About Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii, and the largest city on the islands. Located on the island of Oahu, Honolulu is the heartbeat of the islands. With over one million in the metropolitan area, Honolulu is home to over 80% of the state’s population. Although Honolulu has all of the laid back charm you expect to find in Hawaii, it is a large city and is fast paced. When vacationing in one of the many rental units on the beaches of Honolulu, it’s easy to forget that excitement and action is just a few blocks over.

Honolulu extends inland from the southeast shore of Oahu, east of Pearl Harbor to Makapu'u Point, and incorporates many neighborhoods and districts. These districts are usually referred by name, as though they were separate from Honolulu and not incorporated into the city. Let’s quickly run down the different districts in order to give you better insight as to which area you might like to visit.

• Downtown- The historic heart of the city, home to the state capitol, several museums, the harbor front, and the commercial center of the Hawaiian Islands.
• Waikiki- The tourist center of Hawaii: white sand beaches, crowds of surfers and sunbathers, and block after block of high rise hotels.
• Manoa-Makiki- A quieter area in the foothills north of Downtown, home to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in the Punchbowl crater, and the tropical scenery of the Koolau Mountains behind the city.
• Eastern Honolulu- A mostly residential area which extends to Makapu'u Point, the very southeastern corner of the island and home to rocky shorelines, scenic beaches, and the popular snorkeling spot Hanauma Bay.
• Western Honolulu- Another major residential area, home to the airport, the Bishop Museum, and the military memorials of Pearl Harbor.

Without question, Honolulu is one of the top vacation destinations in the world. The tropical climate, the friendly locals, and all of the tourist attractions work together to make a vacation to these islands a life time memory.