Honolulu is the capital and largest community of the U.S. State of Hawai`i. In the Hawaiian language, honolulu means "sheltered bay" or "place of shelter." The census-designated place (CDP) is located along the southeast coast of the island of O`ahu. The term also refers to the District of Honolulu (see Geography below). As of July 1, 2004, the U.S. Census Bureau estimate for Honolulu puts the population at 377,260 and that of the city and county (essentially, the Island of O`ahu) is 900,000. In Hawai`i, local governments operate only at the county level, and the City & County of Honolulu encompasses all of the Island of O`ahu (approximately 600 square miles).


History
It is not known when Honolulu was first settled by the original Polynesian migrants to the archipelago. Oral histories and artifacts indicate that there was a settlement where Honolulu now stands in the 12th century. However, after Kamehameha I conquered O`ahu in the Battle of Nu`uanu Pali, he moved his royal court from the Island of Hawai`i to Waikîkî in 1804. His court later relocated, in 1809, to what is now downtown Honolulu.

Captain William Brown of England was the first foreigner to sail, in 1794, into what is now Honolulu Harbor. More foreign ships would follow, making the port of Honolulu a focal point for merchant ships traveling between North America and Asia.


Rainbow over Honolulu skyline with Diamond Head behind.In 1845, Kamehameha III moved the permanent capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom from Lâhainâ on Maui to Honolulu. He and the kings that followed him transformed Honolulu into a modern capital, erecting buildings such as St. Andrew's Cathedral, `Iolani Palace, and Ali`iolani Hale. At the same time, Honolulu became the center of commerce in the Islands, with descendants of American missionaries establishing major businesses in downtown Honolulu.

Despite the turbulent history of the late 19th century and early 20th century, which saw the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, Hawai`i's subsequent annexation by the United States, and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Honolulu would remain the capital, largest city, and main airport and seaport of the Hawaiian Islands.

An economic and tourism boom following statehood brought rapid economic growth to Honolulu and Hawai`i. Modern air travel would bring thousands, eventually millions (per annum) of visitors to the Islands. Today, Honolulu is a modern city with numerous high-rise buildings, and Waikîkî is the center of the tourism industry in Hawai`i, with thousands of hotel rooms.

Geography and climate
Honolulu is located at 21°18'32" North, 157°49'34" West (21.308950, -157.826182)GR1. While this is clearly in the tropics, the climate (temperature and humidity) is moderated by the mid-ocean location and some cooling achieved by the California Current that passes through the islands much of year. The average daily low and high temperatures in January are 65/80 °F (18/27 °C) and in July are 74/88 °F (23/31 °C). Temperatures exceed 90 °F (32 °C) only rarely, with lows in the 50's °F (15 °C) occurring perhaps once or twice in a year. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Honolulu was 95 °F (35 °C) on September 19, 1994 and the coldest temperature ever recorded was 53 °F (11.6 °C) on January 31, 1998, 1972 and 1948 and on January 20, 1969 and on February 1 and 2, 1976 and on February 9, 1981 and on February 12, 1983.


Honolulu as seen from the International Space StationThe Honolulu District is located on the southeast coast of O‘ahu between Makapu`u and Hâlawa. The District boundary follows the Ko`olau crestline, so Makapu`u Beach is in the Ko`olaupoko District. On the west, the district boundary follows Hâlawa Stream, then crosses Red Hill and runs just west of Âliamanu Crater, so that Aloha Stadium, Pearl Harbor (with the USS Arizona Memorial), and Hickam Air Force Base are actually all located in the island's `Ewa District.

Most of the city's commercial and industrial developments are located on a narrow but relatively flat coastal plain, while numerous ridges and valleys located inland of the coastal plain divide Honolulu's residential areas into distinct neighborhoods: some spread along valley floors (like Mânoa in Mânoa Valley) and others climb the interfluvial ridges. Within Honolulu proper can be found several volcanic cones: Punchbowl, Diamond Head, Koko Head (includes Hanauma Bay), Koko Crater, Salt Lake, and Âliamanu being the most conspicuous.

Honolulu and Juneau, Alaska are the only 2 US state capitals that cannot be reached directly by road from the contiguous 48 States. Direct connections to these capitals require a boat or a plane.

Government
Main article: City & County of Honolulu
Originally governed by a Board of Supervisors, the City & County of Honolulu is administered under a mayor-council system of governance overseeing all municipal services: civil defense, emergency medical, fire, parks and recreation, police, sanitation, streets, water, among others. One of the largest municipal governments in the United States, the City & County of Honolulu has an annual operating budget of $1 billion.

The current mayor of Honolulu is Mufi Hannemann (term ends January 2009).

