Hanauma Bay, is as follows:

  • Sandy Beach Beach for surfers with big waves.
  • Makapuu Beach. Be careful with large and treacherous waves.
  • Waimanalo Beach is 9 km long.
  • Lanikai Beach - 1st place among US beaches in 2014 according to Tripadvisor.


  • Kailua Beach. Continuation of Lanikai Beach.
  • beach in Kahana Bay. Secluded, small, with beautiful mountains around.

In the north of Oahu, the beaches are not as picturesque, but there is a romantic surfing atmosphere. We recommend visiting there. Along the way, you can have a snack at roadside cafe-vans, where shrimp are a specialty. Lunch costs from $8 to $14.

In the northwest, Waimea Bay Beach is interesting.

On the island good roads and developed bus service. By using Google maps You can calculate a route to any point on the island by public transport.

Hobby companies organized excursions can order individual excursion around the island from local Russian-speaking travel agencies Marina Hawaii Travel, Russia Hawaii Tours or HIKCI.

Let's go and look... We've been to many big cities. Honestly, Honolulu is the most tropical city, it is simply surrounded by greenery! After some time we found ourselves in the Waikiki area, where we needed to take another bus from the same company to get to Diamond Head.
And here the beach is shining through! Well, how good it is there! It’s so great to be able to quickly get to the beach while waiting for the next bus. The water is warm!!! I didn’t want any negativity at all on this magical island and therefore we decided to refuse to visit Pearl Harbor. Although it’s probably also worth attention, it’s still a story. We decided to spend the saved time after the excursion here, on this wonderful beach.

Our bus has arrived and we are moving on, admiring the most beautiful view to the island. On the way to the crater we passed beautiful park Queen Kapi"olani Park, where many people like to relax. Opposite this park is one of the oldest aquariums in the United States, founded back in 1904. The guide stopped the bus at another beautiful view point, which overlooks the ocean.

Finally we arrived at the foot of the crater of the extinct Diamond Head volcano. The bus dropped us off at the road and then we had to walk all the way to the park, where the climb to the observation deck begins. We had to walk for about 15 minutes in the heat... Then through a tunnel through the walls of the crater, where it was very pleasant in the shade after such heat. Entrance to the park is paid - $5 per car to the parking lot, $1 per person. Cash only (CASH ONLY).

This is where good physical shape is required. The route takes 2 hours along the mountain to the top and back. We “took off” in half an hour (I specially noted the time), and under the bright tropical sun. People walk at different paces, some faster, others resting and relaxing. All you can hear around is: “After that I want only beach!”

Well, here we are at the very top. Wow, how much we walked! As a reward for such a journey, a panorama of the fabulous coast opens. This climb is definitely worth the climb. Breathtaking! But only if you are in good shape!

Many people know that Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing. The biggest waves on Oahu occur on the north shore in November or December. There, on the Banzai Pipeline beach, the world-famous “Triple Crown of Surfing” surfing competition is held, which attracts the best surfers in the world. Imagine, the waves in winter reach 6, and sometimes even 12 meters! An impressive sight. You can look. In general, the coolest waves called "Jaws" 18m high (!!!) are found on the island of Maui.

After climbing Diamond Head we boarded the bus again to head back. On the way we passed another interesting place on the island - the zoo. Due to lack of time, we didn’t go, but I later got to admire the animals in full at the Sydney Zoo.

After lunch on the ship we decided to return to the enchanting Waikiki beach. In fact, there are as many as 139 beaches on Oahu and all of them are luxurious. We went to Waikiki because there are still many different shops around, small and large shopping centers, where we also wanted to go for a walk. And besides, you don’t need to pay anything extra for travel, because the same bus goes there, for which we already had tickets for the whole day.

This nice beach made us happy. There are many hotels around with vacationers from all over the world. A lot of Japanese. The sun is gentle, the water is warm, the artificial breakwaters “calm” them and even children can swim. And on the horizon there are dozens of surfers who are very interesting to watch. Fascinating.

