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User:AlasdairW/One day in Hong Kong

This one day itinerary of Hong Kong will give you an insight of everything from laidback, rural life in the outlying islands to the bustling metropolis.

Prepare
The total costs for the day are around HK$250, not including breakfast, lunch and dinner (slightly more on holidays and weekends). If you take the taxi to go to Central (see below), you should add no more than $25.

Morning
Get off to an early start with the 8:30am ferry from Central to Mui Wo on Lantau Island (New World First Ferry; $14.50 (ordinary single); 50 min journey; departures from Pier Number 6, ). Try a local style breakfast at a tsa tsan teng (茶餐廳; literally 'tea restaurant') in Mui Wo, a typical seaside town that has a small expat population, like most outlying island settlements. The breakfast menu is a melange of Western and Chinese culinary influences. You can get a filling cooked breakfast including tea or coffee for under $30 per person. For the drink, try a 'yeen yeung' (half tea and half coffee) - be aware that Hong Kongers have their tea and coffee very strong (and sweet)! Breakfast ranges from macaroni in a chicken soup broth with strips of ham (火腿通粉) to instant noodles with spicy satay beef (沙爹牛肉公仔麵). Be adventurous!

Catch the 10:30am bus number 2 from Mui Wo to Ngong Ping (New Lantao Bus; $27 (ordinary single); 40 min journey; departures from the main bus terminus; accepts Octopus, no change give on cash sales ). In Ngong Ping, visit the giant Tian Tan Buddha statue at Po Lin monastery (open daily 10am-5:45pm; free admission). Five minutes away is the Ngong Ping village, a themed reconstruction of traditional Chinese architecture where you can find some shops and cafes.

For the slightly adventurous, you could make a short trip to Lantau peak, the highest point on Lantau island. The trail to the peak starts from behind the monastery (follow directions to the Wisdom Path, till you find signs for Lantau trail). It takes about an hour to make it to the peak and the views along the way are well worth it. Make sure you carry enough water and a jacket (it can get windy).

Take the Ngong Ping 360 cable car from Ngong Ping to Tung Chung ($94 (ordinary single); ), followed by the MTR from Tung Chung to Jordan (Kowloon) via Lai King ($16 (ordinary single); 40 min journey; ). Leave Jordan MTR station from exit D.

Afternoon
There is a wide selection of restaurants around Jordan MTR station. For lunch, try some Cantonese 'dim sum' or Shanghainese food. Many restaurants offer discounts for customers who enter and order after 2:30pm (which is considered to be the start of the 'afternoon tea' (下午茶) session rather than the lunch session).

Spend the afternoon visiting the Hong Kong Museum of History ($10 (standard); $5 (students, children, elderly); free on Wednesdays; open 10am-6pm Mon-Sat and 10am-7pm Sun but closed on Tuesdays; ) which is a 10 minute walk from Jordan MTR station down Austin Road. This museum will interest everyone, even if you are not the museum-type! Don't be put off by the start of the exhibition which is about prehistoric rock formations - the exhibitions which follow get better and better. Give yourself around 2-3 hours to enjoy the 'Hong Kong Story' exhibition. As an alternative, right next to the Star Ferry pier you can visit Hong Kong Museum of Art ($20 standard; $10 students, children, elderly; half-price on Wednesday; open 10am-8pm Mon-Sun; closed on Thursdays).

20 minutes' walk away from the Museum of History is the Star Ferry pier in Tsim Sha Tsui (alternatively it is 5 minutes away by taxi and shouldn't cost more than $25 for the ride for up to 4 people). Take the ferry across Victoria Harbour to Central on the upper deck ($2.50 (ordinary single); ). This short journey will give you amazing views of the CBD of Hong Kong.

Back in Central, take bus 15C (New World First Bus; $4.20 (standard); 10 min journey; departures from just outside the Star Ferry pier; ) to the Peak Tram station. The Peak Tram ($63 (ordinary one-way single SkyPass ticket, including entry to Sky Terrace 428); ) is one of the steepest funiculars in the world and will take you through some of the most expensive residential areas of Hong Kong (and indeed the world!) to the Peak.

