When you first get to Honolulu you start to realize the combination of the different cultures that have visited Aloha State. Settlers have come from as far as Boston, Manila, Tokyo, Korea, and Texas and you start to see the reason why Honolulu has the flavor it does.
The word Honolulu actually means "sheltered bay". Local knowledge says that the harbor was not discovered until around 1794. A little further down at Waikiki with its soft breaking surf and coconut palm groves was the favorite hangout area of the local Island chiefs before the first outsiders showed up.
In 1845 Honolulu became the permanent area of the government for the Hawaiian Islands and this let people from throughout the Pacific area come in and work and settle and invest time and money into the area. The present-day area bends around from the coastal plain between Pearl Harbor and the area of Koko Head and is where most of the population is.
The harbor is considered to be the old town area. This downtown has plenty of fishing boats and liners, banking, and a trade area at the financial Plaza, a Chinatown district, open-air lei stands which help to give a nice beautiful smell to the area. There are Chinese markets and herb shops, and also you'll see artists working their various skills.
And of course there's Waikiki, even though this luxury resort has been absorbed into the city area, it still has its own unique presence. This really is the core of the state's tourism and is what many people think of when they think of Hawaii. The long beautiful beach is where many photographs are taken and is not too far from the Honolulu zoo which many tourist do not know about. From the sands of Waikiki you can see Diamond Head and if you get a chance you should climb the mountain to get a spectacular view of Honolulu and the beach.
Because of the different cultures that have settled into the area you can actually see as you walk downtown some home and building structures that are a reminder of the New England settlers that came here bringing the Chritian religion. Today you have the apartment buildings, hotels and condominiums that shoot straight up and house many of the locals and visitors.
So when you do get a chance to go to Honolulu do not be surprised of the variety of culture, architecture and adversity of the people that you see here. Aloha.
The word Honolulu actually means "sheltered bay". Local knowledge says that the harbor was not discovered until around 1794. A little further down at Waikiki with its soft breaking surf and coconut palm groves was the favorite hangout area of the local Island chiefs before the first outsiders showed up.
In 1845 Honolulu became the permanent area of the government for the Hawaiian Islands and this let people from throughout the Pacific area come in and work and settle and invest time and money into the area. The present-day area bends around from the coastal plain between Pearl Harbor and the area of Koko Head and is where most of the population is.
The harbor is considered to be the old town area. This downtown has plenty of fishing boats and liners, banking, and a trade area at the financial Plaza, a Chinatown district, open-air lei stands which help to give a nice beautiful smell to the area. There are Chinese markets and herb shops, and also you'll see artists working their various skills.
And of course there's Waikiki, even though this luxury resort has been absorbed into the city area, it still has its own unique presence. This really is the core of the state's tourism and is what many people think of when they think of Hawaii. The long beautiful beach is where many photographs are taken and is not too far from the Honolulu zoo which many tourist do not know about. From the sands of Waikiki you can see Diamond Head and if you get a chance you should climb the mountain to get a spectacular view of Honolulu and the beach.
Because of the different cultures that have settled into the area you can actually see as you walk downtown some home and building structures that are a reminder of the New England settlers that came here bringing the Chritian religion. Today you have the apartment buildings, hotels and condominiums that shoot straight up and house many of the locals and visitors.
So when you do get a chance to go to Honolulu do not be surprised of the variety of culture, architecture and adversity of the people that you see here. Aloha.