Marik and I really enjoyed everything! We were there almost until sunset; we didn’t want to leave anywhere. And you can film life in Waikiki endlessly!

After the beach we walked around the nearby shops. The shopping center overlooks one of the most beautiful hotels, Royal Hawaiian 5*, which opened on February 1, 1927.

Meanwhile, it got dark and gas torches began to be lit around. Very Hawaiian

Well, now it’s time to return home to our ship. We had a great time! And this hand gesture, the famous sign “shaka, brah!”, means “relax” and says that Hawaii is not a place where you need to worry and stress, says that everything is fine! As I already wrote, “aloha” here means love, greeting, farewell, affection, wishes, tenderness, and the “shaka” gesture also expresses all this. We can see that everything is just great in Hawaii!

Mayor Kirk Caldwell History and geography City with 1907 Square 177.2 km² Center height 6 m Climate type tropical Time zone UTC−10 Population Population 390,738 people (2010) Density 2,152.2 people/km² Agglomeration 953 207 Digital IDs Dialing code +1 808 Postal code 96000 honolulu.gov (English)

Honolulu(English and Hawaiian Honolulu) - a city on the island of Oahu in the Hawaiian archipelago, the capital of the state, administrative center Honolulu County. Translated from Hawaiian honolulu means "protected bay".

The main base is located in the suburbs of Honolulu naval forces USA in the central part of the Pacific Ocean - Pearl Harbor.

Story

Archaeological evidence and some oral histories indicate that the first Polynesian settlement arose in what is now Honolulu in the 11th century. After conquering the island of Oahu, King Kamehameha I moved the royal court from the island of Hawaii to Waikiki (now the Honolulu area) in 1804. His court was moved again in 1809 to what is now the city's business center. In 1812 the capital was moved to Kailua-Kona.

Port of Honolulu, 1816. The painting was painted by a resident of the Russian colony L. Choris

In 1794, British officer William Brown was the first European to sail into Honolulu Harbor. Russians first appeared in the area during round the world expedition I. F. Krusenstern and Yu. F. Lisyansky. Subsequently, the city becomes a focal point for merchant ships traveling between North America and Asia. The attempt to found a Russian colony and bring the entire archipelago under Russian citizenship, undertaken in 1815-17 by Yegor Sheffer, was initially quite successful, but was not supported by the Russian government. Alexander I, wanting to show the British Empire and the United States an example of the policy of good neighborliness and refusal to annex new lands, did not respond to the request of one of the Hawaiian leaders, Kaumualii, to transfer the islands to Russian protectorate. As might be expected, this show of restraint had the exact opposite effect. In 1817, the Americans forcibly liquidated the Russian settlement, killing three Russians and more than ten Hawaiians who converted to Orthodoxy. Over time, the United States annexed the entire archipelago.

In 1845, Kamehameha III moved the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from Lahaina on the island of Maui to Honolulu. Under him, as well as under his successors, the city was turned into a modern capital, buildings such as the Cathedral of St. Andrew's, Iolani Palace, Aliyolani Hale (today the building houses Supreme Court state of Hawaii). At the same time, the city becomes an important center of trade on the islands; descendants of American missionaries are building large enterprises in the center of Honolulu. The Kingdom of Hawaii ceased to exist in 1893, and the islands became part of the United States in 1898. In 1900, a major fire occurred in the city, as a result of which most of the local Chinatown burned out (about 15 hectares of territory). The cause of the fire was a campaign to burn infected houses during the quarantine declared in connection with cases of bubonic plague. Due to the dense development of Chinatown, the fire quickly spread to neighboring buildings, leaving more than 7,000 people homeless. In December 1941, the Pearl Harbor naval base located in the vicinity of the city was attacked by a Japanese aircraft carrier force during the Hawaiian operation. During World War II, the city was one of the main supply centers for American forces in the Pacific theater of operations.

The subsequent development of the city is associated with the tourism industry.

Geography and climate

Honolulu at dusk

Honolulu is located on the leeward side of the island of Oahu, occupying the entire area between the ocean and the Ko'olau Ridge, which is a part of the crater slope of a colossal volcano that has survived from ancient times.