Once on the Peak, go to the top of the Peak Tower (Sky Tower 428; entry included in the single journey SkyPass) and watch the sun set over Hong Kong.

Evening
Take minibus number 1 from the Peak back down to Central ($8 (ordinary single); departures every 10-15 minutes). Taking the minibus is a must if you want to have a taste of the most popular form of public transport for the locals! Get off at the stop on Peddar Street next to the Central MTR station entrance.

Take the MTR to Mong Kok ($11 (ordinary single); 10 min journey; ), the part of Hong Kong where the city never rests. Here you can find plenty of cheap local eateries for supper. The streets in Mong Kok in the evenings are very crowded - no visit to Hong Kong can be complete without a personal experience of being in the midst of crowds of people on narrow streets! There are many shops selling trainers, clothing and computer products at cheap prices - you can find them if you take Exit E from the MTR station.

If you still have energy left, visit the area around Temple Street in Yau Ma Tei where there are many hawker stalls to be found in the evening. This is a 15 minute walk from Mong Kok, or one stop down the Tsuen Wan Line on the MTR from Mong Kok.

title: User:AlasdairW/One day in Hong Kong


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Hong Kong International Airport

Hong Kong International Airport (香港國際機場 ), also known as Chek Lap Kok Airport (赤鱲角機場) (after the island upon which the airport sits), is located just off Lantau Island in western Hong Kong. In 2018, it was the 8th busiest airport worldwide by passenger traffic.

Understand
Those who remember the daredevil approach of aircraft prior to landing at the old Kai Tak Airport don't need to guess why Hong Kong decided to build a new airport somewhere else. The Kai Tak Airport was the primary hub for air travel until the 1990s. With only a single runway, one terminal building too small, hills that made takeoff and landing tricky, and sharp turns at low altitude so close to high rise residential buildings that passengers could see residents eating dinners during landings were just a few of the drawbacks. Moreover, due to Kai Tak's proximity to residential areas, a curfew had to be in place in the late night and early morning hours, thus limiting its capacity.

A new airport was eventually built on Chek Lap Kok Island in the north of Lantau Island, joining three of its northern islands into what is now a world class airport. Designed by Sir Norman Foster, the airport opened in July 1998 and has since been named "World's Best Airport" by Skytrax eight times.

Hong Kong is a global aviation hub. Most major cities in Europe and North America are all served with at least one daily flight, and flights between Hong Kong and other major cities in Asia and Oceania are frequent. Cathay Pacific operates one of the longest air routes in the world, between Hong Kong and New York City (JFK). It is the primary hub for Hong Kong's flag carrier Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines, as well low-cost carriers Hong Kong Express and Greater Bay Airlines.

Due to the special status of Hong Kong, flights to mainland Chinese cities are treated as international rather than domestic flights. As a result of the territory’s rather small size, all flights from the airport are international or treated as international.

Check-In at MTR stations
If you have paid the fare for the Airport Express train and are taking flights of Cathay Pacific or Hong Kong Airlines, you can check-in your luggage and print boarding passes at the airport check-in desks at or. Check the Airport Express web-site for details on when the service is available. Luggage can be up to 24 hours, but no later than 1 1/2 hours before your flight's scheduled departure time. To enter the check-in areas, you must scan your airport express ticket or Octopus card and the fare will be deducted immediately. However, you need not to enter the airport express station immediately. You can go and do other things, then the same ticket/card will give you free access to airport express on your next entry.

