Honolulu

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Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is the largest city in the state of Hawaii. It is the government, transportation, and commercial center for the state, and home to its best known tourist destination, Waikiki Beach.

	honolulu Travel Guide : 1 Understand 2 Districts 3 Get in 3.1 By plane 4 Get around 4.1 Navigating 4.2 Major arterials 4.3 By bus 5 See 5.1 Beaches 5.2 Military Memorials 5.3 Museums and Galleries 5.4 Scenic 6 Do 6.1 Running 7 Learn 8 Work 9 Buy 9.1 Shopping malls 10 Eat 10.1 Budget 10.2 Higher-End 11 Drink 12 Sleep 13 Contact 14 Stay safe 15 Get out 16 External links

Understand

The last thing you'd expect to find in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is a thriving world-class city, with a beach that rivals any in the world. But Honolulu, the capital and commercial center of the Hawaiian Islands, is all of this and more.

From humble beginnings as a village on the southern shore of the island of Oahu, the town gained importance when, in 1809, King Kamehameha I moved his royal court from the island of Hawaii to Oahu. Its ideally located port made Honolulu a perfect stop for merchant ships traveling between North America and Asia.

Eventually, in 1845, Kamehameha III officially moved the kingdom's capital from Lahaina on Maui to Honolulu. At the same time, descendants of missionaries who arrived in the early 1800s established their headquarters in Honolulu, making it the center of business. The late 1800s and early 1900s saw the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, annexation by the United States, and an attack by the Japanese on nearby Pearl Harbor, but Honolulu's stature had never wavered.

Today, with nearly one million people in its metropolitan area (80% of the state's population), Honolulu is the cultural, industrial, commercial, and governmental center of Hawaii, with Waikiki Beach the epicenter of the tourist industry. This is definitely not the place to go for a "get-away-from-it-all" Hawaiian vacation. It is as fast-paced and dynamic as any city, with all its problems such as heavy traffic, drugs, crime, and homelessness. But Honolulu has not entirely lost the charm of the Islands' laid-back atmosphere and culture. The island people are often polite, and as often as not you'll be waved through at freeway entrances, although you'll probably be cut off again by someone in the next few seconds.

Simply put, Honolulu is in the middle of it all.

Districts

Honolulu extends inland from the southeast shore of Oahu, east of Pearl Harbor to Makapuu Point, and incorporates many neighborhoods and districts. You'll most often hear people refer to these districts by name -- Waikiki, Manoa, Kahala, Hawaii Kai and so on -- as though they're not part of the same city. Technically, they are. In fact, the city government of Honolulu covers the entire island of Oahu, including its outlying suburbs. This guide, however, focuses on Honolulu proper.

For a closer look at a few popular destinations:

• Waikiki
• Manoa
• Downtown

Get in

Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. with Interstate Highways that don't connect to another state. They are H-1, H-2, and the newest one H-3, all located on the island of Oahu.

By plane

Honolulu International Airport (http://www.hawaii.gov/dot/airports/oahu/hnl/index.htm) is the main aviation gateway for the Hawaiian Islands. The airport's Main Terminal is served by most major American airlines from the mainland U.S, and by many international airlines from other countries around the Pacific Rim. Its Interisland Terminal is the home of Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Airlines, both of which offer frequent local service to the other Hawaiian islands.

The Airport Waikiki Express provides shuttle service to hotels in Waikiki every half hour for $8 per person. City buses #19 and #20 ($2 Adult/ no change given/ $US bills and coins accepted) also come to the airport once every half-hour, going through Aala Park downtown and on to to Waikiki. You can catch them on the outside second level of the international and domestic departure terminals.

The best way to get to Waikiki by rental car (where your hotel is most likely to be) is to follow signs for H-1 east, then follow H-1 east about 2 miles to exit 18A (Waikiki/Nimitz Highway). Follow Nimitz Highway (which turns into Ala Moana Boulevard past downtown Honolulu) straight into Waikiki. You will pass through Honolulu's industrial district, along Honolulu Harbor, and past downtown Honolulu and the Ala Moana Shopping Center.

Get around

Navigating

Unlike other 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-KIE) meaning "toward the sea". In the case of Honolulu, "mauka" is a rough north, and "makai" roughly south. You will also hear Ewa (EH-vah) and Diamond Head used a lot...the former roughly means "west" (toward the town of Ewa on the southwest shore of Oahu) and the latter roughly means "east" (toward the famous landmark crater on the southeast shore).

