Honolulu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Honolulu
State capital city
City and County of Honolulu
Downtown Honolulu skyline ʻIolani Palace Aliʻiōlani Hale First Hawaiian Center Pearl Harbor Waikīkī view from Diamond Head
Flag Seal
Nicknames:  Crossroads of the Pacific, Sheltered Bay, HNL, The Big Pineapple, Paradise
Motto(s):  Haʻaheo No ʻO Honolulu (The Pride of Honolulu)
Location of Urban Honolulu and East Honolulu CDPs (combined) within Honolulu County
Honolulu Location in Hawaii
Country	United States
State	Hawaii
County	Honolulu
Incorporated	April 30, 1907
Area
• City	68.4 sq mi (177.2 km2)
• Land	60.5 sq mi (156.7 km2)
• Water	7.9 sq mi (20.5 km2)
• Urban	145.0 sq mi (375.5 km2)
Elevation	16 ft (5 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	350,964 (US: 55th)
• Density	5,791/sq mi (2,236.1/km2)
• Urban	853,252 (US: 54th)
• Urban density	5,885/sq mi (2,272.4/km2)
• Metro	1,016,508 (US: 55th)
Demonym(s)	Honolulan
GDP
• Metro	$81.676 billion (2023)
Time zone	UTC−10:00 (Hawaiian (HST))
ZIP Codes	96801–96826, 96828, 96830, 96836-96841, 96843-96844, 96846-96850
Area code(s)	808
FIPS code	15-17000
GNIS feature ID	366212

Honolulu ( HON-ə-LOO-loo;) is the capital city of Hawaii, a U.S. state in the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest city in Hawaii and is located on the island of Oʻahu. Honolulu is also the main city for the entire City and County of Honolulu.

The city's beautiful harbor has always made it an important port. This helped Honolulu grow into a major city in the Hawaiian Islands and the wider Pacific region. In 1845, Honolulu became the capital of the independent Hawaiian Kingdom. It remained the capital when Hawaii became a U.S. territory and later a U.S. State.

Honolulu became famous worldwide after the Empire of Japan's attack on nearby Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This event led the United States to join World War II. Today, Pearl Harbor is still a very important U.S. Navy base. It hosts the United States Pacific Fleet, which is the world's largest naval command.

Honolulu is the westernmost and southernmost major city and state capital in the U.S. It is a key center for business, trade, and tourism in Oceania. The city has a rich mix of Asian, Western, and Pacific cultures. This blend is seen in its people, food, and traditions. Honolulu's warm tropical weather, stunning scenery, and many beaches make it a popular place for tourists. In 2024, nearly 1.5 million visitors came to Honolulu.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Honolulu

The name Honolulu comes from the Hawaiian language. It means 'sheltered harbor' or 'calm port'. This name perfectly describes its safe and peaceful bay. Long ago, the area that is now downtown Honolulu was known by the name Kou.

A Look Back: Honolulu's History

Honolulu Harbor in 1816

The Great Chinatown Fire of 1900

The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941

People first settled in Honolulu around the 11th century. This is known from old stories and artifacts found in the area. After Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian Islands, he moved his royal court to Waikiki in 1804. Later, in 1809, his court moved to what is now downtown Honolulu.

In 1794, Captain William Brown from Great Britain was the first outsider to sail into Honolulu Harbor. After that, more foreign ships visited. Honolulu's port became a busy stop for merchant ships traveling between North America and Asia. The small settlement grew into a city in the early 1800s.

In 1845, Kamehameha III made Honolulu the permanent capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. He and the kings who followed him built many important buildings. These included St. Andrew's Cathedral, ʻIolani Palace, and Aliʻiōlani Hale. Honolulu also became the main center for business in the islands.

Honolulu has seen many changes throughout its history. This includes when Hawaii joined the U.S. in 1898. A large fire happened in Chinatown in 1900. Then came the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Through all these events, Honolulu remained Hawaii's capital, largest city, and main airport and seaport.

After Hawaii became a U.S. state, its economy and tourism grew quickly. Modern air travel brings millions of visitors to the islands each year. Most of these visitors arrive at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Today, Honolulu is a modern city with many tall buildings. Waikīkī is the heart of Hawaii's tourism, with thousands of hotel rooms.