According to the Köppen climate classification, the city is located in the tropical savannah climate zone As. However, there is little precipitation due to the rain shadow effect from Ko'olau, and the wet and dry seasons are not clearly defined and flow smoothly into each other. Honolulu is sunny almost all year round. Within 12 months, temperature changes are insignificant; The average monthly maximum temperature is 27-32 °C, and the average monthly minimum is 18-24 °C. Very rarely the thermometer rises to 35 °C, and the minimum temperature at night can drop to 14-15 °C no more than twice a year. The highest temperature of 35°C was recorded during a heat wave in September 1998. Later in the day, the state's highest temperature was recorded on Niihau Island. The most low temperature reached 11.7 °C on February 16, 1902 and January 20, 1969. The water temperature off the coast is 27 °C throughout summer months and 25 °C in winter.

The city receives an average of 434 mm of rainfall annually, most of which occurs during the winter months from October to mid-April. In summer there is little rainfall. On average, Honolulu has 278 sunny and 90 rainy days a year. Although the city is considered to have a dry season and a rainy season, this is almost unnoticeable due to the fact that there is little rain in the summer and more intense rain in the winter. Despite this, both seasons have the same number of rainy days.

Although the city is located in a tropical zone, hurricanes are considered a rare occurrence. The last hurricane to hit Hawaii was in 1992. Hurricane Iniki was classified as a Category 4 hurricane. Tornadoes are also rare and usually hit the islands once every 15 years. Waterspouts occurring close to the coast are somewhat more common, hitting the city every five years.

Climate of Honolulu (normal 1981-2010)
Indicator Jan. Feb. March Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Year
Absolute maximum, °C 31,1 31,1 31,7 32,8 33,9 33,3 34,4 33,9 35,0 34,4 34,4 31,7 35,0
Average maximum, °C 26,7 26,8 27,3 28,2 29,2 30,6 31,1 31,5 31,4 30,4 28,8 27,3 29,1
Average temperature, °C 22,9 22,8 23,6 24,5 25,4 26,8 27,3 27,7 27,5 26,7 25,3 23,8 25,4
Average minimum, °C 19,1 18,9 19,8 20,8 21,6 23,0 23,6 23,9 23,6 23,0 21,9 20,2 21,6
Absolute minimum, °C 11,7 11,7 12,8 13,3 15,6 18,3 18,9 18,3 18,9 16,1 13,9 12,2 11,7
Precipitation rate, mm 59 51 51 16 16 7 13 14 18 47 62 82 436
Water temperature, °C 22,5 23,0 24,2 23,5 24,8 26,4 27,0 27,5 28,0 26,6 25,8 25,5 25,4
Source: Weather and climate, Tourism portal

Diplomatic missions

City Hall and City Council building

Diplomatic missions (consulates) of the following states are located in the city:

  • Australia

Population

As of the 2010 census, Honolulu's population was 390,738. Gender composition: men - 49.3%; women - 50.7%. The average age of city residents is 41.3 years (40 years for men, 43 for women). The share of people over 65 years old is 18.1%.

Ethnic composition:

  • white - 17.9% (in 1970 - 33.9%)
  • black - 1.5%
  • Asians - 54.8% (including Japanese - 19.9%, Filipinos - 13.2%, Chinese - 10.4%)
  • Hawaiians and other Polynesians - 8.4% (including Hawaiians - 3.2%, Samoans - 1.5%)
  • Hispanic - 5.4%

Thus, Honolulu is the capital of the state with the smallest proportion of whites and the largest proportion of Asians in the United States, and also the only capital where the proportion of Polynesians exceeds the proportions of blacks and Hispanics (both combined).

The city's crime rate is about 1/4 lower than the US average, but slightly higher than the Hawaiian average.