It is a very good idea to invest in a good map of Honolulu before doing extensive driving. Members of the American Automobile Association (AAA) can request fold-out maps for free from their local office. Rand McNally paper fold-out maps are available in many stores; for more extensive coverage you can also purchase Bryan's Sectional Maps (a popular choice among locals) at most bookstores for about $9.50.

Major arterials

Most major streets in Honolulu run Ewa–Diamond Head. There are two main highways in Honolulu: Nimitz Highway (Hawaii 92) which runs from Pearl Harbor past Honolulu Airport to downtown Honolulu and Waikiki; and Interstate H-1 which runs mauka of downtown.

H-1 is some distance away from Waikiki itself and you need to go onto surface streets to and from Waikiki. If you need to access H-1 west from Waikiki to go someplace outside of the city, there are two main routes:

1. Go mauka to Ala Wai Boulevard and follow it Ewa-bound to McCully Street. Follow McCully mauka for about 1 mile; it will take you over H-1. At the foot of the bridge, turn left on Dole, then left again onto Alexander to the freeway onramp.
2. Follow Kuhio or Kalakaua Avenue Diamond Head-bound to Kapahulu Avenue. Follow Kapahulu mauka for about 1 mile, it will take you under H-1 and lead you to the freeway onramp.

To get back to Waikiki from H-1 east, take either of these routes:

1. Take exit 23 (Punahou Street). Turn right on Punahou, and stay in lane #3 from the left. This lane is right-turn only onto the left side of Beretania. Take an immediate left onto Kalakaua Avenue from Beretania. Follow Kalakaua into Waikiki.
2. Take exit 25A (King Street). After merging onto King Street, stay to the right. Take the second right onto Kapahulu Avenue (follow signs to Waikiki). Follow Kapahulu into Waikiki.

In central Honolulu, the two main streets are King Street and Beretania Street. The two streets are one-way for most of their route; King Street runs from Ewa to Diamond Head, and Beretania Street from Diamond Head to Ewa. Both streets run through downtown Honolulu. Despite their rough west to east orientation, addresses on these streets are designated North and South respectively; the dividing line between the two is Nuuanu Avenue in downtown Honolulu, which runs mauka-makai.

In Waikiki, the three main streets, from makai to mauka, are Kalakaua Avenue (one way Ewa to Diamond Head, along Waikiki Beach), Kuhio Avenue (two-way), and Ala Wai Boulevard (one way Diamond Head to Ewa, along the Ala Wai Canal).

By bus

The local bus service in Honolulu is called, with remarkable succinctness, TheBus (http://www.thebus.org/). Fares are $2 for adults, $1 for children and seniors(no change given - dollar bills accepted). TheBus runs intercity services to other parts of Oahu as well. Ask for a free transfer ticket if you are continuing on another bus. Monthly bus passes are available at 7-Elevens and supermarkets. Monthly bus passes begin on the first of each month and cost $40(all-you-can-ride) regardless of which day of the month you purchase the pass. Yearly bus passes are also available for $400. Most buses are equipped with bike racks that can hold two bikes.

See

Beaches

• Waikiki Beach.

Military Memorials

• Battleship Missouri Memorial. On Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. See Arizona Memorial below for directions. (808) 423-2263. Every day 9AM - 5PM (ticket window closes at 4PM). Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. A perfect companion to the USS Arizona Memorial, this battleship is best known the site where World War II ended when the Japanese military surrendered to the Allied forces. Adults $16.00, children under 12 $8.00. Tickets may be purchased at the nearby U.S.S. Bowfin Museum; visitors board buses to the USS Missouri itself. No private non-military vehicles can cross the Clarey Bridge to Ford Island without a pass. http://www.ussmissouri.com

• USS Arizona Memorial. 1 Arizona Memorial Place. From Waikiki, H-1 west to exit 15A (Arizona Memorial, Stadium), onto Kamehameha Hwy. (Hawaii 99). Every day, 7:30AM - 5PM. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. This memorial, built over the hull of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, commemorates the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which brought the U.S. into World War II. Visitors view an interpretive film, then board ferry boats which run from the visitor center to the memorial. Free admission; tickets are given out on a first-come-first-served basis and are limited; tickets may run out by noon on busy days. Expect wait times of about one hour. http://www.nps.gov/usar/

• National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. 2177 Puowaina Drive (within Punchbowl Crater mauka of downtown). Every day, 8:00AM - 5:30PM. From Waikiki, H-1 west to exit 21B (Pali Hwy.), then follow signs. The final resting place of over 45,000 Americans who served their country in the military, the crater's rim also provides a panoramic view of Honolulu. Free admission. http://www.cem.va.gov/nchp/nmcp.htm

