Capital of Hawaii: Honolulu

Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii. It is located on the south shore of Oahu, the third-largest and most populated Hawaiian island. Honolulu has served as the seat of government since 1845, first for the Hawaiian Kingdom, then for the Republic of Hawaii, the Territory of Hawaii, and now the 50th US state.

Honolulu at a Glance

Honolulu is the only major US city in the tropics. It is also the most remote major city in the world — 2,390 miles from the US mainland. The name means "sheltered harbor" or "calm port" in Hawaiian, from hono (bay, harbor) and lulu (calm, sheltered).

The Hawaii State Capitol

The Hawaii State Capitol on Beretania Street is one of the most architecturally unusual capitol buildings in the country. Completed in 1969, it was designed to reflect Hawaii's natural environment:

• The building's shape mimics a volcano, with the open-air central courtyard representing the crater
• Two cone-shaped legislative chambers rise from the structure like volcanic cinder cones
• Reflecting pools surround the building on all sides, representing the Pacific Ocean
• The columns flare outward at the top like coconut palms
• The building has no right angles in its exterior design

The capitol is open to visitors during business hours on weekdays. Self-guided tours are free. A statue of Father Damien (Saint Damien of Molokai) stands at the front entrance, and a statue of Queen Liliuokalani — Hawaii's last reigning monarch — stands between the capitol and Iolani Palace.

Iolani Palace

Adjacent to the state capitol sits Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on American soil. Built in 1882 by King David Kalakaua, the palace served as the official residence of the Hawaiian monarchy until the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893.

The palace had electricity before the White House did. It had indoor plumbing, a telephone system, and electric lights installed in 1887 — four years before the White House was fully wired. Guided and self-guided tours run Tuesday through Saturday. Adult admission is $22-27 depending on tour type.

Before Honolulu: Lahaina Was the Capital

Honolulu was not always Hawaii's capital. Lahaina on Maui served as the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom from 1820 to 1845. During that period, Lahaina was the center of the Pacific whaling industry and a busy port town.

King Kamehameha III moved the capital to Honolulu in 1845. The reasons were practical: Honolulu had a deeper, better-protected harbor and had become the commercial center of the islands as foreign trade grew. The move consolidated government and commerce in one location.

Honolulu for Visitors

Most visitors to Hawaii fly into Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). The city is the gateway to Oahu's major attractions:

• Waikiki Beach — Hawaii's most famous beach, with 2 miles of sand, surf breaks, and hotels lining the shore
• Diamond Head — the iconic volcanic crater with a 1.6-mile summit trail and panoramic views of Honolulu
• Pearl Harbor — the USS Arizona Memorial and WWII historic sites, 8 miles west of downtown
• Chinatown — one of the oldest Chinatowns in the US, now a mix of markets, galleries, and restaurants
• Bishop Museum — the largest museum in Hawaii, with extensive collections of Hawaiian and Pacific Island artifacts

Honolulu's year-round temperature averages 80-85 degrees. The best time to visit depends on what you want to do, but the city is a comfortable destination any month of the year.

For a complete guide to Oahu activities, see our Oahu Things to Do page.