Honolulu
Around Honolulu
Photo: ArdentArbitration · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Hawaii · 998k people
Honolulu
Locals say Oahu · “The Gathering Place”, “The City of Rainbows”
The Pacific's warmest welcome
Pacific TurquoiseHibiscus GoldIsland Green
Welcome to Honolulu, where the ocean is your backyard and the aloha spirit is real. Whether you're here for the waves, the food, or the hikes, you'll find your rhythm fast.
Clubs for Honolulu
No clubs for Honolulu yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Honolulu. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Honolulu. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Bishop Museum Premier museum of Pacific culture and history.
- Aloha Tower Historic lighthouse at Honolulu Harbor.
- Diamond Head State Monument Iconic volcanic crater with a hike to the top.
- Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Snorkeling paradise in a marine embayment.
- Iolani Palace Only royal palace in the United States.
- Pearl Harbor National Memorial Site of the 1941 attack, includes USS Arizona Memorial.
- Outdoors Hike Diamond Head
- Outdoors Snorkel at Hanauma Bay
- With kids Visit Honolulu Zoo
- With kids Explore Bishop Museum
- Evenings Catch a concert at the Blaisdell Center
- Evenings Bar hop in Chinatown
- Locals love neighborhood plate lunch counters
- Locals love reef snorkeling spots
Through the year
- Honolulu Marathon December Huge marathon with ocean views.
- Great Aloha Run February 8.15-mile run across Honolulu.
- Hawaii Food & Wine Festival September Chef showcases and tastings.
- Waikiki Spam Jam May Street festival celebrating Spam.
- Hawaii International Film Festival October Films from the Pacific and beyond.
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round. Best time to be out is any time, but mornings are often calm and clear. Summer is drier and sunnier, winter brings more rain and bigger surf. Best: Any time, but mornings are often calm and clear.
Talk like a local
- “Howzit”
- Hello, how are you?
- “Da kine”
- Thing, stuff, or whatchamacallit.
- “Pau hana”
- After work or happy hour.
- “Grind”
- To eat or food.
Getaways
- Maui Valley Isle with Haleakala and Road to Hana.
- Kauai Garden Isle with Na Pali Coast.
- Big Island Volcanoes National Park and black sand beaches.
- Lanai Quiet island with luxury resorts.
Local flavour
Teams
- University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors NCAA Division I
- University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine NCAA Division I
Also rooting for Los Angeles Lakers, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Dodgers
Eat and drink
- poke cubed raw fish, typically ahi, seasoned with soy sauce, sesame, and onions
- spam musubi grilled Spam on rice wrapped in nori
- plate lunch two scoops rice, macaroni salad, and a protein like teriyaki chicken or kalua pork
- loco moco rice topped with hamburger patty, fried egg, and brown gravy
- shave ice finely shaved ice with flavored syrups and often ice cream or azuki beans
- malasadas Portuguese-style fried dough coated in sugar
Where people go
- beaches sandy shores like Waikiki and Kailua
- surf breaks famous waves like Pipeline and Waimea Bay
- hiking trails volcanic craters and ridgelines like Diamond Head and Koko Head
- plate lunch counters local eateries serving hearty meals
- shave ice stands colorful roadside stands offering cool treats
- farmers markets fresh produce and local goods
Heritage and traditions
Honolulu is proud of its unique blend of Native Hawaiian culture, diverse immigrant traditions, and the spirit of aloha, all set against the stunning backdrop of Waikiki and the Ko'olau mountains.
Say it like a local: “Da kine” — Thingamajig / whatchamacallit
Festivals
- Lei Day May Celebrated on May 1 with lei-making contests, hula, and music throughout Honolulu.
- Prince Kuhio Day March 26 Honors Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole with ceremonies and cultural events.
- King Kamehameha Day June 11 Features floral draping of the Kamehameha statue and a parade in downtown Honolulu.
- Aloha Festivals September A month-long celebration of Hawaiian music, dance, and history with concerts and street parties.
- Honolulu Festival March Showcases Pacific Rim cultures with a parade, performances, and fireworks.
- Pan-Pacific Festival June Celebrates Japanese and Pacific cultures with a parade and taiko drumming.
Landmarks with a story
- Kawaiahao Church Built in 1842 with coral blocks, known as the 'Westminster Abbey of Hawaii.'
- Mission Houses Museum The oldest American houses in Hawaii, dating to the 1820s missionary era.
- St. Andrew's Cathedral An Anglican cathedral from the 19th century with a distinctive spire.
- Honolulu Hale City Hall built in 1929, a Spanish Colonial Revival landmark open to the public.
- Washington Place The former home of Queen Liliʻuokalani, now the governor's mansion.
- Queen Emma Summer Palace A summer retreat of Queen Emma, now a museum with royal artifacts.
Food traditions
- Saimin A local noodle soup with dashi broth, green onions, and char siu, reflecting Japanese, Chinese, and Hawaiian influences.
- Manapua Steamed or baked buns filled with char siu, a Chinese-Portuguese-Hawaiian favorite often sold from trucks.
- Crack seed Dried, salted, or sweetened fruit snacks, a local obsession with dozens of varieties.
- Li hing mui A sweet-sour-salty preserved plum powder used on fruit, shave ice, and even popcorn.
- Pupu The tradition of sharing finger foods at gatherings, from teriyaki meatballs to spring rolls.
Music and arts
- Hula Traditional Hawaiian dance, both ancient (kahiko) and modern (auana), taught in many halau.
- Slack-key guitar A fingerstyle guitar tradition unique to Hawaii, with open tunings and a melodic style.
- Ukulele A small guitar-like instrument brought by Portuguese immigrants, now iconic in Hawaiian music.
- Oli (chant) Traditional Hawaiian chanting used in ceremonies, storytelling, and to honor ancestors.
A little history
- 1795 Kamehameha I conquered Oahu, unifying the islands
- 1845 Honolulu became the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii
- 1893 Overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, leading to annexation
- 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor, a turning point in WWII
- 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state
Rivalries
- UH Rainbow Warriors vs Fresno State Bulldogs Mountain West football showdown.
- Punahou vs Kamehameha in high school football Intense local prep rivalry.
- Town vs Country Friendly cultural divide between Honolulu and the rest of Oahu.
- Waikiki surfers vs North Shore surfers Different waves and styles, friendly banter.
- Game day Outrigger canoe paddling
- Game day Surfing contests at Waikiki
- Outdoors Hike Koko Head
- Outdoors Hike Manoa Falls
- With kids Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
- With kids Honolulu Museum of Art
Locals speak Hawaiian Pidgin (Hawaiʻi Creole English), a lively mix of Hawaiian, English, and immigrant languages. It’s common to hear 'howzit?' for greetings, 'da kine' for any object, and 'pau' for finished. The accent is often singsong, with a relaxed, island pace.
Only here
- The only royal palace in the US — Iolani Palace — is in Honolulu.
- The shaka sign, a hand gesture of aloha, originated in Hawaii.
- Lei giving is a custom unique to Hawaii, used for greetings and celebrations.
- Honolulu is the most isolated city of its size in the world.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to use 'shaka' and 'aloha' — it's a friendly greeting and a way of life.
- Be mindful of the ocean: always check conditions and respect the waves.
- Try local foods like poke, plate lunch, and saimin — start with a plate lunch.
- Use public transit or carpool — traffic can be heavy during rush hours.
- Embrace 'island time' — things move a bit slower here, so relax.
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Nearby
Every areaUrban Honolulu, HI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.