Honolulu
United States · Country profile
Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii, the island city of the Pacific that holds the famous beach of Waikiki, the crater of the Diamond Head and the memorial of the Pearl Harbor, all within a few miles of the trade-wind kites and the green mountains of the interior. The city spreads along the southern shore of the island of Oahu, with the world-famous surf and the resorts of the Waikiki strip, the boutiques and the galleries of the Kapiolani, and the working heart of the downtown and the Chinatown. The coast of the island beyond, the North Shore with its huge winter waves and the windward beaches with their bays, is the rest of the picture. Warm, multicultural, surf-pounded and impossibly photogenic, Honolulu is the island city that the whole world already dreams about.
About Honolulu
Honolulu is a city in United States. The city's documented population is around 350,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the US Dollar (USD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +1. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
The Waikiki, the Diamond Head and the Surf of the Pacific
Honolulu is the beach city of the Pacific at its most developed, and its energy runs on the sun, the surf and the hospitality culture of the islands. Waikiki is the famous heart of the visitor life, and the crater, the pearl memorial and the green valleys of the interior hold the deeper history. The city is a base, a resort and a working port all at once, and the surf of the North Shore, the snorkel of the Hanauma bay and the drives of the windward coast spread the island beyond the strip. It is safe, American and endlessly photogenic, and its beaches are among the most famous in the world.
The Reservations, the Swell Seasons and the Circle of the Island
The weather is mild all year, with the dry season from April to October if the trade winds hold; the surf seasons run from the winter swells of the north to the calmer summer of the south. The pearl harbor memorial needs the advance booking for the boat to the Arizona, and the crater climb and the Hanauma bay require their own reservations and permits. The island of Oahu works on the car, the bus or the rideshare, and the famous circle-island drive is a full, sunny day. The currency is the dollar, the tipping standard applies and the aloha spirit is genuinely practised across the city. The sun and the ocean are the constants and the respect for the water is the rule.
The Buses, the Snorkel Bays and the Aloha of the Everyday
Waikiki is the visitor base and the beach of the dreams, and its surf, its canoes and its sunset ceremonies run on the very full schedule. The crater of the Diamond Head gives the classic view over the whole city and the coast, best taken in the cool of the early morning. The pearl harbor memorial, with the sunken battleship and the museums of the attack, is the great historical experience of the island. The beach park and the snorkel of the Hanauma bay and the reef of the coast are the finest water of the city, reached by the shuttle and the reservation. The drive of the circle island, past the North Shore and the windy valleys, is the full Oahu, and the poke bowls and the plate lunches of the local food give the everyday table of the city.
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- Country
- United States
- Population
- 350,000
- Coordinates
- 21.3187, -157.9225
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1
- Country code
- US
Entry requirements for United States
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting United States for tourism.
Getting to Honolulu
Airports we list for Honolulu:
Other airports in the area:
- San Francisco International AirportSFO≈ 3,857 km from Honolulu
- Los Angeles International AirportLAX≈ 4,108 km from Honolulu
- Portland International AirportPDX≈ 4,188 km from Honolulu
- San Diego International AirportSAN≈ 4,200 km from Honolulu
- Seattle–Tacoma International AirportSEA≈ 4,308 km from Honolulu
Cities in United States
Other cities we cover in United States:
Frequently asked questions
Is Honolulu the capital of United States?
No — the capital of United States is Washington, D.C..
What currency do I need in Honolulu?
The local currency is the US Dollar (USD). Languages spoken in United States include English.
What is the dialling code for United States?
The international dialling code for United States is +1.
Which airport should I fly into for Honolulu?
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is the airport we list for Honolulu.
How far is Honolulu from the nearest airport?
Honolulu is about 3,857 km from San Francisco International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit United States?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Argentina (visa required), Japan (e-visa), Morocco (visa required), Singapore (e-visa) and South Korea (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Honolulu? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.