Information About Living in Honolulu

In the Hawaiian language, Honolulu means "sheltered bay" or "place of shelter." Lying on the southern shores of Oahu and recognized by the distinctive shape of Diamond Head, Honolulu is home to 372,000 residents. As the state capitol, Honolulu is the center of commercial and social activities in the state. Most of the city’s industrial areas are located on the flat coastal plain while residential neighborhoods are placed on the numerous ridges and valleys of the Koolau Mountain Range. Although some communities lie in the flats of the valleys and some along the ridges, each community has its own distinct flair. Residents of Honolulu real estate homes or condominiums for sale are attracted to the city’s convenient location, fusion of cultures, and variety of activities and things to do.

Honolulu’s diversity of neighborhoods includes Downtown, home of Aloha Tower and the First Hawaiian Center, The Arts District, Capitol District, location of Iolani Palace and Honolulu Hale, Kakaako, an up-and-coming industrial district including Ward Shopping Centre, Waikiki, world-famous tourism central, Manoa, home to the University of Hawaii, Makiki, Nuuanu, Punchbowl, Palolo, Kaimuki, home of a recent revival of Waialae Avenue shops and boutiques, Aina Haina, Hawaii Kai, location of upscale gated communities, Kalihi, and Palama. The Honolulu International Airport is the state’s main gateway and offers non-stop flights between the islands, to the U.S. Mainland, and internationally to Canada, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Fiji, Australia, Korea, New Zealand, and China.

Some Honolulu area attractions include the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Hawaii State Art Museum, Contemporary Museum, Foster Botanical Garden, Liliuokalani Botanical Garden, Waikiki Aquarium, USS Arizona Memorial, Hanauma Bay, Iolani Palace, Honolulu Zoo, and Bishop Museum. Annual events like the Great Aloha Run, Honolulu Marathon, and Honolulu Triathalon attract visitors and residents from across the globe. Entertainment for residents can be found with the Honolulu Symphony, Hawaii Operate Theatre, Hawaii Theater, Neil Blaisdell Center, Waikiki Shell, and several live theater companies and movie theaters. The extensive interstate and highway system provides Honolulu’s drivers with convenient roadways while TheBus, named America’s best transit system in 1997 and 2001, provides extensive service throughout Honolulu and Oahu.