Type
Attraction Beach Botanical Garden Coffee Farm Cultural Hike Historic Memorial Mountain Museum Park Plantation / Ranch Scenic Lookout Temple Volcano Waterfall
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- Swimming long distance
- Playing various games at the beach
- Barbecue at the beach
Ala Moana Beach Park is a free public beach located between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. The beach is very popular among locals and a favorite spot for enjoying the sea. About 100 ... moreacres of gold sand that stretch half a mile, the beach is man-made created in the 1950's when the owner of the Dillingham Dredging Company was searching for a location to dispose of his dredged earth. The sand was dumped in the park, creating the beach
The park has many facilities such as restrooms, showers, tennis courts, picnic tables and even a music pavilion. It is a great place for undertaking various water activities. The waters are often quite calm, making it ideal for swimming, particularly long-distance swimmers, novice swimmers, families and children. It is also great for jogging, surfing, skateboarding and other beach activities.
Novice swimmer need nevertheless be careful since the ocean bottom near the shore drops quickly. The east end of the beach is a lot more preferred and much safer as the ocean bottom is sandy without any reefs or rocks. In the middle section and the west end the bottom of the beach is rocky which makes entering the water quite tricky.
Ala Moana Beach Park also has big grassy areas, palm tree, and banyans making it an ideal location for barbecues, picnics, and for playing various beach games. Next to Ala Moana Beach Park is "magic island" where various cultural events take place.
Features: Bathroom, Drinking water, Food for purchase, Lifeguards, Picnic tables, Showers
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- The throne room
- The blue meeting room
- Lili'uokalani piano
Built in 1882, Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United State. King David Kalakaua along with his wife, Queen Kapiolani, took inspiration for its architecture when on a ... moreEuropean tour. A popular tourist attraction and a National Historic Landmark, Iolani Palace was
the residence of two monarchs, King Kalakaua and Queen Lili'uokalani. In
1893 after the monarch had been overthrown, the castle started to be used as the capitol building of the provisional government and for the State of Hawaii until 1969. In 1978, the castle underwent restoration work and opened to the public as a museum.
Originally, the construction of the palace was as a traditional Ali'i residence having only ceremonial places, no sleeping room, a throne room, a reception, and
a state dining room. Other houses around the palace were used for sleeping and for retainers. Kamehameha III slept in a cool grass hut near the palace.
When David Kalakaua took the throne, the original palace was in poor condition with termite damages. He had the building razed. He commissioned the construction of a new palace as the official palace of the Hawaiian monarchy. The architectural features of the Iolani Palace are nowhere to be seen anywhere else in the world. A style known as American Florentine. It consists of a grand hall that faces a staircase made of koa wood on the first floor, ornamental plaster is used to decorate the interiors, a throne room, a blue meeting
room that has a large portrait of King Louis Philip of France, a dining
room, an upstairs private library, and bedrooms of the Hawaiian monarchy. The piano made of koa wood where Lili'uokalani used to play for guests can also be seen.
Iolani Palace is a marvel of opulence, innovation and political intrigue. Visitors can learn the history surrounding the monarchy in Hawaii and embark either on a guided
tour or without guide.
Type: Cultural, Historic, Museum, Landmark, Royal Palace
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- Kamehameha day, the 11th of July
- King Kamehameha statue
King Kamehameha (1756-1819) is Hawaii greatest king and responsible for unifying the island under one rule and set the stage for the Hawaii monarchy rule. Born in the district of Kohala ... moreof the big island, He is recognized as the warrior king and four statues have been made as a tribute to his accomplishments. The one in downtown Honolulu has been just in front of the old judiciary building, another can be found in the statuary hall in Washington DC, the original statue is at Kapaau, his birthplace, and another one is found in Hilo.
The original statue was sculptured by Thomas R Gould, an American sculptor, in Rome, Italy, in 1879. It was then cast in bronze in Paris and shipped from Germany. On its way, the ship had a fire on board and sank near the Falkland Islands. Another statue was made from the original mold and shipped to Hawaii. In 1883, the statue was dedicated by King Kalakaua.
On the left hand, the statue holds a spear as a symbol of the kingdom capacity and willingness to defend itself from any type of aggression. The right hand is widely extended as a gesture of friendship and welcoming. The statue stands eight and a half feet tall, depicting Kamehameha royal garb. The helmet is made of rare feathers and it is clothed in a gilded cloak.
The 11th of June is known as Kamehameha day and recognized as a state holiday. On that day, the statue is adorned with beautiful flower leis, on the statue stretched arm are placed yellow and pink plumera and garlands of royal ilima are placed on the neck to signify strength and power. The statue of King Kamehameha is a tribute to a Hawaii greatest king who unified the island and ruled the kingdom for decades.