Departures
Each airline uses a specific check-in aisle:

Terminal 1
 * Aisle A:
 * Aisle B: Cathay Pacific
 * Aisle C: Cathay Pacific
 * Aisle D: Air Busan, Air Canada, Air France, Air Mauritius, Air Seoul, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific Air, Etihad Airways, KLM, Royal Brunei, Turkish Airlines, Vietnam Airlines
 * Aisle E: Aeroflot, All Nippon Airways (ANA), American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, EVA Air, Juneyao Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, SpiceJet, Virgin Atlantic
 * Aisle F: China Airlines, Fiji Airways, IndiGo, Lufthansa, Mandarin Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spring Airlines, Swiss, Virgin Australia
 * Aisle G: Air India, Air New Zealand, Air Niugini, Eastar Jet, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, Lanmei Airlines, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, United
 * Aisle H: Bangkok Airways, HK Express, Malindo Airways, Myanmar National Airlines, Peach Aviation, Scandinavian Airlines, T'way Air, Thai Airways
 * Aisle J: Air China, British Airways, China Eastern, China Southern, Finnair, Qantas, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Thai Smile Airways, Xiamen Airlines
 * Aisle K: AirAsia, Hong Kong Airlines, Jetstar, Philippines AirAsia, Thai AirAsia
 * Aisle L: Air Astana, El Al, Eznis Airways, Philippine Airlines, Scoot, VietJet Air

By train
Hong Kong is one of the few major cities in the world where you can get between the city centre and the airport in less than 30 minutes via the Airport Express. There are also plenty of other cheaper options.

Airport Express
The Airport Express is the quickest, most comfortable way to travel between airport and city. Trains run every 10 min 6AM-12:45AM, taking about 30 min. For adults (aged 12+), single fares (which cover same-day return) are $70 to Tsing Yi, $105 to Kowloon, and $115 to Hong Kong Central Station. Returns valid for 30 days are $120, $185 and $205 respectively; fares for children aged 3-11 are about half. There's no ticket barrier at the airport, so you can just board and pay in the city. All stations have free porters to help you get heavy bags on and off of the train; there is no need to tip. If you travel with other people you can get a group discount if you buy your ticket from the staff at the counter. If you take a taxi to reach the airport express, you are entitled to a 50% discount when boarding in Tsing Yi and Kowloon. Tourist travel passes sometimes include a return journey on the Airport Express and some airlines sell duty-free tickets during the flights. A cheap way to get to Central is to take the Airport Express to Tsing Yi, and change to the Tung Chung MTR line, which costs in total $72.5 one-way or $135 return. A free connection from the Airport Express to the MTR is offered if you use the same Octopus Card to change from the Airport Express to the MTR at Central, Kowloon, or Tsing Yi stations. The transfer is free no matter which station you exit the MTR. Free shuttle buses to most major hotels around Kowloon and Hong Kong Island were also provided for users of the Airport Express, though this has since been discontinued from 30 June 2020 due to COVID-19.

Kowloon Station on the Airport Express line is located next to West Kowloon high-speed rail station and connected by pedestrian walkways, making it easy to transfer from the airport to a high-speed train if you intend to head elsewhere in the Pearl River Delta. The downside is that unlike taking a ferry from the airport, you do have to pass through Hong Kong customs and immigration to do this.

Tung Chung Line
If you want to save around $70, an alternative way is to take the S1 bus from the airline terminal to the nearby Tung Chung MTR station ($3.50, 15 minutes), where you can transfer to the Tung Chung MTR line to Kowloon ($18, 27 minutes) or Hong Kong ($24, 30 minutes). The Tung Chung line runs the same route as the Airport Express except it terminates at the Tung Chung station and has four additional stops. The MTR system has luggage restrictions and in any case, carrying luggage on the MTR may be cumbersome. This method will take about 45-60 minutes more than the Airport Express.

By bus
Buses are cheap ($10-40), more scenic, have longer operating hours but are slower. Depending on where you are going, they may be more convenient than the trains and some routes run 24 hours (unlike the Airport Express). A complete list of airport buses is available online. There is also an information board at the airport bus terminal. Two companies run buses from the airport: Citybus ('CityFlyer') and Long Win. Buses travel over the scenic Tsing Ma Bridge, the seventh-longest suspension bridge in the world. Buses with routes beginning with "A" (Airbus) (cost: $20-40) have free Wi-Fi internet and take a more direct route than buses with routes beginning with the letter "E" (External) (cost: $10-20), which travel via the cargo terminals and airport offices. Buses with routes beginning with "S" (cost: $3-4) are shuttle buses: the S1 bus operates bus service to the closest MTR station. Bus route "B4" is for cross-border and stops at Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge. This route is particularly useful if you are heading towards Macau or Zhuhai. Finally, bus routes beginning with "N" are overnight routes. They tend to be more expensive, less frequent and take a less direct route (often going through cargo area, airline catering section and mail centre) before heading for the highway.

