Honolulu

by The Linguist

Honolulu, Hawaii – Capital and Largest City in the Aloha State

Honolulu is the largest city and the capital of the U.S. state of Hawaii. With a population of approximately 352,864 people as of 2021 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, it is the most populous community on the Hawaiian islands. Honolulu is located along the southeast coast of Oahu, which is the third largest Hawaiian island.

History of Honolulu

Honolulu was originally established as a simple harbor settlement for foreign ships sailing between North America and Asia. In the early 1800s, King Kamehameha I made Honolulu his capital because of its strategic location on Oahu. As more immigrants came from places like China, Japan, Portugal, and Puerto Rico, Honolulu developed into a major Pacific port and business hub.

On December 7, 1941, Honolulu became the main target for the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, just west of the city. This devastating attack pulled the United States into World War II.

After the war, Honolulu grew rapidly. It went from having about 180,000 people before the war to over 250,000 by 1950. Tourism became one of the city’s main industries.

Today, Honolulu mixes cosmopolitan city life with rich Hawaiian culture and stunning natural landscapes. It continues to be the economic and government center for the Hawaiian Islands.

Geography and Climate

Honolulu has a tropical savanna climate, with warm temperatures year-round. Highs average around 85-90°F in the summer and 79-83°F in the winter. Lows only drop to 70°F on average overnight. Trade winds flowing down from the mountains provide a natural air conditioner that keeps Honolulu relatively comfortable.

The rainiest months are from October to April, when the city can get occasional heavy downpours. Honolulu receives an average of just 22 inches of rain per year.

Population and Demographics

According to 2021 U.S. Census estimates, Honolulu has a population of 352,864 residents. It is part of Honolulu County, which has a total population of approximately 1,016,508.

Honolulu has a diverse population in terms of race and ethnicity. Here is the breakdown according to 2019 census data:

  • Asian – 218,928 (43.5%)
  • White – 121,298 (24.1%)
  • Two or more races – 78,561 (15.6%)
  • Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander – 29,770 (5.9%)
  • Black or African American – 16,492 (3.3%)
  • Some other race – 15,147 (3.0%)
  • American Indian and Alaska Native – 3,391 (0.7%)

The median age in Honolulu is 38.6 years old. About 20.9% of the population is under 18 years old and 15.1% is aged 65 and older.

Honolulu Government

Honolulu is an incorporated city that serves as the county seat of Honolulu County. It uses the mayor-council system of government.

The mayor of Honolulu is Rick Blangiardi, who took office in 2021. The Honolulu City Council makes policies and laws for the city. There are nine members representing different districts.

Some major city departments and offices include:

The Honolulu City Hall building is located at:

530 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

Economy and Major Employers

Tourism is the backbone of Honolulu’s economy. Over 6 million visitors come each year to enjoy the city’s stunning beaches, Hawaiian culture, and attractions. The food service, accommodations, entertainment, and transportation industries provide many jobs that support tourism.

Honolulu also has major activity at its deep-water naval base and commercial port. The port facilitates shipping between North America and Asia. The military presence includes Camp H.M. Smith (headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Command) and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Some of the major employers in Honolulu include:

  • The Queen’s Health Systems (13,500 employees) – 1301 Punchbowl St, Honolulu, HI 96813 – (808) 538-9011
  • Hawaii Pacific Health (7,000 employees) – 55 Merchant St, Honolulu, HI 96813 – (808) 535-7000
  • United States Government (over 20,000 civilian and military personnel)
  • Hilton Hawaiian Village (over 5,000 employees) – 2005 Kalia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815 – (808) 949-4321
  • Honolulu Star-Advertiser (984 employees) – 500 Ala Moana Blvd Ste 7-500, Honolulu, HI 96813 – (808) 529-4747

Other major industries include information technology, education, construction, and manufacturing. Two major business districts are downtown Honolulu and the Ward Centers area. Major companies headquartered in the city include Hawaiian Airlines, Matson Navigation Company, Central Pacific Bank, and Bank of Hawaii.

Colleges and Universities

There are several institutions of higher education in Honolulu, including:

The University of Hawaii’s main campus in the Manoa area has over 20,000 students. The university’s medical school and cancer research center are also located in Honolulu.

Public Transportation

The major form of public transportation in Honolulu is TheBus system operated by the city. This extensive bus network covers most parts of Oahu island. TheBus has over 100 routes and provides over 70 million rides each year.

In addition, Honolulu has a commuter rail system called the Honolulu Rail Transit. It is currently under construction with a target completion date of 2026. The rail will connect West Oahu and Honolulu, serving major employment centers along the way.

Airports

The main airport serving Honolulu is Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. It has nonstop flights to North America, Asia, Australia, and the South Pacific. This busy airport handles over 20 million passengers each year.

Smaller aviation facilities include:

Parks and Recreation

Honolulu has over 80 public parks offering recreational opportunities. Popular outdoor activities include hiking, biking, golfing, tennis, surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

Some of the top parks and natural areas include:

The city also operates many community centers, pools, golf courses, tennis courts, and more. Popular beaches include Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kailua, Ko Olina, and Makapuu.

