from
WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
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Areial
view of Waikiki Beach
Photo courtesy Joe Solem |
With its soft sandy beaches,
crystal-clear water and warm, sunny climate throughout the year, it is not
surprising Honolulu,
Hawaii, is
one of the most popular destinations for vacationers from across the world. Honolulu
is host to a variety of indoor and outdoor excitement ranging from water
activities, such as surfing and snorkeling, to shopping,
sightseeing
and romantic walks along the beaches. This wide assortment of activities
makes Honolulu a suitable vacation spot for visitors of all ages and tastes.
ORIENTATION
Anchored
on the south side of Oahu,
Hawaii's third largest island, Honolulu is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean
and is located over 2,000 mi (3,219 km) off the coast of the mainland
United States of America.
It takes approximately nine hours to fly from Atlanta,
Georgia,
to Honolulu, and just under five hours to fly from San
Fransisco, California.
Visitors from Canada
depart from Vancouver, British Columbia,
and require approximately five hours to reach Honolulu. Direct flights
from Taiwan, Japan, New
Zealand and Australia
range from eight to 12 hours in duration.
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Honolulu to ... |
Est.
Time |
| Vancouver,
Canada |
5
hr 30 min |
| San
Fransisco, USA |
4
hr 45 min |
| Atlanta,
USA |
9
hr 15 min |
| Fukuoka,
Japan |
8
hr 30 min |
| Auckland, New Zealand |
9
hr 30 min |
| Sydney, Australia |
10
hr |
|
Taipei,
Taiwan |
12
hr 45 min |
|
| |
Honolulu
Estimated Flight Times
|
HISTORY
Long
before the Europeans came to Waikiki, Honolulu and the Waikiki area was
a favorite vacation spot for Hawaiian kings and chiefs. Oahu and other
Hawaiian islands were first discovered by Europeans on January 18, 1778,
when British explorer Captain James Cook landed on Kauai,
Hawaii's fourth largest island. Honolulu began as a small harbor village
established by foreign fishermen in the early 1800s. The area soon flourished
into an important center as it provided a resting spot for merchant ships
trading furs with the east and for fishing and whaling ships in the area.
The activity in Honolulu grew so much that King Kamehameha III moved the
capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from Maui
to Honolulu in 1845. For a more detailed description of the history of
Oahu and Honolulu, please refer to Oahu
(Honolulu), Hawaii – A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide Review.
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Kalakaua
Avenue
Photo courtesy Hawaii Tourism Japan |
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In the late 1800s,
the United States began to realize the strategic military importance of
the Hawaiian islands, establishing military bases at Pearl Harbor and
central Oahu. With the installment of the U.S. military, the tourism business
began to grow in the Waikiki area. In anticipation of a growing tourism
industry, the first luxury-trade hotel, the Moana
Surfrider, was opened in 1901 to accommodate wealthy European
guests. Along with the Royal
Hawaiian Hotel, also known as the Pink Palace of the Pacific,
which opened in 1927, both hotels continue to be frequented by visitors
and tourists alike.
One of the main reasons
Honolulu has developed into such a famous tourist destination is due to
the 130 or so beaches located throughout the island. Of all the beaches
on this island, Waikiki
Beach is arguably the most famous of all. Formerly the vacation
spot of Hawaiian royal families and tribal chiefs, the original Waikiki
Beach was only about a half mile (0.8 km) long before it was extended
in 1925. Foreseeing the large tourism potential of the area, the Honolulu
government invested several billion dollars to expand the size of the
beach to its current one-and-a-half miles (2.4 km) with the help of imported
sand.
| |
|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Rainfall |
|
Min |
Max |
| Jan
|
80°F
(27 °C) |
65°F
(19 °C) |
84
mm |
| Feb |
80°F
(27 °C) |
66°F
(19 °C) |
62
mm |
| Mar
|
81°F
(27 °C) |
67°F
(19 °C) |
66
mm |
| Apr |
82°F
(28 °C) |
69°F
(21 °C) |
31
mm |
| May
|
84°F
(29 °C) |
70°F
(21 °C) |
24
mm |
| Jun
|
86°F
(30 °C) |
72°F
(22 °C) |
10
mm |
| Jul |
87°F
(31 °C) |
74°F
(23 °C) |
14
mm |
|
Aug |
88°F
(31 °C) |
74°F
(23 °C) |
16
mm |
|
Sep |
88°F
(31 °C) |
74°F
(23 °C) |
17
mm |
|
Oct |
86°F
(30 °C) |
72°F
(22 °C) |
48
mm |
|
Nov |
84°F
(29 °C) |
71°F
(22 °C) |
71
mm |
|
Dec |
81°F
(27 °C) |
68°F
(20 °C) |
84
mm |
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| | Climate
data from the
Western Regional Climate Center |
CLIMATE
One
of the special features Honolulu offers its visitors is an exceptional
year-round climate. The warmest month in Honolulu is usually August, with
temperatures rising to 88°F (31°C), while the coldest month is
February, with temperature dropping down to as low as 65°F (18°C).
It is worth noting that the average temperature between the coldest and
warmest months of the year differs only about 6°F (3°C). Honolulu
experiences most of its rainfall and storms between the months of October
and March. Though only averaging about two to three inches (51mm to 76
mm) of rainfall during these months, storm events are most likely to happen
at this time of the year.