Hawaii State Capitol

Population dynamics of Honolulu:

  • 1890 - 22,907 people
  • 1900 - 39,306 people
  • 1910 - 52,183 people
  • 1920 - 83,327 people
  • 1930 - 137,582 people
  • 1940 - 179,326 people
  • 1950 - 248,034 people
  • 1960 - 294,194 people
  • 1970 - 324,871 people
  • 1980 - 365,048 people
  • 1990 - 365,272 people
  • 2000 - 371,657 people
  • 2010 - 390,738 people

Economy

Currently, Honolulu is not only the largest city and airport in the Hawaiian Islands, but also a recognized international tourist center. Millions of tourists enter the islands through Honolulu, bringing the city's economy up to $10 billion annually. Because of this favorable location on the Pacific Ocean, the city is an important business, trade and transportation center connecting East and West. In addition, the Pearl Harbor naval base, as well as various research and production centers (mainly in the field of information technology, the creation of modern materials, medicine and biotechnology), play an important role in the city’s economy.

Business center of the city

Companies based in Honolulu include:

  • Alexander & Baldwin
  • Bank of Hawaii
  • Central Pacific Bank
  • First Hawaiian Bank
  • Hawaii Medical Service Association
  • Hawaii Pacific Health
  • Hawaiian Electric Industries
  • Matson Navigation Company
  • The Queen's Health Systems

Headquarters of Go! Mokulele, Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air, and Aloha Air Cargo are located in the city. Before ceasing operations, Aloha Airlines had its main offices in Honolulu. For some period of time, the local airline Mid-Pacific Airlines was based at the Honolulu International Airport. In 2009, the cost and rent of housing in Honolulu increased by an average of 4.5%, since then the city ranks second in the most expensive real estate market among 210 American agglomerations .

Since the largest national banking chains do not have branches in Hawaii, tourists and locals use a variety of local banks. The largest and oldest banking institution in the Hawaiian Islands is First Hawaiian Bank. The bank's main office is located in the First Hawaiian Center skyscraper, the tall building in the state.

Transport

The city is served International airport Honolulu (IATA: HNL, ICAO: PHNL), located 5 kilometers northwest of the business district and is one of the busiest airports in the United States, with an annual passenger turnover of about 18 million people (data for 2011). The airport has regular flights to all major cities, several cities and Australia, as well as to, and. Three main directions: , and . The airport also provides connections to many settlements Hawaiian Islands and in general.

City bus

Honolulu, sad for its citizens, holds the title of leader in traffic jams among US cities, having surpassed Los Angeles in this regard in the late 2000s. On average, drivers spend 58 hours stuck in traffic jams each year, with roads leading into the western suburbs particularly problematic. In the early 2000s, plans were developed and began to be implemented to build a 32-kilometer light rail line connecting the center and west of the city, but due to a lack of money and protests from the Greens, construction was constantly delayed. The current global crisis has completely called into question the completion of the project; the opening of the movement has been postponed from 2015 to 2019. Honolulu is technically part of the United States Interstate Highway System, with Interstate highways passing through it H-1 and Interstate H-201. In practice, for obvious reasons, it is impossible to travel along these roads to another state.

Public transport is represented by 110 bus routes managed by the company TheBus. System public transport Honolulu has been recognized by the American Public Transportation Association twice, in 1995 and 2001. American Public Transportation Association) the best in the country.

Cultural institutions

Natural history museums

Honolulu's premier museum, the Bishop Museum, houses the largest collection of paleontological specimens in the state. The museum houses the world's largest collection of artifacts related to Hawaiian and Polynesian culture. The Honolulu Zoo is the premier zoological institution in the Hawaiian Islands, and the Waikiki Aquarium is an active ocean biology laboratory. The laboratory works closely with the University of Hawaii and other universities around the world. IN botanical gardens Honolulu: Foster Botanical Garden, Liliʻuokalani Botanical Garden and Walker Estate breed plants from around the world.

Performing arts

Founded in 1900, the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra is the oldest symphony orchestra west of the United States. Rocky Mountains. Among other groups performing classical works, Hawaii Opera Theater should be noted. Honolulu is also considered the center of traditional Hawaiian music. The city's main concert venues are the Hawaii Theater, Waikiki Shell, the Neal Blaisdell Center multifunctional complex with concert hall and a platform for various sports and public events. Honolulu has several art theaters, the most famous of which is the Diamond Head Theatre.