Type: Attraction, Landmark, Statue
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- Scenic outlook from the tower
- Gourmet dining at the Alowa Marketplace restaurants
- Nice shops to visit
The Aloha Tower is a landmark in downtown Honolulu. It is well recognized as a welcome symbol for tourists arriving in Honolulu Harbor. It was built between the wars and officially ... moreopened in 1926 at Honolulu Harbor's ninth pier. When it was built, it was the tallest structure in Hawaii at the time standing ten stories high and an extra 40 feet of the flag pole.
The tower itself has a square shape and is slender. It is topped by a dome that has an opening on all four sides. Just under the dome are two very big clocks one of which faces the harbor while the other faces inland and between them is written in big character that can be seen from miles "ALOHA". Surrounding the tower is the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Many quaint shops, and restaurants can be found in the marketplace which makes it a very interesting place to hang around after having visited the tower.
During the 1920's until the 1930's, when the tower had been built, passengers arriving in the harbor were greeted by hula dancers, thousands of colorful streamers and performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band in what was known as "boat days".
Boat days were a very big deal, the entire harbor was permeated with flowers; there were musicians playing, young men diving for coins tossed overboard by tourists.
Inside the tower, visitors obtain panoramic views of Honolulu Harbor and the surrounding areas. The observation deck is on the tenth floor. You'll have to take a small vintage elevator to get there, but it is quite small. You might want to avoid the ride if you're claustrophobic.
Today, many events take place on the tower's just adjacent to the Marketplace complex all throughout the year. Tours are also organized on a daily basis. The Aloha Tower played an important role after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor which led to the defensive positioning of Coast Guardsmen at the tower to protect it from being occupied.
Type: Attraction, Scenic Lookout
Features: Bathroom, Food for purchase
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- The outrigger canoe race
- The fishing village of Mokauea
- Canoeing
Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park is a very nice park not very far from Honolulu International Airport. The location offers ideal conditions for practicing diverse water sports. Swimming, canoeing, ... moreboating, golfing, hiking and fishing are the most pursuits undertaken by persons coming to the park.
Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park provides lots of opportunity for entertainment and enjoying the beach. On the grassy area, a tennis court, softball and cricket field, a soccer field, and a basketball court can be found. The park also offers a nice scenic view of the neighboring Sand Island and that of the city. The beautiful grass in parts has trees which offer shade and often families gather in such area for a picnic, barbecue or to watch outrigger canoe races that are often organized in the park.
Inside Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park there are several tiny islands. One of the islands, Mokauea, with an area of about 10 acres is the last fishing village found on Oahu. It is also one of the two that are left in the entire state of Hawaii. The island, Mokauea, with the help of Ho'ola Mokauea, a non-profit organization, is being environmentally and culturally restored.
Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park has all the facilities of a major beach park except lifeguards. Being next to Honolulu International Airport, planes can be seen on occasions taking off or landing, and there is constant noise. The park covers an area of about 72 acres. Many people come to the park so, it is in an urban area and very convenient if you stay in the neighborhood and do not want to travel far off to another part of Oahu. It is also quite convenient for tourist as many arrive in Hawaii through Honolulu before going off to visit other parts of Hawaii.
Features: Camping, Drinking water, Parking, Picnic tables, Showers
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- Chinatown marketplace
- A variety of restaurants with international cuisine
- Historic buildings
Downtown Honolulu has many historic places, Among important landmarks such as Iolani Palace, King Kamehameha I or the Aloha Tower; Chinatown has been considered for a long time as ... morea place of gathering for local residents and visitors and an exciting and mysterious neighborhood. Many merchants from different nationalities provide different wares and perpetuate their respective tradition. At a certain point in time Chinatown had been the Center of Chinese Cultural contact on the island.
Covering an area of 25 acres, Chinatown is partitioned into different sections where you will find art exhibits, herbalists, hodgepodge shops, temples, bars and restaurants, and much more. At the Chinatown market place which incorporated the Maunakea marketplace and the Kekaulike market in close proximity, exotic fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and other items are sold.
Chinatown dates since the 1800's and grew from waves of contract workers who came to Hawaii to work as laborers in the sugar plantations. Some of the workers started opening up businesses that eventually grew to become what is today Chinatown. Taking a walk around Chinatown, you will be able to explore some of Honolulu's oldest buildings and historic landmark. Even so, you will find many new buildings. Chinatown had on many occasions burned and undergone several restorations. At one point it was a red-light district with high crime, drug dealers and punks.
The best time to visit is on the first Friday of every month when there are various festivities. Chinatown is also a hotspot for Oahu nightlife. It is home to the historic Hawaii Theatre, where live music and shows can be seen. Restaurants, bars, and clubs can also be found in the weathered lofts and buildings in urban Chinatown.
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic, Neighborhood
Features: Food for purchase
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