Museums and Galleries

• Bishop Museum. 1525 Bernice St. (H-1 west from Waikiki to exit 15B Houghtailing St., right on Houghtailing, then left on Bernice), (808) 847-3511. Every day (except 12/25), 9AM - 5PM. Founded by the husband of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last direct descendant of Kamehameha I who founded the Kamehameha Schools, this non-profit institution seeks to "...record, preserve and tell the stories of Hawai`i and the Pacific, inspiring our guests to embrace and experience our natural and cultural world." They have an excellent permanent collection of Hawaiian artifacts, as well as a number of science-based exhibits. The museum also features a planetarium. Adults $14.95, seniors (65+) $11.95, children 4-12 $11.95, children under 3 free. Discounts: local residents (ID required). http://www.bishopmuseum.org

• The Contemporary Museum. 2411 Makiki Heights Dr., (808) 526-1322 or (866) 991-2835, info@tchmi.org. T-Sa 10AM - 4 PM; Su noon - 4PM. This museum is devoted exclusively to contemporary art. In addition to the galleries, including a permanent installation by David Hockney, visitors are encouraged to spend time outside in the museum's garden area. http://www.tcmhi.org

• Hawaii State Art Museum. 250 South Hotel St., on the second floor. Funded by the Hawai`i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Located at

• The Honolulu Academy of Arts. 900 South Beretania St (corner of Beretania St. and Ward Ave.), (808) 532-8700. Tu-Sa, 10AM - 4:30PM, Su 1PM - 5PM, M closed. This museum houses one of the largest collections of Asian art in the United States. Adults $7.00; seniors (62+), students (13+), and military $4.00; children 12 and under free; 1st Wednesday of each month free. http://www.honoluluacademy.org

• The Workspace. 3624 Waialae Ave. Suite #201. For those looking for contemporary art produced by local artists, the Workspace is a must see. http://www.iloveworkspace.com

Scenic

• Pali Lookout. 6 miles NE of downtown Honolulu on Hawaii 61 (Pali Highway), right at the Pali Lookout exit. Every day, 7 AM - 7:45PM Apr. 1 - Labor Day; 7AM - 6:45PM Labor Day - Apr. 1. One of the more popular scenic vistas on Oahu and the site of one of the bloodiest battles in Hawaiian history, the Pali Lookout provides a panoramic view of Windward Oahu. Also interesting at this site is the Old Pali Road, formerly the highway connecting Windward Oahu to downtown Honolulu. A note of caution: due to its location between two high cliffs, the Pali Lookout is often buffeted by high winds. Free.

• Diamond Head State Monument. Off Diamond Head Road between Makapuu Ave & 18th Ave, across Kapiolani Community College. Daily 6 AM - 6 PM. This ancient volcanic crater is a former US military site, but portions are open to the public. Specifically, there is a hiking trail that winds up the inside of the crater to the summit on the western side of the crater wall, 761 feet above sea level. To reach the trail, you can drive or walk up the road that lead into the crater basin (through a tunnel in the crater wall). There is a park fee of $1 to enter, after which a winding path up the crater wall leading to a World War II-era bunker with a steep staircase of over 100 steps, takes you to the top.

Do

Running

Hawaii's year-round tropical weather provides perfect running weather all year, so bring your running shoes. Kapiolani Park in Waikiki is where most joggers in Honolulu congregate; the loop around Diamond Head is a popular route. Honolulu is also home to one of the world's largest marathons. The Honolulu Marathon 1 (http://www.honolulumarathon.org), held annually on the second Sunday in December, has become a huge event that attracts from 20,000 - 25,000 runners annually.

Learn

• Learn to surf, beach boys give private surfing lessons daily at Waikiki Beach. One hour lesson includes dry land and in-the-water instruction. Instructors teach paddling, timing and balance skills. No reservations required, just sign up at the stand on the beach located Diamondhead of Waikiki Police Station.

Work

Currently, Hawaii's below-average unemployment rate and high number of service and hospitality industry employers make finding an entry-level job in Honolulu easier than in much of the rest of the US. The State of Hawaii Employment Web page has comprehensive information for job seekers.

eHawaii.gov Employment (http://www.hawaii.gov/portal/employment/index.html)

Buy

• ABC Stores are found on practically every block in Waikiki. They are the Waikiki equivalent of 7-Eleven, selling items such as food, sundries, and tourist-related merchandise. This level of convenience does come at higher prices, however.