Exploring Honolulu's Geography

Honolulu covers an area of about 68.4 square miles (177.2 km²). About 11.56% of this area is water.

Honolulu is one of the most isolated major cities in the world. It is very far from other large cities. For example, the closest major U.S. city is San Francisco, California, which is about 2,397 miles (3,858 km) away.

The city is also home to parts of the Honolulu Volcanics field. These are ancient volcanoes that helped shape the island.

Honolulu's Unique Neighborhoods

Honolulu has many different neighborhoods, each with its own character:

• Downtown Honolulu is the center for Hawaii's money, business, and government. The First Hawaiian Center is the tallest building here. Hawaii Pacific University also has a campus downtown.
• The Arts District Honolulu is next to Chinatown. It has many places for art and culture.
• The Capitol District is in eastern Downtown. It holds important government buildings. These include the Hawaii State Capitol, ʻIolani Palace, and Honolulu Hale (City Hall).
• Kakaʻako is an area between Downtown and Waikiki. It has been redeveloped with new shops and homes. The John A. Burns School of Medicine is also located here.
• Ala Moana is known for Ala Moana Center. This is one of the world's largest open-air shopping centers. It is very popular with both visitors and locals.
• Waikiki is Honolulu's famous tourist area. It is full of hotels, shops, and fun nightlife. Millions of visitors come here every year to enjoy the beaches and sights like Diamond Head.
• Mānoa, Mōʻiliʻili, and Makiki are residential areas just inland from downtown and Waikiki. The main campus of the University of Hawaiʻi is in Mānoa Valley.
• Nuʻuanu and Pauoa are residential areas inland from downtown. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is located in Punchbowl Crater.
• Pālolo and Kaimukī are neighborhoods east of Mānoa. Kaimukī has a lively commercial street. Chaminade University is in Kaimukī.
• Waiʻalae and Kāhala are upscale neighborhoods east of Diamond Head. They feature many beautiful homes and resorts.
• East Honolulu includes communities like ʻĀina Haina and Hawaiʻi Kai. These are mostly residential areas.
• Kalihi and Pālama are working-class neighborhoods. Lower Kalihi has some light industrial businesses.
• Salt Lake and Āliamanu are residential areas near Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. They are built in old volcanic cones.
• Moanalua is a neighborhood and valley at the western end of Honolulu. It is home to Tripler Army Medical Center.
• Kamehameha Heights is a suburb north of the city center.

Honolulu's Climate: Sunny and Warm

Honolulu has a warm, semi-arid climate. This means it's mostly sunny and dry, especially in summer. The city gets less rain because of a "rain shadow" effect from the mountains.

Temperatures stay warm all year round. Highs are usually between 80–90 °F (27–32 °C) and lows between 65–75 °F (18–24 °C). The "winter" months (December to March) can sometimes have slightly cooler lows. The "summer" months (June to September) might have a few very hot days.

Honolulu gets about 16.41 inches (417 millimeters) of rain each year. Most of this rain falls from October to early April. Summers are much drier. The city enjoys about 278 sunny days and 89 rainy days each year.

While Honolulu is in a tropical area, strong storms like hurricanes are rare. The last major hurricane near Honolulu was Hurricane Iniki in 1992. Tornadoes and waterspouts are also uncommon.

The ocean temperature around Honolulu is always pleasant. It ranges from about 75.7 °F (24.3 °C) in March to 80.4 °F (26.9 °C) in September.

Honolulu's People: A Diverse Community

Map of racial distribution in Honolulu, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people: ⬤ European ⬤ African ⬤ Asian ⬤ Hispanic ⬤ Other

As of the 2020 U.S. census, Honolulu had a population of 350,964 people. This makes it the 55th most populous city in the United States. The wider urban area of Honolulu, including East Honolulu, has over 400,000 residents. The entire island of Oahu, which makes up Metropolitan Honolulu, had a population of 1,016,508 in 2020.

