Honolulu is rich with historical treasures all within walking distance of each other. Visit the Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on U.S. soil and home to the last two monarchs of the Hawaiian Kingdom, King Kalakaua and his sister and successor Queen Liliuokalani. Turn around and you’ll be greeted by the famous bronze Statue of King Kamehameha I. Walk a little further and you may hear the church bells ringing from the “Westminster Abbey of Hawaii”, Kawaiahao Church, the first Christian Church in Hawaii, made from more than 14 million pounds of coral. Take a short drive and discover the breathtaking vista at the Nuuanu Pali Lookout, 3,000 feet above the Oahu coastline and site of the famous Battle of Nuuanu where King Kamehameha won the struggle that finally untied the islands under one rule. Enrich your senses at Oahu’s fine art museums, add excitement to your evenings with a concert or Broadway show at the Hawaii Theatre, and enjoy the hustle and bustle, colors and sounds of Chinatown and its markets and lei stands.
Aloha Tower, Downtown Honolulu
In September of 1926, Aloha Tower was built to hail the visitors at Honolulu Harbor since travel to the Islands was done then entirely by sea. It was the tallest building in all of Hawaii for four decades and when the Aloha Tower clock was installed in 1926, it was one of the largest in the United States. The Observation Deck, located on the 10th floor of Aloha Tower has beautiful views of the harbor. http://www.alohatower.com/tower.html
Bishop Museum, Kapalama
Hawaii's museum of natural and cultural history, the Bishop Museum was originally designed to house the extensive collection of Hawaiian artifacts and royal family heirlooms of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. The Museum has since expanded to include millions of artifacts, documents and photos about Hawai'i and other Pacific cultures. Daily programs allow visitors to discover more about Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures through live, interactive presentations and exhibit tours. Planetarium shows showcase Polynesian skies and how voyagers navigated using the stars to sail the Pacific. In the new Science Adventure Center, visitors can experience Hawaii's unique natural environment like never before. Control volcanic eruptions, pilot a deep sea rover, see lava melting demos, or walk-through the vivid environment of the Hawaiian Origins Tunnel. www.bishopmuseum.org
Chinatown
During the day, Chinatown is a colorful marketplace alive with fragrant lei stands, delicious noodle and dim sum factories, bustling open-markets, and hole-in-the-wall restaurants but at night, Downtown Honolulu is a hotspot of hip clubs and casual and fine dining. You can bargain hunt through Chinatown's open markets or stroll down Maunakea Street to pick out lei for a special dinner and then when the sun goes down you can catch a show at the Hawaii Theatre or go to a cool Jazz club.
Tuesdays - Chinatown Walking Tours
Take a guided tour of Chinatown’s colorful shops and eateries led by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. 9:30am-12:00pm. www.chinesechamber.com
Contemporary Museum of Art, Makiki
On your way to the top, visit Oahu's Contemporary Museum for a stimulating look at the Museum's outstanding art collection and a light lunch at its gourmet cafe. The dramatic Koolau mountains serve as the backdrop for the Museum's artist gardens and outdoor exhibits of contemporary art.
Hawaii Maritime Museum, Downtown Honolulu
Learn more about Hawaii's maritime history, from its discovery by Polynesian navigators more than 1500 years ago, to contact with Western cultures, through whaling, and up to the present day. Located in historic Honolulu Harbor, Hawaii Maritime Center allows visitors to view exhibits on the history of surfing, canoe racing, and the natural world that are all part of Hawaii's maritime history. Visit two famous ships from two very different periods of Hawaii's history: Hokule'a and The Falls of Clyde. In the whaling exhibit, you'll see a rare humpback whale skeleton and learn about the evolution of human's relationship with whales from the 19th century to the whale watchers of today. At Pier 7 Gifts, you'll find handmade treasures and nautical souvenirs from scrimshaw, brass and t-shirts to jewelry, books, and more. www.bishopmuseum.org/exhibits/hmc/hmc.html
Hawaii State Art Museum, Downtown Honolulu
The Hawaii State Art Museum (HiSAM) is dedicated to exhibiting and interpreting the art and culture of Hawaii. Through Enriched by Diversity, a semi-permanent installation reflecting Hawaii's rich ethnic and cultural traditions, as well as a dynamic changing exhibition program, the museum honors and inspires artistic excellence and promotes educational enrichment. Located in the historic No. 1 Capitol District Building, a Spanish-Mission style structure built in 1928, the museum is comprised of three spacious galleries, an outdoor tiled lanai, a 70-seat multi-purpose room and a volunteer resource center. A new cafe, gift shop and information kiosk to enhance the visitor's experience is scheduled to open in the near future. www.hawaii.gov/sfca
Hawaii Theatre, Downtown Honolulu
Winner 2006 "Honor Award" from National Trust for Historic Preservation. Winner 2005 "Outstanding Historic Theatre in America" from the League of Historic American Theatres. Built in 1922 as a showplace for vaudeville, plays, musicals and silent films; the Hawaii Theatre re-opened it doors in April 1996 as a multi-purpose state-of-the art performance center for all of Hawaii to enjoy. Listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. www.hawaiitheatre.com
Tuesdays - Tours of Hawaii Theatre
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the “Pride of the Pacific”. 11am – 12pm. (808) 528-0506. www.hawaiitheatre.com
Honolulu Academy of Arts, Downtown Honolulu
The Honolulu Academy of Arts was chartered in 1922 by Mrs. Charles Montague Cook (Anna Rice), who desired to share her love for the arts with the children of Hawaii. Since the doors opened April 8, 1927, the Academy has steadily grown to become Hawaii's largest private presenter of visual arts programs, boasting a permanent collection of over 38,000 works of art from cultures around the world. The Honolulu Academy of Arts is internatonally recognized for the excellence and diversity of its holdings. Notable collections include James A. Michener Collection of ukiyo-e prints, the Kress COllection of Italian Renaissance paintings, and the Hawaiian collection that chronicles the history of art in Hawaii.
