Backed by the volcanic crater of Diamond Head, Downtown Honolulu overlooks a bustling harbour on the south coast of Oahu. It’s home to soaring modern skyscrapers, cultural museums and a 19th-century palace once home to Hawaiian Kingdom rulers, including Kamehameha III and Queen Lili’uokalani.
Things to do in Downtown
In the heart of Downtown Honolulu is Iolani Palace, which was constructed in the 19th century as a residence for the royal rulers of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is open to the public as a museum, with antique furnishings and portraits of royal family members on display. Don’t miss the beautiful koa staircase and the elaborately decorated Throne Room.
Nearby is the Hawaii State Art Museum, which occupies a Spanish Mission-style building opposite the Hawaii State Capitol building. It showcases an outstanding collection of works by artists who were born or lived in the archipelago, including sculptor Satoru Abe, painter Isami Doi and printmaker Huc-Mazelet Luquiens. Across the street is the Cathedral of St. Andrew with its impressive stained-glass windows.
Dominating the harbour is the Aloha Tower, a 10-storey lighthouse that has watched over Honolulu since 1926. Designed in a Hawaiian Gothic architectural style, it once greeted immigrants arriving by ship and has become a symbol of the city. Docked nearby is the “Falls of Clyde”, a four-masted vessel that launched in 1878 and the last remaining sail-driven oil tanker in the world.
Getting around Downtown
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is around 10 minutes’ drive from Downtown Honolulu and has flights to destinations across the globe. Buses connect from Downtown Honolulu to towns and villages around Oahu. Most of the area’s attractions can easily be accessed on foot.