TRANSPORTATION
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Iolani
Palace
Photo courtesy Hawaii Tourism Japan |
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The
majority of Honolulu visitors arrive via aerial transportation through
the Honolulu
International Airport. In addition to serving Oahu island, this
airport also receives most of the visitors traveling to the other Hawaiian
islands. Despite popular belief, there are no inter-island ferry services
in Hawaii. Visitors to other Hawaiian islands arrive at their destinations
through regular inter-island flights.
The city of Honolulu
has a well-developed public transit system for the use of locals and visitors
alike. Honolulu is served by The
Bus, which covers almost the entire island at a nominal cost.
However, many travelers choose the more visitor-oriented Waikiki
Trolleys that are designed to provide convenient transportation
to most viewpoints in Honolulu, including the Waikiki
Aquarium, Iolani
Palace and the Ala-Mona
Shopping Center. Slightly more expansive than The Bus, the numerous
trolley lines provide simple and direct transportation to many tourist
destinations. Be sure to check specific trolley schedules as the lines
close at different times during the day and some lines provide services
to visitors free of charge. Those who enjoy more freedom and control over
their means of transportation enjoy renting a moped or a car as various
rental
shops can be found around the Waikiki area. While most of the tourist
spots in Honolulu can be reached by foot, various bus and trolley lines,
car
rentals are handy for visitors to reach other parts of the island.
ATTRACTIONS
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Waikiki
Beach
Photo courtesy Hawaii Tourism Japan |
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Waikiki
Beach
One of the most famous attractions in Honolulu, Waikiki Beach consists
of a string of continuous beaches spanning from the Hilton
Hawaiian Village to Kapiolani
Beach Park. The stretch of Kuhio
Beach is a notably calmer section of Waikiki Beach, as it is partially
sheltered by a water-breaking wall parallel to the shoreline, providing
a snorkeling and swimming area suitable for families and younger children.
Waikiki Beach is famous for its soft, white sand, crystal-clear water,
and excellent surfing, as strong waves are available throughout most of
the day. Swimmers and surfers alike must be cautious while moving out
to sea, as the waves and underwater currents can change the depth of the
water quite suddenly. Also note that the outward sea floor is not covered
with soft sand but rock hard corals that can easily result in abrasions
on knees and feet.
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Hike
to the top of Diamond Head
Photo courtesy Hawaii Tourism Japan |
Diamond Head
Overlooking the southeast coast of Oahu and the entire Waikiki district,
Diamond
Head offers views of Waikiki unparalleled by any other site that
can be reached by foot. Visitors arrive at the top of Diamond Head via
a trail-head found at the foot of the hill. The hike to the top is approximately
one mile (1.5 km) in length and usually takes between one and two hours
to complete.
Hanauma Bay
Hanauma
Bay offers a unique opportunity for visitors to combine outdoor
activity with an educational experience as the area is home to a live
coral reef and an abundance of marine life. As a result, snorkeling and
scuba diving are both very popular here because of these underwater treasures.
Visitors of Hanauma Bay are required to watch a short, 30-minute video
educating them about the proper ways of dealing with the coral reef and
the importance of balance in the marine life. The water is generally calm
as the curved shape of the bay creates a natural shield, protecting swimmers
from the large ocean waves. The fish here are fairly adapted to the presence
of humans, allowing visitors an opportunity to see them face-to-face.
Several tour companies offer full transportation services to and from
Hanauma Bay with all snorkeling equipment provided. Hanauma Bay also offers
snorkeling equipment rentals.
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USS
Arizona Memorial
Photo courtesy NPS/USS Arizona Memorial Photo Collection |
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Pearl Harbor
The sea-burial site of the USS Arizona and the majority of her 1,177 crew members, the USS
Arizona Memorial (managed by the National Park Service) was built to honor those who were lost during
a surprise attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor on the morning of December
7th, 1941. This incident marked one of the worst military losses in the
United States history with over 2,000 military and civilian personnel
lost in battle. Visitors of the USS Arizona Memorial are offered a tour
program that features a 23-minute film on the history of the Pearl Harbor
attack and a round trip on a Navy-operated launch to the Memorial. Tours
are free of charge and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The guided tours are approximately 75 minutes long, but wait times for
the tours may often exceed two hours.
Shopping
Shopping here is easy thanks to a large variety of unique boutiques and
shops located directly in the Waikiki area. The International
Market Place features a variety of shops, restaurants, food stands
and many other forms of entertainment. During the search for unique Hawaiian
gifts and keepsakes, visitors love to spend some time in the local ABC
chains. The ABC
stores features a wide variety of products ranging from local
gear, such as aloha shirts and sarongs, to gift ideas like Hawaiian coffee,
key chains and postcards. In addition to providing souvenirs, the ABC
stores also stock grocery items, pharmaceutical medicine, beach necessities
and much more. Visitors will have little problem locating an ABC store
nearby as most of them are situated near hotels.
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Ala
Moana Shopping Center
Photo courtesy Chuck Painter |
For a change of pace
away from the beach and sunshine, visitors enjoy spending a day at the
multi-level Ala Moana Center. This luxurious shopping center combines
entertainment, shopping and dining opportunities. The center is home to
over 260 stores like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Abercrombie and Fitch, Gap
and Skechers. Ala Moana is also famous for its large food-court area,
providing visitors with over 20 different types of food from across the
world.
Other Honolulu attractions
include the Polynesian
Cultural Center, the Waikiki Aquarium and the the famous scenic
viewpoint of Nuuanu
Pali Lookout.
