Honolulu/Downtown
From World travel guide
Downtown Honolulu is the commercial, governmental, and cultural center of the Hawaiian Islands. However, unlike many cities on the U.S. Mainland, most hotels are not located downtown (there is only one in the entire area). Nevertheless, Downtown Honolulu has many attractions for the tourist to see.
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Get in
Get around
Downtown Honolulu is about one mile across; all the major attractions are within walking distance of each other.
See
Bishop Street is Honolulu's equivalent of Wall Street. It is home to most of Honolulu's skyscrapers, including the First Hawaiian Center, the tallest building in the Hawaiian Islands (450 feet tall).
Some buildings to look out for are:
- Hawaii State Public Library at the corner of South King and Punchbowl Streets.
- Hawaii State Capitol Building. South Beretania Street between Punchbowl and Richard Streets. Open every day. Completed in 1969, the State Capitol has a modern, open-air design, with pillars reminiscent of palm tree trunks, and two conical structures symbolizing volcanoes containing the House and Senate chambers, all surrounded by a moat of water representing the ocean. Free admission. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov
- The gracefully aging modern fenestration of the Water Company on Beretania
- Iolani Palace
- The old jail between Beretania, King, Richards, and Punchbowl.
The area around Nuuanu and Pauahi is filled with art galleries and antique shops. Indigo restaurant is also here, credited with starting the gentrification process. The First Friday of every month is a downtown festival into the evening and all the galleries are open late.
Do
There are signs of gentrification in Hotel St., west of Nuuanu Ave., with numerous art galleries popping up, with many adult businesses closing in what was the traditional red light district.
Buy
Aloha Tower Marketplace is where cruise liners are received. There is also a mall.
Eat
In Hotel St., west of Nuuanu Ave. Vietnamese retaurants and coffee houses are opening up. It is rumoured that the coffee houses are fronts for gambling operations.
Drink
- Smith's Union Bar, and old stalwart, reopened after closure due to fire or flood awhile ago.
Sleep
- ResortQuest Executive Centre Hotel, 1088 Bishop St., Honolulu, HI 96813, 1-877-997-6667 or (808) 539-3000. [1] Located on the top 10 floors of the 40-story Executive Centre skyscraper in downtown Honolulu. 116 suites. $150-300.
Contact
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