Honolulu
Hawaii’s largest city, which happens to also be their capital, is Honolulu. The name Honolulu comes from two native words; the first word is hono which means “a bay “and lulu which means “sheltered”. The early part of Honolulu’s history was full of conflict and hard times. Honolulu’s first visit from a foreigner came from a British captain named James Cook in 1778. Soldiers of Russia built a bastion on the edge of Honolulu’s harbor when they were trying to move in on the land around 1814. In 1849 French forces invaded Honolulu and the British flag was raised. A project ran by Americans was finally finished in 1898 that had taken about 65 years. The project was about Honolulu and its annexation to the United States. In 1907 Honolulu became a city.
One of Honolulu’s landmarks is the Diamond Head. Diamond Head is a volcano with an excellent view for those travelers who take advantage of it. Spectators who rest on top of this volcano can see all of Honolulu’s landscaping and even some land that is beyond its borders. Diamond Head has become a very popular hiking activity among Hawaii visitors, the hike is less than a mile long and only takes two hours or less to finish. The walk up Diamond Head begins when the hikers cross the volcano’s floor. The steepness of the trail slowly increases along with how rocky it becomes the higher and higher individuals travel up it. Half way up the trail is where travelers can find the first lookout point that this volcano has to offer. It will take hikers anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes to reach this half way point and from here Oahu’s Windward Coast can be seen. Within the trail hikers can find a 225-foot tunnel that has been cut into the mountain, it offers hikers a nice place to rest that is protected from the sun.
Another wonderful place to visit that tourists have to see when they visit Honolulu is their Chinatown. It is a historic district that can be found in Honolulu’s downtown area. It has been a popular spot for residents and visitors to gather for many years now and was at one point in time the island’s center for Chinese cultural contact. Chinatown is mixed with Southeast Asian cultures, Laotian, Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese, Thai, Filipino, Hawaiian, plus Korean and Caucasian merchants that work together in peace. Travelers who are interested in exploring Honolulu’s culture must visit Chinatown, as it is an important part of it.