By taxi
Taxis are a relatively expensive option, with a journey from the airport to Central costing $250-350. The taxi area is clearly signposted near the Airport Express and has separate queues next for each taxi colour:

 * Red taxis are for destinations on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, although they are also allowed to go to the local town of Tung Chung as well as Disneyland on Lantau island. If you are going to Hong Kong Island, asking the driver to use the "Western Harbour Crossing" will avoid congestion, but will result in an additional $50 toll charge.
 * Green taxis are restricted to the New Territories (other than Lantau Island)
 * Blue taxis serve Lantau Island only. Useful for quickly getting to local Lantau sights before your flight, although there are not many of them and often there are none waiting at the airport. It is easier to hail a blue taxi at the nearby Tung Chung

The information desk after customs can provide you with an estimate to your hotel and maps to show the driver. See official taxi fare table. The rates for blue and green taxis are cheaper than red taxis.

Do not take private cars and vans operating as illegal taxis since they are not licensed and in case of accidents, your insurance will not cover you. Generally they are operated by non-Chinese and will be in white or black vans, rather than the ubiquitous blue and red Toyota Crown Comforts. They will approach you inside the airport.

Taxi queues are available at both Kowloon and Hong Kong stations, although the queues are very long at weekends.

By ferry
There are no ferry services from the airport to destinations in Hong Kong. However, Turbojet ($254, 50 minutes) and Cotai Water Jet ($270) operate services directly to Macau, and CKS operates services to the mainland Chinese cities of Dongguan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhongshan.

To get to the ferries after you land, do not go through Hong Kong customs and immigration. Instead, follow the signs for "Ferries to Mainland/Macao" to find the ticket counter, where you can buy your ticket with credit card or cash (HKD; RMB are accepted at the unfavorable rate of 1 RMB=1 HKD). There are currency exchange places on the way to the ferry ticket counter. You need to show your boarding pass to buy the ticket. If you have checked luggage, present your baggage stub when buying the ticket and they will transfer your luggage for you—in this case you have to buy your ferry ticket 60 minutes before the ferry departs (in other words, leave yourself a solid 90 minutes between landing and the ferry departure). When it's time to board, you can travel directly to SkyPier for your ferry without having to pass through Hong Kong immigration at all.

Again, if you're taking the ferry, don't go through immigration or collect your luggage—the staff will collect your luggage for you once you buy the ticket and give them the baggage stub. If you do pass through immigration by mistake then the train journey to the Hong Kong ferry terminal will take you about another hour (with a significant connecting walk between trains in Central station), so taking this direct ferry is a great option.

The ferries to Macau from the airport only run a few times a day. If they are not convenient for your schedule, you can take TurboJET's Premier Plus service. ($461) Buy this at the same counter before Hong Kong immigration. This departs much more frequently (every 30-60 minutes) and includes car transfer to the Sheung Wan ferry terminal, ferry to Macau, then car transfer to any location of your choice in Macau. Food and drink on the ferry is included in the price. Staff will accompany you all the way and carry your luggage for you. You will need to pass Hong Kong immigration so ensure you have the correct documents.

Ferries to Shenzhen stop at either Shekou (the city's main ferry terminal) or Fuyong Ferry Terminal. This second option is located close to Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport and connected by a 5 min shuttle bus ride. This makes it a convenient option if you need to connect between flights at Hong Kong and Shenzhen airports. Be sure to give yourself ample time to make any connections, preferably at least 6 hours between your two flights. Prices as of 2019: HK$220 to Shekou, $295 to Fuyong, $340 from Shekou to HKIA, and $360 from Fuyong to HKIA.