Fine arts

Honolulu is home to institutions where you can experience a variety of works of art. The Honolulu Museum of Art houses the largest collection of Western and Asian art in the Hawaiian Islands. The Shangri La estate has the largest collection of Islamic art exhibits. The museum houses a cinema, which bears the name of a famous American woman, collector and philanthropist Doris Duke.

It hosts screenings of masterpieces of world cinema, as well as films and videos of directors working in the art-house style.

In the Museum contemporary art presents the state's only collection of contemporary art. The exhibition is located in two locations: the main museum building is located in the Makiki area, and a multi-level gallery is located in the center of Honolulu, in the First Hawaiian Center building.

The collection of the Hawaii State Art Museum (downtown) features works by local artists and traditional Hawaiian art. The museum is managed by the State of Hawaii Arts and Culture Foundation.

Every year the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) is held in Honolulu. The festival showcases the best films by directors from the Asia-Pacific region. The festival, which takes place in the style of “Meeting of East and West,” is the largest event of its kind in.

Sport

Favorable climatic conditions Honolulu is ideal for year-round exercise. In 2004, Men's Fitness magazine named Honolulu the fittest city in the United States. Honolulu hosts three major road running competitions:

  • The Great Aloha Run takes place every year on President's Day.
  • Every year, about 20,000 people take part in the Honolulu Marathon, which starts on the second Sunday in December, two-thirds of whom are residents.
  • The Honolulu Triathlon is an Olympic distance triathlon run by USA Triathlon. Since 2004, the competition has been held annually in May, although the city does not have a specially equipped track for the sprint distance.

The first competition and the first Ironman Hawaii triathlon world championship were held in Honolulu in 1978.

Several spectator sports are popular in Honolulu. The city has many fans of local teams participating in American football, volleyball, basketball, rugby, rugby league, and baseball (as part of the University of Hawaii at Manoa program). American football competitions are especially popular among high school teams.

Honolulu does not have its own professional teams. In the past, the city was home to baseball teams - the Hawaii Islanders (Pacific League, 1961-1987), American football - The Hawaiians (World League of American Football, 1974-1975), football - Team Hawaii (North American Soccer League, 1977) and mini-soccer. Hawaiian Islanders football (af2, 2002-2004).

The NCAA is hosting the Hawaii Cup playoff series in Honolulu. Since 1980, the National Football League has hosted the Pro Bowl All-Star Game in the city every February. Although the 2010 match was played in Miami, the 2011 match was again played in Honolulu. From 1993 to 2008, Honolulu hosted the Hawaii Winter Baseball league, which featured minor leaguers from Major League Baseball, the Japanese Professional Baseball League, and the Professional Baseball League. South Korea and independent baseball leagues.

Sports facilities

You can attend spectator sports matches in Honolulu at:

  • Les Murakami Stadium, which is located on the territory of the University of Hawaii at Manoa (baseball)
  • Neal Blaisdell Center (basketball)
  • Stan Sheriff Center located on the campus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa (basketball and volleyball)

Aloha Stadium, home to American football and soccer games, is located outside of Honolulu in the Halawa area. Honolulu // Dictionary geographical names foreign countries/ answer ed. A. M. Komkov. - 3rd ed., revised. and additional - M.: Nedra, 1986. - P. 93.

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  • Links

    • Official website

    Honolulu in Hawaii is not just the largest city, it is also the capital of the state, its attractions attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the globe, the city’s airport is the central gateway for all of the Hawaiian Islands, and the map is replete with both natural monuments and historical places.


    Google Maps/google.ru

    The word “Honolulu” itself is translated as “refuge of silence,” or, according to another version, “quiet bay.” The very meaning of the city’s name promises an excellent opportunity to rest, relax and gain new strength to overcome everyday life’s difficulties.