Neighborhoods and special districts

View of downtown Honolulu at Bishop and King streets with First Hawaiian Center building (left) and Bank of Hawai`i (right)Downtown Honolulu is the financial, commercial, and governmental center of Hawai`i. On the waterfront is Aloha Tower, which for many years was the tallest building in Hawai`i. Currently the tallest building is the 438-foot-tall (134 m) First Hawaiian Center, located on King and Bishop Streets ([1]).
The Capitol District is the eastern part of Downtown Honolulu. It is the current and historic center of Hawai`i's state government, incorporating the Hawai`i State Capitol, `Iolani Palace, Honolulu Hale (City Hall), State Library, and the statue of King Kamehameha I, along with numerous government buildings.
Kaka`ako is a light-industrial district between Downtown and Waikîkî that has seen a large-scale redevelopment effort in the past decade. It is home to two major shopping areas, Ward Warehouse and Ward Centre. The John A. Burns School of Medicine, part of the University of Hawai`i at Mânoa is also located there. A Memorial to the Ehime Maru Incident victims is built at Kaka`ako Waterfront Park.

Waikîkî is the world famous tourist district of Honolulu, located between the Ala Wai Canal and the Pacific Ocean next to Diamond Head. Numerous hotels, shops, and nightlife opportunities are located along Kalâkaua and Kuhio Avenues. World-famous Waikîkî Beach attracts millions of visitors a year. Just west of Waikîkî is Ala Moana Center, the world's largest open-air shopping center. A majority of the hotel rooms on O`ahu are located in Waikîkî.

Downtown Honolulu as seen from the Capitol DistrictMânoa and Makiki are residential neighborhoods located in adjacent valleys just inland of downtown and Waikîkî. Mânoa Valley is home to the main campus of the University of Hawai`i.

Nu`uanu and Pauoa are middle-class to upper-middle-class residential districts located inland of downtown Honolulu. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is located in Punchbowl Crater fronting Pauoa Valley.

Palolo and Kaimukî are neighborhoods east of Mânoa and Makiki, inland from Diamond Head. Palolo Valley parallels Mânoa and is a residential neighborhood. Kaimukî is primarily a residential neighborhood with a commercial strip centered on Wai`alae Avenue running behind Diamond Head. This is the street I work on. Chaminade University is located in Kaimukî.
Wai`alae and Kâhala are the upper-class districts of Honolulu located directly east of Diamond Head, where there are many high-priced homes. Also found in these neighborhoods are the Wai`alae Country Club and the Kâhala Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

East Honolulu includes the residential communities of `Âina Haina, Niu Valley, and Hawai`i Kai. These are considered upper-middle-class neighborhoods.

Kalihi and Pâlama are working-class neighborhoods with a number of government housing developments. Lower Kalihi, toward the ocean, is a light-industrial district.

Salt Lake and Âliamanu are (mostly) residential areas built in extinct tuff cones along the western end of the Honolulu District, not far from the Honolulu International Airport. This is where I live.

Moanalua is two neighborhoods and a valley at the western end of Honolulu, and home to Tripler Army Medical Center.

Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 371,657 people, 140,337 households, and 87,429 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,674.4/km² (4,336.6/mi²). There were 158,663 housing units at an average density of 714.8/km² (1,851.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 19.67% White, 1.62% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 55.85%Asian,6.85% Pacific Islander, 0.89% from other races, and 14.93% from two or more races. 4.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.


Performing arts
Established in 1900, the Honolulu Symphony is the oldest US symphony orchestra west of the Rocky Mountains. Other classical music ensembles include the Hawai`i Opera Theatre. Honolulu is also a center for Hawaiian music. The main music venues include the Neal Blaisdell Center Concert Hall, the Waikîkî Shell, and the Hawai`i Theatre.

Honolulu also includes several venues for live theatre, including the Diamond Head Theatre and the Manoa Valley Theatre.

Visual arts
Located near downtown Honolulu, the premier venue for visual arts in Hawaiʻi is the Honolulu Academy of Arts. The Honolulu Academy of Arts features the largest collection of Western and Asian art in Hawaiʻi and also hosts a year-round film and video program dedicated to the presentation of arthouse and world cinema in the museum's Doris Duke Theatre. The Contemporary Museum in Makiki is the main museum of contemporary art in the state.

Sports
Currently, Honolulu has no professional sports teams. However, Honolulu hosts the NFL's annual Pro Bowl each February in addition to the NCAA football Hawaii Bowl. Fans of spectator sports in Honolulu generally support the football, volleyball, basketball, and baseball programs of the University of Hawai`i at Manoa. Highschool sporting events, especially football, are especially popular. Venues for spectator sports in Honolulu include:

Aloha Stadium (football)
Les Murakami Stadium at UH-Manoa (baseball)
Stan Sheriff Center at UH-Manoa (basketball and volleyball)
Neal Blaisdell Center Arena (basketball)
Honolulu's mild climate lends itself to year-round fitness activities as well. In 2004, Men's Fitness magazine named Honolulu the fittest city in the U.S. Honolulu is also home to two large road races:

The Great Aloha Run is held annually on Presidents' Day.
The Honolulu Marathon, held annually on the second Sunday in December, draws more than 20,000 participants each year, about half to two thirds of them from Japan.

Media

Newspapers
Honolulu is served by two daily newspapers: the Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. It is one of the few remaining cities of its size in the U.S. to have more than one daily newspaper.