• International Market Place, 2330 Kalakaua Ave. A virtual warren of over 100 market stalls and shops laid out amongst a jungle-like backdrop of banyan trees. All tourist goods and local shlock (mumus, aloha shirts, shell jewelry) available. Prices are not much better or worse than anywhere else, but worth a trip just to look at the trees and tourists.

• Last Sanctuary, 1485 Kapiolani Blvd, 955-2440. One of the best comic book and role-playing game stores anywhere. It's in a shopping center near Waikiki, on the second story, in the back. It's easy to miss, but if you're a total nerd and despise the sun, this is a primo spot to go.

Shopping malls

• Ala Moana Center is the largest shopping mall in Hawaii and the largest open-air shopping mall in the world. With about 250 stores on four levels, a food court with many different cuisines, and everything from the practical (groceries and medicine) to high-fashion (Chanel, Prada, etc.), you can find almost anything that you might be looking for.
• Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is the main shopping mall in Waikiki, with levels of many tourist-oriented shops and restaurants. Among the main attractions are the local branch of the Cheesecake Factory.
• DFS Galleria (Duty Free Shops) is a shopping court built around a cruise theme. Included in the mall is one of the largest duty-free shops in the state.
• Waikiki Shopping Plaza on Kalakaua Avenue includes five levels of small shops, including a food court on the lower level.
• Aloha Tower Marketplace, near Aloha Tower on the downtown Honolulu waterfront is best known for several well-known restaurants, such as Gordon Biersch and Don Ho's Island Grill.
• Kahala Mall, just off H-1 in the Kahala district, is known for its more upscale shops. It is anchored by Macy's, Barnes and Noble Bookstore, and an 8-plex movie theatre.
• Koko Marina Shopping Center is one of the main shopping centers in East Honolulu, with smaller shops and restaurants and a 10-plex movie theatre.

For other shopping malls, also see the Buy section under Oahu.

Eat

For general information on the kind of food available in Hawaii, see the Eat section in the Hawaii article.

Budget

• Ono Hawaiian Foods (http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/9874/index.html), 726 Kapahulu Ave, 737-2275. Easily the best place to get Hawaiian food in the islands -- popular with kama'aina and the savvy traveler willing to venture beyond the tourist track. Get the combination plate for a sampling of both kalua pig and lau lau (with some pipikaula, lomi salmon and poi on the side).
• Zippy's. Various locations in Honolulu and Oahu, check website for details. Zippy's is the island equivalent of 24-hour eatery Denny's; while Denny's has branches here, they are nowhere near as popular with locals as Zippy's. They provide a wide variety of food, including plate lunches (see Eat in Hawaii) 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: served over rice, or over a burrito, or over french fries, to name a few. http://www.zippys.com

Higher-End

• Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. In the second floor of the Ala Moana shopping Centre (http://wikitravel.org/en/Honolulu#Shopping_malls), this is a touristy place centred around a Forest Gump theme. Decent for seafood, expensive mixed drinks, and good old fashioned American cooking. Although this may sound unappealing, the waiters are friendly and the food is tasty. Worth a visit if you're in the area, but don't go out of your way.
• Cheeseburger in Paradise2500 Kalakaua Ave # A, Honolulu, HI, United States

(808) 923-1070. Centred around the "island" theme. Big portions of, obviously, burgers of all kinds. Right near Waikiki beach, so it's conveniently located. The food is good, and not too overpriced, and the waiters are all nice.

Drink

Sleep

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), this is when the best bargains are available.

• Hilton Hawaiian Village, 2005 Kalia Road (corner of Kalia Road and Ala Moana Blvd.), (808) 949-4321, 2 (http://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage). The largest resort in Waikiki, covering 22 acres fronting Waikiki Beach. Five towers with 2,545 units, 90 shops, and 22 restaurants. US$199 and up.
• Waikiki Beachside Hostel in Honolulu, 2556 Lemon Road, (808) 923-9566, 3 (http://www.waikikibeachsidehostel.com). Located one block from Waikiki Beach near Honolulu Zoo. Dorm-style and semi-private rooms. US$20-$74 per night, weekly rates available.

Contact

Stay safe

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. Use extra caution when visiting less savory parts of town, including the Chinatown district.

Get out

Don't spend all your time on Waikiki Beach; the whole island of Oahu, with more secluded beaches, hiking opportunities, and the sight of huge waves in the winter, awaits you. Most of the island's major attractions can be seen in a day trip, or spread out over several days.

External links

• Honolulu official visitors' Web site (http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/menu/visitors/)

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