Honolulu

Situated on Oahu, Hawaii's third largest island, Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii and its largest city, home to a third of the state's population. Honolulu is about ten times larger than any other Hawaiian city and is the state's center of trade and tourism. As a result, it's quite likely that the average tourist will spend some time in the city.

Historically, too, Honolulu has been the focal point of Hawaii. Honolulu Harbor became an important center of trade in the Pacific region as early as 1850. The royal residence, Iolani Palace, was constructed in the city in 1882 by the ruler at the time, King David Kalakaua. In the 1920's, Pearl Harbor became an important military base, home to thousands of U.S. servicemen. In that same period, Honolulu developed into a vacation and retirement spot for the wealthy.

Today, Honolulu is the most popular destination for tourists visiting Hawaii. It's a cosmopolitan a city, crowded with entertaining cafes and restaurants. And it is a stunningly beautiful city. Framed by the Koolau Mountains and outlined by a shimmering harbor, this city is one of the most enjoyable places to visit in the United States.