Honolulu is known for its diverse population. Many different cultures live here. About 54.8% of the people are of Asian descent. About 17.9% are of European descent. There are also significant populations of Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiian people, making up about 8.4%. People of mixed backgrounds are also a large part of the community.

The largest Asian groups include Japanese (19.9%), Filipino (13.2%), Chinese (10.4%), and Korean (4.3%). Among Pacific Islanders, people of Native Hawaiian ancestry make up 3.2%, and Samoan Americans are 1.5% of the population. This mix of cultures makes Honolulu a vibrant and interesting place to live.

Honolulu's Economy: Tourism and Trade

First Hawaiian Center is Hawaii's tallest office building.

Honolulu is the largest city and has the main airport in the Hawaiian Islands. This makes it a natural gateway for the state's huge tourism industry. Tourism brings billions of dollars to the local economy each year.

Honolulu's location in the Pacific Ocean also makes it a major center for business and trade. It is especially important for trade between Asia and the Western world. Other key parts of the city's economy include military defense and research.

Some important companies based in Honolulu include Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air, and Aloha Air Cargo.

Living in Honolulu can be quite expensive. The cost of things like gasoline, electricity, and most food is higher than in many other U.S. cities. This is because most goods have to be imported to the islands.

Arts and Culture in Honolulu

Bishop Museum

Honolulu offers many cultural experiences:

• The Bishop Museum is the city's largest museum. It has the biggest collection of natural history items in Hawaii. It also holds the world's largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific culture artifacts.
• The Honolulu Zoo is Hawaii's main zoo.
• The Waikiki Aquarium is a working marine biology lab. It partners with the University of Hawaiʻi.
• Honolulu is home to several beautiful gardens, such as Foster Botanical Garden and Liliʻuokalani Botanical Garden.

The Honolulu Symphony is one of the oldest symphony orchestras west of the Rocky Mountains. Other classical music groups include the Hawaii Opera Theatre. Honolulu is also a hub for Hawaiian music. Major music venues include the Hawaii Theatre and the Neal Blaisdell Center. The city also has live theater at places like the Diamond Head Theatre.

The Honolulu Museum of Art has Hawaii's largest collection of Asian and Western art. It also has a large collection of Islamic art at the Shangri La estate. The museum also shows art-house and world films.

The Hawaii State Art Museum (downtown) displays works by local artists and traditional Hawaiian art.

Aerial view of Diamond Head

Honolulu also hosts the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) every year. This festival showcases great films from around the Pacific Rim.

Popular Tourist Attractions

• Ala Moana Center
• Aloha Tower
• Bishop Museum
• Diamond Head
• Hanauma Bay
• Honolulu Museum of Art
• Honolulu Zoo
• ʻIolani Palace
• Lyon Arboretum
• National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
• USS Arizona Memorial
• Waikiki Aquarium
• Waikiki Beach
• International Market Place
• Kapiʻolani Park

Sports and Activities in Honolulu

Honolulu's tropical weather is perfect for sports all year. The city hosts three big running races: the Great Aloha Run, Honolulu Marathon, and Honolulu Triathlon. The first ever Ironman Hawaii triathlon was held here. The Waikiki Roughwater Swim is an annual ocean race off Waikiki Beach.

Sports fans in Honolulu often cheer for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa teams. These include football, volleyball, and basketball. High school sports, especially football, are also very popular. Honolulu does not have professional sports teams. This is because of the very long travel needed for away games on the U.S. mainland.

The NCAA football Hawaii Bowl is played in Honolulu. The city also hosted the NFL's annual Pro Bowl many times from 1980 to 2016. Honolulu Little League baseball teams have won the Little League World Series championship in 2018 and 2022. In 2024, Honolulu was the official home of the Pokémon World Championships.

Sports Venues

Places to watch sports in Honolulu include:

• Les Murakami Stadium at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (for baseball)
• Neal S. Blaisdell Center Arena (for basketball)
• Stan Sheriff Center at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (for basketball and volleyball)

Aloha Stadium was a large venue for American football and soccer near Pearl Harbor. It closed in 2020. There are plans to build a new stadium at the same location.

Honolulu's Government

Honolulu Hale is the city and county seat.

