By Air

Located on the western end of the CDP, Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is the principal aviation gateway to the state of Hawaii. Kalaeloa Airport is primarily a commuter facility used by unscheduled air taxis, general aviation and transient and locally-based military aircraft.

By Rail

Currently, there is no urban rail transit system in Honolulu, although electric street railways were used in Honolulu prior to World War II. The government of the City and County of Honolulu is currently planning a 20-mile (32 km) transit line that will connect Honolulu with outlying suburban areas to the west of the city on the southern part of Oʻahu. The Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project is aimed at alleviating traffic congestion for Leeward Oʻahu commuters, but has been criticized for its cost and environmental impacts (including the likelihood of disturbing Native Hawaiian burials and the visual impact of the fully-elevated line.)

By Bus

Established by former Mayor Frank F. Fasi, Honolulu's TheBus system has been twice honored by the American Public Transportation Association bestowing the title of "America's Best Transit System" for 1994–1995 and 2000–2001. TheBus operates 107 routes serving Honolulu and outlying areas on Oahu with a fleet of 531 buses, and is run by the non-profit corporation Oahu Transit Services in conjunction with the city Department of Transportation Services. Honolulu is ranked 4th for highest per-capita use of mass transit in the United States.

Bishop Museum and Planetarium, Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona Memorial, Nuuanu Pali Lookout, Foster Botanical Garden

Bishop Museum and Planetarium

Bishop Museum, Hawaii's state museum, contains one of the best collection of Polynesian arts and artifacts in the state, including an important collection of the feathered royal standards (kahilis) which essentially served as flags for past royalty. Hawaiian feathered capes and helmets are other highlights. There is a large collection of artifacts from the South Pacific.

Other major collections include the objects brought by the Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Portuguese, German and other early settlers.Natural history exhibits, including whaling artifacts complete the museum.

One interesting aspect of the museum is the building itself. Founded in 1889 the staircases and display cases are of rich woods
The main display wing boasts original display cases lining the balconies which wrap around multistoried atrium. There is great charm in this antique of a museum.

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor is one of the best harbors in the Pacific and is the center of operation of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet. Since the area is flat, those traveling the freeway which skirts the base often see the ships towering over the forests of palms and other tropical plants. Perhaps the best way of gaining a perspective on Pearl Harbor is by sitting at a window on the right side of an airliner approaching Honolulu International.

Attractions open to the public in the harbor include the Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri and the Submarine Bowfin.

USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona Memorial is Hawaii's most-visited attraction, with more than 11/2 million visitors a year. In memory of the dead who drowned aboard the sinking USS "Arizona", a memorial was opened in 1962 which accommodates up to 3000 visitors daily thanks to the Visitor Center, completed in 1980.

The memorial was erected above the sunken battleship, parts of which still project above the water. The gleaming-white floating building, about 197ft/60m long, contains a large semi open-air room in which visitors gather. At the end of the memorial there is a shrine on which the names of the 1177 victims, including the commander and his deputy, are engraved on a wall of Vermont marble.

Nuuanu Pali Lookout

Nuuanu Pali today offers spectacular views of the island plus of itself where 2,000 to 3,000 foot cliffs flank this gap at the top of the island. Historically, the site is that of the final decisive battle where Kamehameha defeated the warriors of the kingdom of Oahu to unite the Hawaiian Islands and become the first King of all the Islands. He did so because he was the first to use cannon. His troops drove the Oahu tribes up the Pali valley so they fought with their backs to the 1,500 foot Nuuanu Pali. Most of the defenders fell to their deaths.

Foster Botanical Garden

Foster Botanical Garden was established in 1853 and bequeathed to the City of Honolulu as a public garden in 1930. Of particular interest is the Prehistoric Glen with its ferns and cycads. The collection of tropical plants and orchids have been added to the garden over the past 15- years from around the world.

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August - September -> 34(°C) - Summer
December - January -> 27(°C) - Spring

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