Downtown Honolulu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Downtown Honolulu
Central business district
A view of downtown Honolulu from atop Aloha Tower
Downtown Honolulu Location in Hawaii
Country	United States
State	Hawaii
City	Honolulu

Downtown Honolulu is the main historic, economic, and government hub of Honolulu. Honolulu is the capital and largest city in Hawaii. This area is bordered by Nuʻuanu Stream to the west and Ward Avenue to the east. Vineyard Boulevard is to the north, and Honolulu Harbor is to the south. You can find both modern skyscrapers and old, historic buildings here. Many of the older buildings are even listed as important national landmarks.

Exploring Downtown Honolulu's Neighborhoods

Downtown Honolulu is divided into four cool neighborhoods. Each one has its own special feel and unique buildings. These areas are the Capitol District, the Central Business District, Chinatown, and the Waterfront.

The Capitol District: Government and History

The famous Aliʻiōlani Hale building in Honolulu's Capitol District.

The Capitol District is also called the Civic Center. It's where most of the important government buildings are located. This includes buildings for the federal, state, and city governments.

The main spots here are the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, ʻIolani Palace, and Honolulu Hale (which is the city hall). This district is roughly bordered by Richards Street, Ward Avenue, Vineyard Boulevard, and Nimitz Highway.

Some important buildings you can find in this area are:

• Aliʻiōlani Hale
• Hawaiʻi State Capitol
• Hawaiʻi State Library
• Honolulu Hale
• ʻIolani Palace
• Prince Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Federal Building
• Washington Place

Central Business District: Skyscrapers and Companies

This area is centered around Bishop Street and Fort Street Mall. It's where most of Hawaii's big companies have their main offices. You'll also see many of the city's tallest buildings here.

The Central Business District is generally located between Nuʻuanu Avenue, Nimitz Highway, Richards Street, and Vineyard Boulevard.

An aerial view of downtown Honolulu. You can see Aloha Tower and First Hawaiian Center.

Some notable buildings and places in this busy district include:

• Alexander & Baldwin Building
• Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew
• Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace
• First Hawaiian Center
• Fort Street Mall
• Hawaiʻi Pacific University
• Judd Building
• Central Middle School (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Chinatown: Culture and Arts

The beautiful Hawaiʻi Theatre building.

Chinatown is located between Nuʻuanu Stream and Nuʻuanu Avenue. It used to be the main place for Chinese culture on the island. A key spot here is the Oʻahu Market, an open-air market.

The area around Nuʻuanu Avenue has become a lively Arts District. This happened partly because of the renovation of the Hawaiʻi Theatre.

Some important buildings in Chinatown include:

• Hawaiʻi Theatre
• Oʻahu Market
• Wo Fat Building

The Waterfront: Ships and History

The Waterfront District of Honolulu with Harbor Court on the far right.

Honolulu's waterfront area is focused on Aloha Tower. This tower was once the tallest building in Hawaii. In the past, large cruise ships would dock here before people traveled by plane.

Today, cruise ships traveling between the Hawaiian Islands still dock at Honolulu Harbor.

Key places in the Waterfront area are:

• Aloha Tower
• Falls of Clyde
• Hawaiʻi Maritime Center

Images for kids

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  A view of downtown Honolulu from atop Aloha Tower

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  An aerial view of downtown Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. In the foreground is Aloha Tower. In the center is First Hawaiian Center, the second tallest building in Hawaiʻi. In the lower right is the Falls of Clyde, a historic museum ship.

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  The Hawaiʻi Theatre.