Downtown Honolulu

Downtown Honolulu Hawaii

About Downtown Honolulu

Downtown Honolulu is a bustling tropical metropolis rich with royal history and modern day architectural marvels. In just a small radius you’ll find the stately Iolani Palace, King Kamehameha the Great Statue, Honolulu Hale, Kawaiahao Church, Ali'iolani Hale, and many more. Looming at the edge of city limits is the legendary Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific, and toward the sea is the Ala Moana Beach Park. You’ll find endless treasures in Downtown Honolulu, a city whose history, architecture and culture is as diverse as the people who live here.

History

Polynesian settlers of the 11th century built the first community where Honolulu is located today. In the early 1800s, Kamehameha I moved his royal court from the Big Island to Honolulu. Captain William Brown of Great Britain was the first foreign explorer to sail into Honolulu Harbor, and the city soon became a major trading point between North America and Asia. In 1845, Kamehameha III made Honolulu the official capital of Hawaii (it was previously Lahaina, Maui). The State of Hawaii was annexed by the US Government in 1898 and became the 50th US State in 1959.

Facts & Trivia

  • How long we stop here on tour: Stop at the King Kamehameha Statue, 5 minutes (time permitting). Driving tours of Downtown Honolulu may last between 20-45 minutes.
  • Location: Tours travel through historic Honolulu on King Street and nearby areas.
  • Amenities: No amenities on drive-by tours.
  • Insider Tip: There are 5 replicas of the Kamehameha Statue throughout the world, 4 are in the State of Hawaii.
  • Fun Fact: Our tours drive through Honolulu’s “Capitol District”. In all, there are about 20 neighborhood districts throughout the city.
  • What To Expect: Business buildings, government offices, royal Hawaiian buildings, the heart of the mid-Pacific’s most populous city.
  • Pop Culture: Behind the Kamehameha Statue is the Supreme Court building, Ali’iolani Hale, used on the set of Hawaii 5-0 as a police headquarters.

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