Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii

Honolulu

Honolulu is a huge city which extends from the southeast shore of Oahu from east of Pearl Harbour to Makapu'u Point. The districts of Honolulu include Waikiki with its white sand beaches and highrise hotels, Manoa-Makiki in the quieter foothills north of downtown and the countryside of the Koolau Mountains, Western Honolulu with Pearl Harbour, downtown Honolulu with its harbourfront and extensive shops and Eastern Honolulu which runs to Makapu'u point and is mainly residential with scenic beaches and Hanauma Bay.

Beaches

Waikiki Beach is the most famous beach in Hawaii and is perfect for sunbathing, swimming, surfers and outrigger canoes. There is plenty to do for anyone visiting this beach and is a must for anyone visiting Honolulu.

For those wishing to get away from the crowds there is the Ala Moana Park with its green spaces and small beach which is ideal for families seeking calmer waters.

There are several beautiful beaches to the east of Honolulu in the Makapu'u point area with the most popular being Hanauma Bay which is good for snorkelling and scuba diving due to the coral reef and the natural enviroment of volcanic rock. Nearby is Halona Beach Cove which is a small rocky cove with calm water and also Sandy Beach which is popular with swimmers and surfers.

For those wishing to try their hand at surfing Makapu'u beach has large waves and is ideal to catch a wave but not ideal for swimmers.

Things to Do and See

Honolulu has many historical attractions and museums and there is plenty to keep visitors entertained.

Pearl Harbour is situated in Western Honolulu where there is the visitors centre and USS bowfin, a World War II submarine. In this vicinity is also Ford Island which is home to the Pacific Aviation Museum and the Battleship Missouri Memorial. Other military memorials include the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific located within the Punchbowl crater near downtown Honolulu.

There is always plenty to do in Honolulu including seeing King Kamehameha statue and the Iolani Palace or just having a surfing lesson on Waikiki beach.