The Hawaiian Islands cover a vast area of the North Pacific Ocean.
Whilst the archipelago compromises 137 islands, reefs, shallow banks, atolls, shoals, and seamounts, there are 8 major islands which are most commonly associated with the state of Hawaii.
The vast majority of the 137 islands which make up the archipelago are uninhabited.
In this article, we’ll be discussing the capital of Hawaii, and some interesting facts about the state’s capital.
What’s The Capital Of Hawaii?
Located on the southeastern shore of O’ahu Island, Honolulu is the capital and principal port of the state of Hawaii.
This modern city extends roughly 10 miles along the southeastern coast of O’ahu Island and about 4 miles inland across the plain and into the foothills of the Koolau Range.
Approximately two-thirds of the entire population of the Hawaiian Islands call Honolulu their home.
To those that live there, O’ahu goes by the name of “The Gathering Place.” It gained this nickname for a number of reasons.
Firstly, as mentioned, it is home to the vast majority of the state’s population.
Secondly, visitors to the Hawaiian Islands love to “gather” on O’ahu as it has some very visitor friendly districts which are a sanctuary for travelers looking to explore Hawaii.
Honolulu first assumed importance in the islands after 1820 where it became a trading hub for merchants, sandalwood traders, and whalers.
The port of Honolulu was first occupied by a Russian group in 1816, but was soon taken over by the British in 1843 and later the French in 1849.
It was given back to King Kamehameha III and on August 31st 1850 he declared it a city and the capital of his kingdom.
Interesting Facts About Honolulu
Honolulu has a long history surrounding the trade routes that started/intersected where the city stands today.
To a large extent these the significance of Honolulu to these trade routes remains to this day.
The port of Honolulu is an essential aspect of the state’s infrastructure.
It serves most of the manufacturing plants in the city-county, which include but are not limited to sugar refineries, clothing factories, aluminum, steel, and oil enterprises.
The infrastructure of Honolulu doesn’t just revolve around transport via the ocean.
Its international airport is one of the busiest in the United States.
Owing to the location of the Hawaiian islands, and Honolulu in particular, the airport is a gateway for both visitors to the islands and mainland US and traveling US tourists seeking adventure.
During World War II, Honolulu became the center point of one of the worst attacks in US history.
The USS Arizona Memorial denotes the final resting place of 2,403 people who lost their lives during the attack.
The devastating attack on Pearl Harbor prompted the US to join forces to join WW2.
The USS Arizona Memorial belongs to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial site, which anyone can visit in Honolulu.
Before it became part of the US, Hawaii had a royal family and was known as the Kingdom of Hawaii.
For this reason, Hawaii is the only state in the US to have a royal palace. Iolani Palace was built in the 19th century and still stands today.
The Honolulu Museum of Art is one of the biggest cultural attractions on the island.
It is home to the largest collection of Asian and Western art in the world and houses some 60,000 works of art.
In terms of climate, it’s worth mentioning that Honolulu has, on average, 90 rainy days per year.
It has a temperate climate, so the temperatures are usually quite high year round.
The largest religious denominations on the archipelago are Roman Catholics and Protestants.
There is a small but important number of other faiths, in particular Buddhists and followers of other Asian religions.
As mentioned, Hawaii is the only state in the US to have a royal palace.
It is also the only state to have two official languages, Hawaiian and English.
The Hawaiian language was given official status in the state constitution in 1978.
Geographically speaking, Honolulu is not just the biggest city in Hawaii but the “biggest” city in the world.
This is because of Hawaii’s constitution. The state’s constitution determines that any Hawaiian island that does not belong to a county, by default, belongs to Honolulu.
Conclusion
The capital of Hawaii, Honolulu, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
It is famed for its rich history, culture, and stunning beaches backed by palm trees and high rise hotels.
There is a great variety of things to do on the island, including sampling some of the city’s fine dining restaurants, visiting the Bishop Museum, and Kawaiahao Church.
For those who are more adventurous, Kapiolani Park is located on the east end of Waikiki, at the base of the extremely popular Diamond Head, an extinct volcano.
What Does Honolulu Mean In English?