When taking the ferry to the airport, print your boarding pass at the ferry terminal before you embark, so that when the ferry arrives you can enter HKIA smoothly through the automated gates, which don't accept electronic boarding passes. You can collect a departure tax refund at the airport—HK$120 as of 2024.

By car
Car rental services are provided in the airport complex. They provide airport pickup and drop off services and can be booked prior to the flight.

Chauffeur service
Chauffeur service is an expensive way to travel to and from the airport, which is dedicated to business travellers, and it ranges from $400 to $1000. Services feature a point-to-point travel by luxury cars or MPVs. Services are usually provided by bank credit card concierges, hotels and airlines. Chauffeur service usually requires advanced booking and individual price quoting. Drivers will meet at the exit of the arrival hall and hold a card with your name. Never ride cars of those who ask you in the airport. They are illegal and accidents are not covered by insurance.

Get around
Terminal 1 consists of a large Y-shaped pier, with check-in and security located at the bottom of the "Y". All check-in counters are located at Terminal 1. After security, your flight may board from Terminal 1, the Midfield Concourse, or the North Satellite Concourse. An automated people mover runs between the east and west ends of Terminal 1, and to the Midfield Concourse. The Skybridge is provided for passengers heading to the North Satellite Concourse. Terminal 2 closed in 2019 for redevelopment.

Lounges
HKIA has a number of lounges.

 * Cathay Pacific has 4 lounges spread around the airport. All Cathay Pacific lounges feature a noodle bar where you can order noodle dishes such as their signature dan dan noodles. 'The Pier' lounge near Gate 62 is the largest, and offers showers, barista coffee and gourmet tea blends by London-based luxury tea brand Jing. Generally lounges open at 5:30AM and close at 12:30AM, though 'The Wing', near Gate 1, remains open until 2AM. All lounges are open to Cathay Pacific Business and First Class passengers as well as select Marco Polo Club and oneworld members (oneworld Sapphire or above), although 'The Wing' and 'The Pier' have portions set up exclusively for First Class passengers.
 * Hong Kong Airlines operates the Club Bauhinia lounge near Gate 23 and Club Autus at the Mid-field Concourse.
 * SkyTeam operates a lounge near Gate 8 for first and business class passengers travelling with airlines in the alliance, as well as travellers with SkyTeam Elite Plus status travelling on SkyTeam airlines.
 * Qantas has a large lounge with showers, food, internet terminals and plenty of drink.
 * Thai Airways has a Royal Orchid Lounge near Gate 40
 * Singapore Airlines has a SilverKris Lounge near Gate 5
 * Emirates operates an Emirates Lounge near Gate 30 (closed until further notice as of November 2023)
 * Qantas has a large lounge with showers, food, internet terminals and plenty of drink.
 * Thai Airways has a Royal Orchid Lounge near Gate 40
 * Singapore Airlines has a SilverKris Lounge near Gate 5
 * Emirates operates an Emirates Lounge near Gate 30 (closed until further notice as of November 2023)

Eat and drink

Hong Kong International Airport is known for housing a number of renowned eateries, some of them of Michelin quality. Virtually all of them, however, are landside. There are restaurants airside as well, but most of them are fast food parlours such as McDonald's.

There are drinking water fountains in the departures area. A few of these are machines that offer a choice of cold, warm or boiling water.

Buy
Hong Kong has no duty on most goods besides alcohol, therefore the concept of duty-free in the airport is rather meaningless. Nevertheless there is the usual selection of luxury brands on the air side, as well as opportunities for last-minute souvenirs such as Chinese cookies and a large Disney store.

If you need to pick up any last-minute necessities before going through security, you can visit the shops just beyond the Terminal 1 check-in desks. This area has a variety of shops selling useful travel goods, e.g. toiletries and medication (Mannings), light snacks (7-Eleven), or fresh clothing (Muji).

