Honolulu Overview

Hawaii’s capital and largest city, Honolulu (pop. 377,379) is a commercial center, college town, and living landmark of Hawaiian history. Although downtown Honolulu is less of a tourist destination than Waikiki, its state buildings and civic center sights illuminate the complex history of Hawaii’s modernization. Today’s Hawaiians inherit a cosmopolitan city as their capital. On weekdays, downtown bustles with businesspeople as they walk through palm tree-lined, skyscraper-filled streets in their finest aloha shirts. Chinatown is crammed with daytime shoppers in search of a deal among its markets, gift shops, and restaurants. The mellow residential outskirts of Kaimuki and the University of Hawaii offset the fast pace of life in the city. Those who do live downtown kick back by slipping away to Manoa’s tropical mountains, cruising Waikiki’s gorgeous beaches, or barbecuing ohana- style at Ala Moana Beach Park.

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