With is white sandy beaches, glittering blue waters, swaying palm trees and balmy tropical weather, Honolulu is like a paradise! It’s a popular destination all year round and has hundreds of hotels. Here we look at the most popular districts, which offer hotel accommodation.
Downtown Honolulu
Downtown Honolulu is the historical and cultural heart of the city. Although it is not the most popular with hotels (most are located in Waikiki) there are still some hotels for you to book here. Downtown Honolulu is where you’ll find most of the city’s major attractions. Sights to see here include; Bishop Street (equivalent of Wall Street in the Financial district), the Aloha Tower, the Hawaii State Art Museum, the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, Kawaiahao Church and the Mission House Museum. The Capital Grounds are also located here and are home to the Hawaii State Capital Building, the Iolani Palace, Iolani Barracks, Washington Place – the Governor’s Mansion and Honolulu’s City Hall.
Visitors can also enjoy strolls around Ala Mona Park – a pleasant grassy park with trees and a beautiful sandy beach perfect for families. The Waterfront Park at Kaaako has a lovely Oceanside walk and is a popular spot for surfing.
Downtown Honolulu is a remarkable place to wander around for a few hours. You’ll stumble across art galleries, antique shops, farmers markets, gift stores, cafes and bars. The Ala Mona Centre is located here and is said to be the largest open-air shopping mall in the world!
Waikiki
Waikiki is the tourist hub of the city and the place where most of Honolulu’s hotels are located. It’s got miles and miles of white sandy beaches which are popular with surfers, swimmers and sunbathers. The beaches are lined with high-rise hotel blocks with fantastic waterfront locations. This is the most popular place to stay in Honolulu.
The Waikiki district boasts one of the most famous beaches in the world – Waikiki Beach. When people think of Hawaii – Waikiki Beach springs to mind so be sure to see it for yourself. Waikiki Beach is in fact a series of beaches some of which are more crowded than others especially the Royal Manoa Beach and Fort DeRussy Beach.
In Waikki the emphasis is on fun and relaxation. Try some snorkelling, surfing, sailing or simply kick back and watch one of the free outdoor movies on the beach.
Waikiki is the most popular district for Honolulu hotels so you’ll have plenty choice whether you’re looking for a budget, mid-range or luxury hotel – Waikiki has them all!
Manoa-Makiki
If you’re looking for a quieter corner of the city to base yourself in then Manoa-Makiki may be for you. These are two beautiful neighbourhoods just north of Downtown Honolulu at the foot of the Koolau Mountains. It’s a great base if you want a more relaxing setting for your holiday. Downtown is just a few minutes drive and Waikiki is a 15 minute drive.
Attractions in this district include; the Contemporary Museum, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, the Lyon Arboretum, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and the University of Hawaii.
Eastern Honolulu
This is mainly a residential district and it stretches from Waikiki to Makapu’u Point. It boasts secluded beaches, rocky shorelines and Hanauma Bay – a haven for snorkellers!
Western Honolulu
Western Honolulu is a popular place to stay as it is home to Pearl Harbour and Honolulu International Airport. Pearl Harbour still operates as a navy base and has a wealth of memorials and attractions dedicated to the World Was II events, the most popular being the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum, the Battleship Missouri Memorial and the Pacific Aviation Museum.
Honolulu International Airport is the main point of entry to the Hawaiian Islands. If you don’t stay close to the airport you can take the Waikiki Express to the Waikiki District every half and hour.