Connect

 * Internet terminals: The airport has 100 desktop computers offering free internet access. Most of these are at 36 locations, airside, at the Departures Level of Terminal 1 as well as the Midfield Concourse. There are also six computers at the Departures Level of the North Satellite Concourse. As of August 2013 the terminals can be faulty and slow and the browsers do not work properly with some websites.
 * Post office: There is an efficient post office in the airport, providing boxes, wrapping material, scissors, and tape. Mailing items is sometimes cheaper and easier than paying airline baggage fees.
 * Telephones: There are more than 150 pay phones and courtesy phones at the airport.
 * WiFi: There is a free Wi-Fi facility (after accepting terms and conditions) and a hotline (2188 7799). The WiFi is throughout the air-side areas and has a fast connection speed. The WiFi SSID is "#HKAirport Free WiFi". The Internet in Hong Kong is not censored by China's "Great Firewall", and you can freely access websites that are blocked in China, such as Google, YouTube, and Wikipedia.

Cope
Services at Hong Kong International Airport are generally far better, or at least on par, with those at other major international airports. If you need help, visit one of the 11 customer service centres, approach an Airport Ambassador, or pick up one of the 220 courtesy phones located throughout the terminal.

 * Baggage packing: Terminals 1 has a fast and efficient service to wrap up your baggage in cardboard or clingfilm and strap it up. Very useful if your airline restricts the items of baggage you can check in. A typical boxing costs around HK$230.
 * Chemist (drugstore): There are two 'Mannings' stores airside in the airport, each of which stock medicine, baby milk powder and chocolate. If you need any of these then one store is near the north immigration gate, and the other is next to Gate 60.
 * Clinic: The Airport Medical Centre is a privately run facility open 24 hours. It is in the non-restricted area of Terminal 1.
 * Hospital: In case of emergency, dial 999. The nearest hospital to the airport is the North Lantau Hospital, in nearby Tung Chung New Town. It is a modern public hospital with a 24-hour accident and emergency centre. Hospitals offer service in Cantonese and English, while the Hospital Authority also offers an interpretation service for other languages on demand.
 * Left luggage: There is a manned left luggage facility in the arrival hall, perfect for securely storing your luggage at the airport, for around $55–80 per day (depending on duration). It is open from 6AM to 1AM. There is another left luggage facility close to the bus station between Terminals 1 and 2. If you are travelling by Airport Express, there are luggage storage facilities in both Kowloon and Hong Kong stations, which are more convenient for those who plan to use the in-town check-in service.
 * Lost property: The Airport Lost and Found office is located in Arrivals Hall A, Level 5, Terminal 1 (a non-restricted area). It is open from 7AM to midnight.
 * Nursing rooms: The airport has 39 nursing rooms equipped with changing and feeding facilities.
 * Police: In case of emergency, dial 999. For non-emergency reports, call the directly on  or visit the airport's Police Reporting Centre, located in the Check-in Hall of Terminal 1 at the end of Aisle D.
 * Prayer rooms: There are prayer rooms in the departures area. These are completely devoid of any religious symbols, and can appear clinically bland.
 * Showers: For arrival or in-transit passengers, there are free shower rooms located in Terminal 1 on the arrivals level. There are two such shower facilities: one near gate 12 and another near gate 43. These are open 24 hours a day.
 * Smoking: Smoking in the airport is prohibited by law, except for in the smoking lounges in the restricted area of Terminal 1. At busy times you may have to wait to get in.

Sleep
Staff are tolerant of passengers sleeping in the airport. Airside is safer and more comfortable than landside.

There are three hotels in the immediate vicinity of the airport. Via the Airport Express train, you can access more hotels in central Hong Kong very quickly.

In addition to the Novotel Citygate, there are several new hotels under construction in Tung Chung. The 206-room Silveri Hong Kong, operated by French hotel company AccorHotels, is expected to open in early 2020 as part of an expansion to the CityGate shopping centre. In addition, the "Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung Hotel" and "Four Points by Sheraton Hong Kong, Tung Chung" were expected to open in late 2019. Owned by a Shanghai-based conglomerate, the two hotels occupy a combined development in a somewhat inconvenient location near the Tung Chung waterfront, far from the MTR station. However, the airport is easily reached by taxi.

