Popular Destinations

Introducing Honolulu:

Hawai’i is a former monarchy and Honolulu is the only city in the USA with a Royal Palace. The monarchy was overthrown in 1896 and Hawaii was annexed as a USA territory in 1900. The Hawaiian archipelago is the most isolated land mass on the globe and was colonized by South Pacific islanders who made their long voyages across the Pacific in canoes, navigating by the stars. The first Europeans came with Captain James Cook. William Bligh, of ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ fame, was part of his crew. Captain Cook was killed by the natives but the current Hawaiian flag includes the Union Jack in his honor. Honolulu’s deep water port became a stop for American and European whaling ships during the 18th century and it became popular with the rich and famous during the 1920’s, who arrived in elegant ocean liners, soon to be followed by the Pan American flying boats of the 1930’s.

The first hotel in Honolulu was the Moana (now the Westin Moana Surfrider) offering unobstructed views of Diamond Head Peak. The next hotel was the iconic “Pink Palace”, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, still popular with visitors today. After the Japanese bombardments of 1941 and the fall of the Philippines in 1942, Hawaii became the largest and most important US territory in the Pacific, becoming the 50th State in 1959. Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu and it means ‘sheltered bay’ in the native language. Waikiki beach, located 20 minutes from downtown Honolulu, has developed into a world class beach resort with shopping, dining and accommodations that cater for every budget.

Getting Around:

Honolulu is served by Honolulu International Airport and cruise ships stop on the island frequently. Most people rent a car to explore the North Shore of Oahu Island. Honolulu counts with an efficient bus service that connects downtown with Waikiki and you can even take the local bus all around the island, including Pearl Harbor and the famous North Shore.

Things To Do:

Downtown Honolulu is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the USA. Visit the former Royal Palace (The Iolani Palace), its lively Chinatown and its many Southeast Asian eateries and food markets. Don’t skip on Pearl Harbor, the boat trip to the Arizona memorial is free and is one of the most touching monuments in the USA. Waikiki is a beach paradise of boutiques, bars and restaurants and the North Shore of the island is popular with surfers due to its amazingly huge waves during the winter season. Use Honolulu as a base to explore other Hawaiian islands, including Kauai and the Big Island, with natural wonders that include a snow capped volcano, the waterfalls featured in ‘Jurassic Park’, locally grown coffee and red hot lava flowing pacifically into the Pacific Ocean.

Honolulu Climate:

Honolulu enjoys a warm and humid climate throughout the year with pleasant breeze, sunny and tropical weather. Honolulu has only two distinct seasons - summer and winter. Rainfall occurs mainly during the winter months i.e. from October to March.

Hotel Accommodation:

Honolulu is one of the most popular tourist destinations and millions of people visit every year. It is no wonder that the the city possesses some of the finest hotels. Waikiki, Ala Moana, Downtown and Airport Areas have most of the hotels. At Honolulu, you can find hotels ranging from luxury to mid-range to budget hotels. Most of these hotels also have a tie-up with the car rental services. They have a chauffeur-driven service who is also a guide as he takes you around the heart of the city.