    A little history

    Everyone knows that Hawaii is one of the states, that is, part of the United States and the appropriate documents are needed to enter the resort. Just like the fact that it was on the Hawaiian Islands that the Pearl Harbor base was located, brilliantly attacked in 1941 by the Japanese Imperial Navy, during which the whole world was shown the disorganization and arrogance reigning at that time in the defensive forces of the Americans.

    However, Hawaii was an independent kingdom for a long time; the annexation of the islands by the United States took place only after a local revolution, which led to the overthrow of the monarchical order, that is, after 1893.

    If, under missionary and later independent monarchical rule, the island of Oahu and the city of Honolulu itself is a large shopping mall, one of the main intermediate ports on the way from North America to Asia and South America, then after the annexation the situation changed dramatically.

    boaski/flickr.com

    The Hawaiian Islands first became home to military bases, becoming an important strategic site, and later, after World War II, a place for recreation and tourism, a resort that any American could visit on a weekend.

    About the city

    The city of Honolulu is reminiscent of Moscow or old cities, both Asian and located in Eastern Europe. The similarity is expressed in the fact that there is no clear street layout at all; moreover, there are not just a lot of different nooks, alleys and dead ends, there are more of them than there are streets that lead anywhere.

    The city has several “main” districts that are present on the map:

    1. Downtown - central.
    2. Waikiki - beach.
    3. Manoa-Makiki – northern residential.
    4. Eastern Honolulu – eastern residential.
    5. Western Honolulu - western residential.

    As a rule, everything travel agencies they sell tours to Honolulu with accommodation for travelers within the beach area, but nevertheless, you need to navigate the areas of this city before purchasing a ticket and flying to the islands.

    Honolulu is one of the few old cities where historical center and the modern concentration of financial, administrative, commercial and other buildings are united in one area.

    c_chan808 / flickr.com

    It is in the center that the museums are located, old port, the building of the State Legislative Assembly, historical monuments and the famous Aloha Tower, which has become the same “signature” of the Hawaiian Islands as Waikiki Beach and the Pearl Harbor base.

    Waikiki

    The name of the area in which hotels, surf centers, yacht berths and endless snow-white stripes of sand with the inevitable bars selling elegant cocktails are concentrated.

    The most famous of local beaches, present in all tourist brochures without exception, is called similarly - Waikiki. From it came the name of the entire area that grew up around this beach.

    North

    The northern residential area is located in the foothills, which greatly influenced the layout of its streets, squares and even the height of buildings.

    Ken Lund / flickr.com

    It is a quiet and noisy place at the same time. The University of Hawaii is located here, and therefore the campus, and the National Memorial is located here.

    East

    The East is the main residential area of ​​the city, it extends to the town of Makapuu Point, famous among photographers and artists for its rocky beach lines, radically different from the snow-white strip of Waikiki sands.

    This is where they live, that is, you won’t meet tourists on the streets, except for those who came for sketches or photo sessions and rented an apartment closer to the desired location.

    West

    This is also a residential area, but unlike the eastern and northern ones, multi-apartment buildings and quite a lot of bars predominate here.

    It is in this area that the Honolulu Airport, the Pearl Harbor Memorial, and a number of attractions of modern American military history and a little-known but very interesting museum - the Bishop's Museum.

    John Carkeet / flickr.com

    When purchasing a tour, you should pay attention to the location of the hotel; an interactive online map of Honolulu can help with this. Although, usually all tourists are accommodated in beach area, but the hotel may be located in the Western district of the city. This means a constant hum from planes flying up and down and the need to use transport to travel to the beaches.

    What to see?

    Although Hawaii is essentially just a beach, there is plenty to do in Honolulu besides relaxing on the sand or other resort entertainment. There are museums, natural attractions, historical buildings, and thematic memorials.

    Of course, if possible, it is worth seeing as much as possible. However, there is never enough time, so it makes sense to pay attention to the following interesting places:

    • Bishop's Museum;
    • the Doris Duke Mansion, better known as Shangri-La, and the Honolulu Museum of Art;
    • Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum;
    • Diamond Head Crater;
    • Manoa Falls.