Nearby

 * Hong Kong, of course
 * Macau and Zhuhai
 * Lantau Island – take the cable car up to the Buddha statue or visit Disneyland.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Hong Kong International Airport


text:
Hongu

Hongu (本宮町 Hongū-chō) is a mountain village in Wakayama Prefecture. It belongs to the city of Tanabe but is 60 km distant from the city center, so it is covered here as a separate destination.

Understand
It was a town located in Wakayama prefecture. On May 1, 2005 Hongū, along with the village of Ryūjin, from Hidaka District, the town of Nakahechi, and the village of Ōtō, both from Nishimuro District, was merged into the expanded city of Tanabe.

Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine is the main destination of this area. It is one of the Kumano Sanzan and is a holy place that has been visited by many people since the Heian period.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a bilingual guide site.

Get in
90 minutes by bus from Shingu Station.

Yunomine Onsen
Yunomine Onsen was discovered about 1,800 years ago, and it is thought to be one of the oldest hot springs in Japan.

Go next

 * Tanabe
 * Shingu
 * Nachikatsuura
 * Totsukawa
 * Shirahama
 * Minabe
 * Hidakagawa
 * Kamitonda
 * Aridagawa

title: Hongu


text:
Honnamana Kere

Honnamana Kere is near Somwarpet, Kodagu District, Karnataka.

Understand
Honnamana Kere is a holy and tourist place located in Daddamalthe near Sulimalthe village 6 km away from Somwarpet town. The lake (see picture) is surrounded by beautiful landscape including coffee estates and cliffs. Special pooja (prayer ritual) is offered to the Goddess Honnamma on the Gowri festival every year. Thousands of devotees come to this sacred place on this day and offers pooja to the Goddess Honnamma followed by climbing the cliff. 'Bagina' which consists of sacred belongings of the Goddess is left in the lake. A new temple was built several years back with the aim to improve the place and offer better facilities to the devotees, this was possible by the financial assistance of the people living in the surrounding villages.

History
The History of Honnamana Kere dates back to centuries. The temple is built for Goddess Honnamma who sacrificed her life for the welfare of the people. The story Kerege Hara was derived from this.

Landscape
Honnamana Kere is surrounded by beautiful mountains, cliffs and Coffee Plantation.

Flora and fauna
Coffee Plantation is a common sight here. You can also witness some Elephants, Wild Cats etc.

Climate
Climate in Coorg is Moderate and Honnamana Kere is no exception. Climate around the year will be between 16 and 27 degrees.

Best time to visit

 * Can be visited any time of the year.

Get in

 * 250 km (155.3 miles) from Bangalore on Hassan - Madikeri Road
 * 125 km (77.6 miles) from Mysore

Fees and permits
No entry fee.

See
Coffee plantation, beautiful temple.

Do

 * Trekking, hiking & rock climbing. Honnamana Kere is a hotspot for trekking & rock climbing. Adjacent cliffs (Gavi betta and Mori betta) are the favourite places adventure lovers. If you prefer to be relaxed you can take a hike in the coffee plantations.
 * Boating & fishing. The relaxed atmosphere at the Honnamana Kere Lake is exquisite for visitors for boating & fishing.

Eat

 * Authentic Coorg cuisine. Non-veg dishes like pork curry & Kadubittu (rice steamed dumplings), chicken curry & Akki Rotti (rice roti).

Drink

 * Homemade wine & tody. Homemade wines are available in local shops across Somwarpet and tody is available in the local plantations

Sleep
There are lodges, homestays and resorts in and around Somwarpet which is 5 km from here.

Respect

 * Please avoid leaving any plastic bags. They not only make the place look untidy, but can be deadly to the wildlife.

Go next

 * Somwarpet
 * Kushal Nagar

title: Honnamana Kere


text:
Honokaa

Honoka'a is a city in Hamakua district on the northern coast of Big Island of Hawai'i, and acts as the gateway providing access to the Hāmākua Coast, the chain of valleys to the North, including the regal Waipio valley, and the rolling slopes of Mauna Kea.