Tuesdays & Sundays - Tour and Tea at the Honolulu Academy of Arts
Explore the galleries, immerse yourself in art and culture and then sit down for a relaxing cup of tea. 2:30-4pm in selected galleries. Free with museum admission. Reservations required (808) 532-8700. www.honoluluacademy.org
Iolani Palace, Downtown Honolulu
Enjoy a guided tour of one of Honolulu's most honored landmarks, and the only Royal Palace on U.S. soil, Iolani Palace. Journey through the times of happiness and tragedy of King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani as you view their two story American Florentine style palace. www.iolanipalace.org
Kawaiahao Church, Downtown Honolulu
Known as the "Westminster Abbey of the Pacific", Kawaiahao Church was the first Christian Church built on Oahu. Dedicated on July 21, 1842, this beautiful church is made of 14 million pounds of slabs of coral from ocean reefs - that were hauled from the sea by native laborers and missionaries. As you stroll the streets of Historic Honolulu, you will most likely hear the rich sounds of bells from the tower clock, "Kauikeaouli clock" donated by King Kamehameha III, which still tolls the hours to this day. Kawaiahao Church still serves as a center of worship for Hawaiian people, with services conducted every Sunday in Hawaiian and English. Portraits of the royal family adorn the walls of the second floor.
Lyon Arboretum, Manoa
This 194 acre garden features over 8,000 plant species and endless scenic hiking trails. Call ahead for a listing of free horticulture and lei-making classes. Lyon is the only University botanical garden in the United States that is located in tropical rainforest terrain. http://lyonarboretum.com
Mission Houses Museum, Downtown Honolulu
Take an escorted historical walking tour into the life and work of the Protestant missionaries who settled in Hawaii in 1820. The Mission Houses Museum displays three original frame homes that were built in New England and shipped to Hawaii to house the missionaries. Nearby you'll see the island's original schoolhouse and the printing house where the first alphabet book and Hawaiian hymnal were printed. www.missionhouses.org
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl
The Punchbowl Crater, remnant of a long-extinct volcano, is the resting-place for 33,259 of the world's soldiers. The Honolulu Memorial stands in honor of the sacrifices and achievements of the American Armed Forces. The engraved names of 18,094 World War II heroes missing in action are honored in the ten "Courts of the Missing" that flank the monumental staircase. Informative, free walking tours are sponsored by Veterans of the American Legion.
Nuuanu Pali Lookout, Nuuanu
Just north of Queen Emma's Summer Palace, the Nuuanu Pali Lookout offers, without a doubt, one of Oahu's finest views of the sheer Koolau cliffs. Perched 3,000 feet above the Oahu coastline is the site of the battle of Nuuanu, where in 1795 Kamehameha I won the struggle that finally united the islands under one rule.
Queen Emma's Summer Palace, Nuuanu
Drive into the lush, green Nuuanu Valley and visit the secluded summer retreat of Queen Emma, King Kamehameha IV and their son, Prince Albert. Following the tragic death of the 4 year old prince in 1862 and the king in 1863, Hawaii's Queen lived a life of mourning at the Summer Palace. Royal antiques and furnishings stand in their original places, including the koa wood cradle of Prince Albert and gifts from his Godmother, Queen Victoria. www.daughtersofhawaii.org/summerpalace/
Statue of King Kamehameha, Downtown Honolulu
Directly across from Iolani Palace, at the entrance of AliIolani, Honolulu's judiciary building, King Kamehameha I is immortalized in bronze. It was King Kamehameha that unified the Hawaiian Islands under one rule, and every June 11th on Kamehameha Day this famous Hawaiian landmark is draped with dozens of 30 foot fresh flower leis in his honor.
Tantalus Rainforest, Makiki
Travel north of Honolulu through the 2,013 foot Tantalus Rainforest and the Mountain. Enjoy the panoramic views of the Honolulu skyline below and the lush rainforest abundance surrounding you on this hillside of wildlife, flowers and trees of guava, banana, eucalyptus and ginger.
