Honolulu is a city that not only offers a plethora of entertainment, but an abundance of history as well. We will be touching base on both of these informative subjects.
My name is Anthony. I will be your guide for this exciting adventure. You will also want to stay tuned for the video afterwards.
Our week long stay on Oahu allowed us to explore both the North and South shores, Pearl Harbor Memorial Park, and the USS Arizona Memorial. The day before we departed this beautiful island, we took a sunny afternoon tour around Honolulu. And what would a visit to Honolulu be without experiencing the world famous Waikiki beach. There was so much to see and do, and not enough time to do it!
Everywhere we looked, be it a city or beachside community, there were plenty of surf shops. The city of Honolulu was no exception. Hawaii is known for it’s beautiful beaches and surfing opportunities. Who knows, if I had a little more time, I might of brought back my old SoCal days and rented a board. The waves were quite tempting! Maybe our next trip.
From the top of our double-decker tour bus, we had great views of downtown Honolulu with it’s treelined streets and residential high-rises. I bet the views from up there are absolutely fabulous. We couldn’t have asked for a better day to be outside. The sky was blue, the sun was shinning bright, and the temps were in the mid 80s.
Several of the downtown office buildings, shopping centers, and malls are constructed with lots of glass windows. This lets in the sunshine and brightens up everyone’s day.
There are a few inner city waterways. These liquid highways serve several purposes. One is to help control flooding. The abundance of rain water coming from the Koolau Mountains rushes down through these channels and flows out to the ocean. These waterways also allow boats a way to navigate the inner city. They can carry supplies for businesses to and from the harbor. The captains of these boats can also offer tours to the vacationers who visit Honolulu on a daily basis.
One of Honolulu’s most famous attractions is Waikiki Beach. It is known for it’s beautiful sand, swaying palms, and blue water. Waikiki has also been a popular destination for celebrities like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Joe DiMaggio and Emelia Earhart to mention only a few.
Waikiki is not only known for its beautiful shoreline, but for a world famous landmark that looms in the background. Diamond Head’s summit is a popular attraction for visitors who like to hike. The mountain appears in numerous travel magazines and various movies.
As I walked the palm tree lined sidewalk that followed along the beach, we came upon a local artist. This particular artist was into wood carving. His tools were simple by trade but at the same time, they allowed him to create amazing sculptures.
There were several booths with local art that included jewelry and various handmade art. There were also surf shops displaying custom surfboards.
Hawaii is the only state in America that has a Royal Palace. The Lolani Palace was built in 1879. The Palace was restored and became a National Historic Landmark in the early 1960s. In 1978 after structural renovations, the palace was opened to the public.
The King Kamehameha Statue was erected in front of the Royal Palace in 1883. King Kamehameha was credited for uniting the Hawaiian islands in 1820. There is quite a bit of history regarding this monument. The original statue was designed by Thomas Ridgeway Gould.
After being casted in Bronze and on it’s way back from Paris, the boat sank during a storm in 1880 with the statue aboard. Even though the original statue was recovered, a second statue was made. The second statue was placed in front of the palace in 1883. It stands proudly on a two toned pedestal. King Kamehameha is also on the Official State Seal.
If you want to see all the Hawaiian Islands but don’t have the time or extra money, why not consider a cruise? Various cruise lines such as Princess, Norwegian, and Celebrity offer island cruises.
The cost of a cruise leaving Honolulu ranges from 900 to 1,400 dollars per person. The price depends on type of room, time of year, and the optional packages.
The island of Oahu has so much to see and do. In most cases, a week isn’t enough time to see and experience everything this tropical paradise has to offer. From the glistening blue Pacific Ocean to the lush and sky reaching mountains, there is something for everyone! Take a few minutes to watch our short video. We think you will truly enjoy it!
Photography: Anthony & Maureen Scopel
Video: Anthony & Maureen Scopel
Article Creator & Formatting: Anthony Scopel
Video Production: Anthony Scopel & Matt Kemper
Associate Editor: Maureen Scopel
Technical Mastering & Web Support: Matt Kemper
Publishing Provided By: You, Me and The Dock