Rick Blangiardi became the mayor of Honolulu County on January 2, 2021. The main government offices for the City and County of Honolulu are in the Capitol District. This is where you'll find Honolulu Hale, the city and county seat. State government buildings are also in this district.

The United States Postal Service has many post offices in Honolulu. The main Honolulu Post Office is located near the international airport.

Learning and Research in Honolulu

Colleges and Universities

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus

Honolulu has several colleges and universities:

• Honolulu Community College
• Kapiʻolani Community College
• The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (the main campus of the University of Hawaiʻi System)
• Chaminade University
• Hawaii Pacific University

Research Institutions

Honolulu is home to important research centers focused on international affairs.

• The Pacific Forum studies policies in the Asia-Pacific region.
• The East–West Center (EWC) works to improve understanding between people in Asia, the Pacific, and the U.S.
• The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) focuses on security issues in the region.

Schools for Kids

The Hawaii State Department of Education runs Honolulu's public schools. Some public high schools in the area are Farrington, Kaiser, Kaimuki, Kalani, Moanalua, McKinley, and Roosevelt. The Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind is also in Honolulu.

Many students in Honolulu also attend private schools. Some of these include ʻIolani School, Kamehameha Schools, Maryknoll School, and Punahou School. Hawaii has one of the highest rates of private school attendance in the country.

Honolulu also offers weekend programs for learning languages like Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish.

Libraries for Everyone

Hawaii State Library

The Hawaii State Public Library System operates public libraries in Honolulu. The Hawaii State Library is the main library for the system. There is also a special Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Many branch libraries serve different neighborhoods across the city.

Honolulu in the Media

Honolulu has its own daily newspaper, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. There is also Honolulu Magazine, along with several radio stations and television stations. The local news agency Hawaii News Now broadcasts from Honolulu.

Getting Around Honolulu

Air Travel

The "Reef Runway" at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is the main airport for all of Hawaii. It connects the state to the rest of the world. Kalaeloa Airport is a smaller airport used mostly for local flights and military aircraft.

Roads and Highways

Aerial view of H-1 (looking east) from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport

Honolulu can have heavy traffic, especially during busy times. Several major highways serve the city:

• Interstate H-1 runs across southern Oʻahu. It passes Hickam Air Force Base, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, and downtown Honolulu.
• Interstate H-201, also called the Moanalua Freeway, connects different parts of H-1.
• Interstate H-2 connects with H-1 near Waipahu. It goes north towards the North Shore.
• Interstate H-3 travels through the Koʻolau Mountains via tunnels to Kaneohe on the windward side of Oʻahu.

Other important highways include:

• Pali Highway crosses the Koʻolau mountains to connect to Kailua and Kaneohe.
• Likelike Highway also crosses the Koʻolau mountains to Kaneohe.
• Kalanianaole Highway runs eastward from Honolulu to Hawaiʻi Kai and around the east side of the island.
• Kamehameha Highway (Routes 80, 83, 99, 830) runs westward from near Hickam Air Force Base and then around the island.

Public Transportation

A Skyline train departing Hālawa station

Honolulu has a public rail system called Skyline. This 20-mile (32 km) rail line connects Honolulu with areas near Pearl Harbor and West Oʻahu. The first part of the line opened on June 30, 2023. It helps reduce traffic for people commuting from West Oʻahu.

Honolulu's bus system, called TheBus, is very popular. It has been recognized as one of "America's Best Transit Systems." TheBus operates many routes across Honolulu and Oʻahu.

There is also TheHandi-Van service for riders who need special transportation. This service helps people with disabilities, older adults, and those with limited incomes.

Biking in the City

Since 2017, Honolulu has a bicycle sharing program called Biki. You can find Biki stations in many areas, including downtown, Waikiki, and near the University of Hawaiʻi.

Famous People

This is a list of notable past and present residents of the U.S. city of Honolulu, Hawaii, and its surrounding metropolitan area.

Arts

Athletics

Business

Literature

Entertainers, actors, models

Music

Politics

Missionaries

Miscellaneous

See also

In Spanish: Honolulu para niños

• List of tallest buildings in Honolulu
• USS Honolulu, 3 ships