Honolulu
Clicking on the map symbols in the text will show
you that location on a detailed map of the Honolulu area of Oahu.
Two separate destinations really, but it's only a quarter mile walk
between them, and they are thematically joined. The Maritime Museum
has an informative and attractive presentation on the history of
Hawaii, focused on the area's maritime accomplishments
 .
The Aloha Tower
, built in the 1920s to welcome
the tourists steaming into Honolulu Harbor, is one of the most recognizable
sights in Honolulu. Its observation deck has re-opened (it was
closed for a long time post 9/11) and is a great place
for snapshots of the harbor and the skyline of Honolulu. . Most of the downtown
is behind a curtain of much taller buildings, though for years, at ten stories,
the Aloha Tower was the tallest construction in town.
Open Daily from 8:30am to 5:30 pm - closed Christmas. The Aloha Tower is
located at Pier 7 in the Honolulu Harbor next to the Aloha Tower Marketplace off
of Nimitz Highway
The Aloha Tower Marketplace
, is a shopping center that features good shopping, fun restaurants, micro breweries, and entertainment - not to mention a great
view of the harbor.
http://www.alohatower.com/
Hawaii
Superferry
The Hawaii Superferry (
www.hawaiisuperferry.com/ ), a car ferry
connecting to Maui, berths at Pier 19 across
from the Aloha Tower. The Superferry is called the Alakai, which is Hawaiian for "Ocean
Path".
For rates and schedule see
www.hawaiisuperferry.com/ .
The Superferry's
original route plan was planned to connect to the Kahului Ferry Terminal in Maui and the Nawiliwili Ferry
Terminal in Kauai. Legal issues have postponed the service to Kauai.
The Alakai restarted its run to Maui in early April 2008.
The Hawaii Superferry provides service between Honolulu, Oahu and
Kahului, Maui
(Photo: courtesy of Hawaii Superferry)
Bishop Museum 
The Bishop museum was founded in the late 19th century by
the Bishop family whose members included Princess Pauahi Bishop , the last
descendant of the Hawaii's royal family, the Kamehamehas. The Bishop Museum
is Hawaii's premier museum for the cultural and natural history of Hawaii.
http://www.bishopmuseum.org/index.html
Open Daily from 8:30am to 5:30 pm - closed Christmas
1525 Bernice St. Honolulu
'Iolani Palace State Monument
During the late 19th century, the 'Iolani Palace, now on
the Register of National Historic Landmarks, was the home of the Hawaiian
Monarchy. Officially dedicated in 1882, 'Iolani Palace was the residence of the
Hawaiian Kingdom's last two monarchs. The Palace is probably the only one in the
country, though we could quibble on definitions. It reflects Hawaii's leaders'
awareness of the grandeur of 19th century European capitals. The grounds include
the Coronation Stand and a guard house/ barracks building that was moved to the
site when the new State Capital Building
was constructed next door.
Thoroughly restored over
the last 40 years, the 'Iolani Palace is worth a tour. Its
history is both interesting and informative.
http://www.iolanipalace.org/
The 'Iolani Palace is located at the corner of South King Street and Richards Street
in downtown Honolulu. Guided tours of the palace interior are by advance reservations (fee
charged)--call the Friends of 'Iolani Palace at (808) 522-0832; tour hours are 9
a.m. to 2:15 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.
Downtown Honolulu
The city center of Honolulu is very walkable. Downtown has sprouted its skyscrapers
in recent years, but
there are about a dozen buildings that are charmingly human-scaled,
dating mostly from "territorial days", but some a bit earlier. We provide
details on just of few and recommend a tour of downtown Honolulu to fill out
your mental map of Oahu.
Historic
Buildings
The Alexander and Baldwin
Building at 822 Bishop Street
and the
Dillingham Transportation Building at 735 Bishop Street
,
are two of the headquarters of Hawaii's "big five" and date back to the late
1920's. The buildings reflect an architectural style that merged Asian and Mediterranean
influences and were designed by the architects C.W.Dickey and Hart Wood. The oxidized, copper covered, hipped roof, with breeze ways and
considerable decoration are worth a look.
The Big 5 were five major companies
that were involved in ending the Republic of Hawaii and making the
Islands a territory of the United States. The companies
included: Alexander and Baldwin, Theo H. Davis, Castle & Cooke,
C. Brewer, and American Factors ( also known as Amfac and originally as Hackfeld and Company). For a number of years, these
companies "managed Hawaii's growth.
The intersection of Nuuanu Avenue and Merchant Street is the "Irish corner"
of Honolulu
. It is marked by two "Irish" pubs, both in historically
significant buildings. Murphy's Bar & Grill (2 Merchant Street - at
Nuuanu) occupies the site of the former Royal Saloon that was constructed in
the 19th century. Across the way at 902 Nuuanu Street, in the old
Foster building, is O'Toole's Irish Pub. Both are good places
to stop for a brew and both serve food and both buildings are worth a quick
look if you are in the area.
Chinatown
Bounded by River Street and Bethel on the north and south, by Nimitz Highway on the west and
N. Beretania Street on the East, Chinatown has many interesting sights
(especially in the area near Nuuanu
Avenue and N. Hotel Street).
The area between downtown and Nuuanu Stream (running into the Harbor from the Nuuanu
Valley), is undergoing a bit of a renaissance. The mostly two story brick, stone, and
concrete buildings were built in the decade after the fire of 1900,
which effectively removed the preexisting wooden tenements.
The buildings tend to have shops on the first floor and, with new
zoning, the second floors are being transformed back into apartments.
The arts scene is moving in with many galleries that have attracted new
restaurants.
Chinatown's vendors are more likely to be Vietnamese these
days, but the street scene is a hoot. On weekend mornings the shopping
and dim sum-chasing crowds pack the sidewalks.
Studio 6.
If you like Jazz, Studio 6 is the place
to go (949 Kapiolani Boulevard - enter from behind on Waimanu Street) . See this site for more details on the
artists playing
http://www.livemusicbiz.com/now.htm
Pianist Rich Crandall has hosted a Tuesday night jazz session at the
Musician's Association (union) for the past ten years. Local and
international players are highlighted. The venue is a studio
at the union hall. The gig outgrew Studio 6 and moved across the
hall to a larger room, but kept the name. The crowd is low key,
attentive, and friendly.
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