Performing Arts and Culture

As a multicultural hub, Honolulu has a thriving performing arts scene. Venues include:

  • Hawaii Theatre – historic downtown venue for concerts, theatre, and dance (1130 Bethel St, Honolulu, HI 96813)
  • Blaisdell Center – concert hall and exhibition complex showcasing local talent (777 Ward Ave, Honolulu, HI 96814)
  • Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall – home of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (777 Ward Ave, Honolulu, HI 96814)
  • Paliku Theatre – presenting Hawaii’s top hula shows and Polynesian dance (2133 Pali Highway, Honolulu, HI 96817)

The Bishop Museum and `Iolani Palace showcase Hawaiian culture and history. The Honolulu Museum of Art and Honolulu Museum of Contemporary Art house extensive collections of international and local art.

Shopping and Dining

Honolulu offers a huge variety of retail, dining, and entertainment options. Several popular areas to shop and eat include:

  • Ala Moana Center – Hawaii’s largest open-air shopping mall with over 340 stores and restaurants (1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814)
  • Ward Village Shops – outdoor luxury retail, dining and entertainment complex (1160 Auahi St, Honolulu, HI 96814)
  • Royal Hawaiian Center – upscale stores and restaurants in the heart of Waikiki (2201 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815)
  • Hawaii Farmers Markets – fresh local produce and prepared foods (locations throughout Honolulu)

Chinatown near downtown Honolulu houses hip boutiques, cafes, and art galleries in historic buildings. The Kaka`ako district has a thriving food truck and restaurant scene with a hip, artistic vibe.

Annual Events

Popular annual events in Honolulu include:

Landmarks and Places of Interest

Some top attractions and landmarks in Honolulu include:

  • USS Arizona Memorial – floating memorial over the sunken USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor (1 Arizona Memorial Pl, Honolulu, HI 96818)
  • Pearl Harbor Historic Sites – WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument with museums and exhibits (1 Arizona Memorial Pl, Honolulu, HI 96818)
  • Honolulu Museum of Art – extensive Asian, European, and American collections (900 S Beretania St, Honolulu, HI 96814)
  • Iolani Palace – the only royal palace in the US; former residence of Hawaiian royalty (364 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813)
  • Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park – historic refuge with Hawaiian temple reconstructions and cultural exhibits (1 Ali’i Dr, Honaunau, HI 96726)
  • Honolulu Zoo – exhibits tropical plants and animals from around the Pacific Rim (151 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815)

Sports and Recreation

From college teams to professional leagues, Honolulu has exciting spectator sports and recreational activities. Popular teams include:

The beaches and ocean around Honolulu provide water sports like swimming, surfing, scuba diving, kitesurfing, and boating. Hiking, biking, golf, tennis, sailing, and fishing are also popular outdoor activities.

Public Library System

The Hawaii State Public Library System serves the entire state of Hawaii. In Honolulu, there are 22 branch libraries that are part of the Hawaii State Public Library System.

Some of the largest branches include:

The library system provides books, ebooks, movies, music, computers, WiFi, databases, programs for children and adults, and more. Library cards are free for Hawaii residents.

K-12 Public Schools

The Hawaii Department of Education operates public schools across the Hawaiian islands. Honolulu public schools are part of the Oahu School District, which has over 180 schools serving grades K-12.

Some of the largest public high schools in Honolulu include:

In addition to standard public schools, there are also public charter schools, magnet schools, and online schools available.

Higher Education

In addition to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Chaminade University, and Hawaii Pacific University, here are some other higher education options in Honolulu:

The University of Hawaii Community Colleges system also has several campuses on Oahu offering associate’s degrees and career certificates.

Points of Interest

Additional points of interest in Honolulu include:

  • John A. Burns School of Medicine – medical school affiliated with UH Manoa (651 Ilalo St, Honolulu, HI 96813)
  • East-West Center – education and research organization to build ties between Asia, the Pacific, and the US (1601 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI 96848)
  • Doris Duke Shangri La – Islamic art museum and gardens (4055 Papu Circle. Honolulu, HI 96816)
  • Queen Emma Summer Palace – historic royal residence (2913 Pali Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96817)
  • Byodo-In Temple – replica of a Buddhist temple in Japan with gardens (47-200 Kahekili Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744)

Visitor Information

The Hawaii Tourism Authority promotes travel to the Hawaiian Islands. Their Go Hawaii website provides information on transportation, lodging, tours, and more for Honolulu and the island of Oahu.

The organization Meet in Honolulu supports the city’s convention and meetings industry. Their website lists many venues, hotels, and services for business travelers and events in Honolulu.

GPS Coordinates for Honolulu Landmarks

  • Iolani Palace: 21.306382, -157.857655
  • Diamond Head State Monument: 21.262307, -157.806015
  • USS Arizona Memorial: 21.3648, -157.9585

Map of Honolulu

County Information

Honolulu is located in Honolulu County on the island of Oahu. Honolulu serves as the county seat and capital of Honolulu County.

The website for Honolulu County government is: https://www.honolulu.gov/

Honolulu Hale (City Hall)
530 S King St #300
Honolulu, HI 96813

Additional Local Resources