GUIDES

Honolulu Guide

Honolulu - Out and About

Hawaii, the fiftieth state of the United States of America , consists of eight large islands, four smaller ones and numerous tiny coral islets. Honolulu, the capital city of Hawaii, is situated on the south-east coast of the island of Oahu. The city, with its, 400,000 inhabitants, stands on the slopes of Punchbowl Crater, an extinct volcano,and covers a surface area of 220 km2 . Honolulu is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, favoured for its splendid natural surroundings, lush vegetation and healthy climate.

Honolulu, which means “sheltered port”, was discovered in 1794 and the Hawaiian king’s residence was constructed in 1820. The city houses both a university specialising in the study of marine biology and numerous cultural institutions:the Neal S. Blaisdell Centre; the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, which possesses one of the finest collections of Hawaiian and Polynesian ethnological objects; the Honolulu Academy of Arts, which houses oriental and western works of art and the Alice Cooke Spaulding House, which contains Asiatic works.

Other interesting areas and buildings within the city include: The Iolani Palace State Museum, the official residence of the King of Hawaii, until the abolition of the monarchy in 1893; Saint Andrews Cathedral,built in 1862 and the US Arizona Pearl Harbor Memorial, which commemorates the victims of he Japanese attack on 7 December 1941. In the Punche Punchbowl, an old crater town, it is possible to visit both the Pacific National Memorial Cemetery, with the mortal remains of those victims, who lost their lives fighting in the Second World War and Korea; The Kawaiaho Church built in 1840, the oldest in the city, and the large statue of Kamehameha I, which is ornately decorated during national holidays. Pearl Harbor is located to the north. This important US naval base represents a major economical resource for the state of Hawaii.

Commercial maritime traffic is very intense, as the island, well protected by coral reefs, is used by the major transpacific freight companies. Honolulu serves as an important stop-over airport for the major international air companies. Moving around the city is easy, using the City Express bus service, while the Country Express bus service links the city to the out-lying areas. A ferry service takes visitors to the other islands of the archipelago.

Honolulu - Not to be missed

The elegant bathing zone of Waickiki, with its famous beach, is situated in the bay of Mamala, to the west of Honolulu. The bay of Maunalaua and the extinct 222metre- high volcano, Diamond Head, are to be found to the south of the island.

On the eastern part of the island of Oahu, the road for Kahana bay, takes the visitor, first to the fascinating Makapu Point and the Makapu Beach Park and then onto the Sea Life Park ,with its collection of over 2000 species of fish. At Laie, it is possible to visit the Polynesian Cultural Centre, a highly popular Hawaiian attraction, where reconstructions of old polynesian villages allow the visitor to gain an insight into the ancient culture of these islands.

Honolulu - Walks and tours

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is situated on Hawaii, the largest island of the archipelago. The national park was established in 1916 to protect the natural wonders of the Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. A visit to this park should start from the Kilauea Visitor Centre, where a notice board provides information about the daily activities on offer (free guided tours), together with updated information about the volcanic eruptions. The best way to visit the park, other than a guided tour, is to follow the Crater Rim Drive, a 18km circuit, that takes the visitor around the smoking craters of Kilauea Iki, Halemaumau and others.

There are many interesting routes to be explored on foot, which apart from offering views of lava formations, allow the visitor to admire the local flora and fauna. The national park of Haleakala is situated on the island of Maui. The park is home to the largest volcano in the world, which last erupted in 1790. The volcano's crater has a circumference of 34 km and is 914m deep. The park comprises both the volcano and the coast of Kipahulu, nominated by the United Nations as “one of the few areas of outstanding natural world importance.” The road that runs through the park is 17km long and offers superb views of Mount Leleiwi, Kalahku and Puu Ualua. The visitor centre is located at a panoramic view point, at the entrance to the park.

Honolulu - The traveller's notebook

Currency : US dollar, sub-divided into 100 cents

Electric supply: 110-120 V, 60 HZ Opening hours : The shops are generally open, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, the large shopping centres until 8pm. The banks are open, Monday to Friday from 9 until 3pm.

Honolulu - A pocket guide

There are a number of large shopping centres which house over 100 shops, offering a wide choice of goods: Aloa Tower-Market Place, Wictoria- Ward Center, Ala Moana- Hawaii’s Centre.

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