    When vacationing with children, it is worth visiting the local zoo and aquarium and, of course, water attractions Waikiki. You can book a tour of the places you like or purchase tickets somewhere in advance using the websites and.

    Bishop Museum - this is how the museum is designated in local languages tourist maps, which are freely available in each of the hotels and in the airport hall. It is the largest repository of various rarities not only on the islands, but throughout the Western Hemisphere.

    Daniel Ramirez / flickr.com

    Collections of entomological, historical, cultural and other topics are presented to visitors. The museum complex is located on Bernice Street, and opening hours, entrance fees and exhibitions open for viewing on specific days can be found on the official website - www.bishopmuseum.org.

    Doris Duke Mansion and Honolulu Museum of Art

    The mansion was built in 1937 by the heiress of the Duke family's billions of dollars, playmaker, socialite, world-famous for collecting Islamic and Buddhist art and being a philanthropist, Doris Duke.

    She herself was in love with Hawaii and lived on the islands until her death, after which in 1993, according to the will of Doris, her mansion opened its doors as a museum. You can learn more about this place before traveling to Honolulu by visiting the official Shangri-La website - shangrilahawaii.org.

    Smart Destinations / flickr.com

    The tour of the mansion lasts two hours, it begins in the building of the local art museum and ends there. The museum itself is located on Berentania Street and has a collection no less impressive than Doris’s estate. Opening hours, a list of exhibitions open for inspection and the cost of entry on specific dates can be found on the official website - www.honolulumuseum.org.

    Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

    It will be of interest to everyone, without exception, even those who cannot stand military topics or are biased against the US Air Force.

    Briefly about what awaits tourists here:

    1. The exhibit areas occupy 6.5 hectares.
    2. Three completely reconstructed WWII hangars are open for inspection.
    3. A command and control tower is available.
    4. You can not only see, but also touch more than three dozen military aircraft from different years.

    In addition to the above, there is a large restaurant on site and a good shop with souvenirs available for any budget. By purchasing gifts for acquaintances, friends and relatives here, you can save a lot.

    John Carkeet / flickr.com

    The museum is located at 319 Lexington Blvd - Hanger 37, and is generally open Tuesday through Saturday inclusive, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, in Hawaii, a lot depends on the weather and demand among tourists, so the cost and opening hours on specific calendar dates should be checked on the official website www.pacificaviationmuseum.org.

    Diamond Head Crater

    This is not only the “visiting” view of the Hawaiian Islands, but also the filming location for many films and TV series. For example, Lost, which has become a cult favorite, was filmed here from the first frame to the last.

    The first American military fort in Hawaii was also built here, and it was here that diamonds were searched for from the end of 1800, but only calcite deposits were discovered.

    Access to the crater trails does not require payment; this natural monument is located near the Waikiki area and is open to the public daily, from 6:00 to 18:00. Entrance to the crater trails is limited in time, until 16:30, and in storms - until 15:00.

    The height of this natural monument is 231 meters, and its diameter is 1073 meters. Short trail to observation deck with a view of the ocean - 1 kilometer, so you need to wear shoes accordingly and don’t forget to take water with you.

    Not as famous and visited as the crater that cooled down thousands of years ago, but no less worthy of attention.

    Edmund Garman / flickr.com

    You can get to the waterfall around the clock, freely and free of charge. There is a path leading to it, passing through a section of tropical jungle. It starts at the end of Manoa Street - “Manoa Road”.

    The length of the trail is about a kilometer. There are no tourists here, and, most importantly, you can come here at night. The round tropical moon hanging over the quietly murmuring cascade of silver water in its light is unlikely to leave even an unromantic heart indifferent.

    The waterfall is also beautiful during the day, but, of course, it lacks the mystical charm of the night.

    Video: Hawaii, Honolulu - what do I like about Hawaii?

    What else do you need to know?

    Nightlife, shopping and tourist-oriented restaurants line the beaches in Waikiki. Beach parties, surfing competitions, and yacht rental piers are also concentrated here.

