Honolulu, Hawaii - The Capital City
Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, is a vibrant, active city poised at the crossroads of East and West. Located 2,500 miles from the U.S. Mainland and 3,800 miles from Tokyo, Japan, Honolulu, which means sheltered bay, maintains a distinct sense of place.
Honolulu was originally named capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1845 and is home to the only royal palace located in the United States; ‘ Iolani Palace, built in the late 1800's during the reign of Kamehameha IV and utilized as the official royal residence during the reigns of King Kamehameha IV, King Kamehameha V, King Lunalilo I, and King Kalakaua. The city was incorporated in 1907 subsequent to the annexation of Hawaii in 1898 as a U.S. Territory. Hawaii statehood followed much later in 1959.
Today the city features its own symphony, zoo, international airport, city marathon, art and history museums, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and of course one of the most famous beaches in the world… Waikiki Beach.
Among the cities recent top list rankings it been ranked as one of the Top 10 Walking Cities (Prevention Magazine - 2009), Best Convention City (Business Traveler Magazine - 2009), and one of the Top 50 Best Cities for Relocating Families (Worldwide Employee Relocation Council and Primacy Relocation – 2009).
Honolulu holds its own as both a U.S. as well as an international destination and has been, for many years, the #1 honeymoon destination for U.S. and Japanese citizens alike, not to mention a top tourist destination for pleasure seekers from all over the world.
Honolulu is the largest city on the island of Oahu; its neighboring communities include Aiea, Ewa Beach, Haleiwa, Kailua, Kaneohe, Kapolei, Ko Olina, Mililani, Oahu’s “North Shore”, Pearl City, and Waialua.
In the 2000 U.S. Census, Hawaii topped all other states with the highest percentage of military personnel who support numerous military installations on Oahu including Barber’s Point, Bellows Air Force Base, Camp Smith, Ft. Shafter, Hickam Air Force Base, Kaneohe Marine Corp Base, Pearl Harbor, Schofield Barracks, and Tripler Army Medical Center
Whatever you seek you are sure to find in this beautiful, bustling Island metropolis.