    Bars, clubs and cafes where locals, as well as sailors and military personnel relax, are located in the western region. Also in the west are concentrated all the hot spots and other services of the sex industry - strips, voyeur clubs, and so on.

    The airport was built in the west, near the Pearl Harbor site. It is so huge that shuttle buses run from terminal to terminal.

    Aero Icarus / flickr.com

    You can also get from there to the city by bus:

    • SpeediShuttle company - to the Waikiki area.
    • City route “19 Airport – Hickam” or “20 Airport – Pearlridge” to the city center or to the Waikiki area.

    City routes do not run 24 hours a day; their intervals are:

    1. On weekdays – 4:55 – 1:22.
    2. On weekends – 5:10 – 1:25.

    But you can't travel on the bus with a surfboard. At independent trip From the airport to the hotel, that is, if there is no transfer included in the package, take a taxi.

    The taxi rank is nearby, cars are on duty at the exits of the terminals.

    Holidays in Hawaii in the USA are considered budgetary and even not prestigious; the islands are often said to be “for the poor”. Pricing policy Honolulu is designed for the middle class of Americans and the budget for a full, luxurious weekend spent here averages $300-450 per person.

    In the USA, the administrative center of the state of Hawaii. Population 386.3 thousand people (2006; including 56% - people of Asian origin: native inhabitants of the islands - Hawaiians, Japanese Americans - "Nissei", etc.), with suburbs 915.1 thousand people. Located on the southeast coast of the island of Oahu (Hawaii Islands). An important hub for sea and air communications in the central Pacific Ocean. Seaport. International airport.

    The first European to land in Honolulu Bay in 1794 was the English captain W. Brown, who discovered Polynesian settlements here. In the early 19th century, the port of Honolulu became an important transit center on the maritime trade route from North America to Asia, as well as a whaling base. In 1845, King Kamehameha III of Hawaii moved his capital from Maui to Honolulu. Since 1898, Honolulu has been the administrative center of the territory of Hawaii within the United States. At the beginning of the 20th century, a US naval base was created in Pearl Harbor Bay (west of Honolulu), and by attacking it on December 7, 1941, Japan started the war in the Pacific. Honolulu's rapid growth in the postwar years was facilitated by the development of mass tourism(especially since the mid-1950s, with the beginning passenger air transportation high-speed jetliners). At the beginning of the 21st century, about 8 million tourists arrive annually in the Hawaiian Islands, most of them visiting Honolulu. The main tourist and resort area of ​​the city is Waikiki.

    The business center of Honolulu has high-rise buildings (including the tower of the First Hawaiian Center skyscraper, 134 m; 1996). Among the attractions of Honolulu is the Palace of the Hawaiian Kings "Iolani" (1882). University of Hawaii (1907, university status since 1920), Chaminade University in Honolulu (1955), Hawaii Pacific University (1965), Academy fine arts(1927). Bishop Museum (1889, exhibition dedicated to the history and nature of the islands). Hawaiian opera house(1980), Diamond Head Theater, etc. Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (1900; the oldest in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains). Honolulu is the center of Hawaiian musical culture. The city's main concert venue is the Neil Blaisdell Center (1964), which also hosts conferences and exhibitions. Polynesian cultural center(1963). Zoo (1896), aquarium in Waikiki (1904).

    A significant part of the townspeople are busy serving tourists, as well as large military bases located on the island of Oahu. In the vicinity of Honolulu there is Pearl Harbor, the main US Navy base in the central Pacific Ocean, and Hickam Air Force Base. In Honolulu there are food enterprises, including sugar and fruit canning (pineapple processing), industry, construction industry, etc.

    On the shore of Pearl Harbor Bay there is a memorial complex dedicated to the events of December 7, 1941. In the southeastern part of the Honolulu metropolitan area, near the ocean coast, there is the cone of the Diamond Head volcano (“Diamond Head”; has the status natural monument). The north coast of Oahu is popular among surfers, especially Haleiwa Beach. On the island of Oahu there are plantations of sugar cane and pineapples.