Understand
Honoka'a's economy was based on the sugar and macadamia nuts production until the Hāmākua Sugar Company has closed in 1994, and macadamia nuts farm moved place. Honoka'a was the biggest and happening town on the Big Island outside of Hilo. Honoka'a was the recreational and commercial center for the plantation workers, ranchers, soldiers, farmers, and the native Hawaiians along the beautiful and rugged Hāmākua Coast.

However, with the closing of the sugar and macadamia nuts production, the local economy and the population have been in decline.

Get in
Hilo International Airport is the nearest airport to Honoka'a. Hilo International Airport is the one of two airport on the Big Island. (Another one is Kona International Airport) The majority of flights to Hilo International Airport are originated from Honolulu via Hawaiian Airlines. From Hilo to Honoka'a, most of the visitors either rent a car or take a bus provided by County of Hawai'i Mass Transit Agency. It will take about 1 hr and 15 minutes from Hilo International Airport to Honoka'a.

Another way is to start from Kailua-Kona. The majority of flights to Kona International Airport are originated from Honolulu via Hawaiian Airlines and Island Air. It will take about 1 hr and 40 minutes from Kona to Honoka'a.

From Hilo, take Hawaii Belt Road (HI-19) north.

See
Waimanu valley is not accessible by car, and the only way to get there is a foot trail, called Muliwai Trail. The trail begin its path from the Waipiʻo Valley.
 * Hāmākua Coast, the coast of Northeastern part of the Big Island (the coast continues from Hilo to Honoka'a). The coast itself is surrounded by the tropical rainforest and there is river came down from Mauna Kea.
 * Waipio valley, the valley located among the Hāmākua Coast, is the largest and southernmost of the seven valleys on the windward side of the Kohala Mountains. Waipio valley includes, Hillawe Falls and Kaluahine Falls. There is an observatory in Waipio valley, and going down the hill with the 4WD. However, most of the rental car company does not cover for this part of the road. 4WD and horse back riding tours are also provided for visitors. Since there is many rain falls in Waipio Valley, therefore, Visitors need to prepare rain gears.
 * Hillawe Falls,is the most famous waterfall in Waipio Valley. The falls is between 1,200, and it is the tallest waterfall in the state of Hawai'i. Hillawe Falls was a lava flow from Mauna Kea that formed the cliffs on the side of the falls. Hillawe Falls is located inside Waipio Valley and is only visible from the valley or from the air. Hiking would be the best way and the only way for visitors to get to Hllawe Falls.
 * Waimanu Valley, is the remote valley located in west of Waipio Valley and most difficult to reach, includes Waimanu Stream and Waimanu Falls.
 * Laupāhoehoe is a beautiful park area that can be reached by following a side road. Camping is available at Laupāhoehoe point.

Do
Honoka'a's town itself is really small and filled with the historic background. However, there are Waipio Valley, Waimanu Valley, and Hillawe Falls to visit and feel the nature of the Big Island. And Honoka'a is the best place to stay to visit Waipio Valley, Waimanu Valley, Hillawe Falls, and Hāmākua Coast.

Buy
Other than the sight seeing, visitors can also enjoy shopping and restaurants fulfilled with Hawaiian Culture at Honoka'a's Main Street.

Honoka'a's Main Street, is the main street of Honoka'a, where local shops and restaurants are gathered together. There are spaces for car to park on the street and visitors usually walk through the main street to buy souvenirs and eat local popular food.

Eat
Malasada, Egg-sized donut which deep-fried in oil and coated with granulated sugar. Maladasa is the sweet originally from Portugal with neither hole nor fillings. However, Honoka'a's famous Malasada is filled with flavored cream or other fillings. Traditionally, Malasada is made in order to using up all the lard and sugar in the house, during the lent.

Saimin, noodle soup unique to Hawai'i. It is more likely the combination of Japanese Udon, Chinese mien, and Filipino pancit. It is a soup dish of soft wheat egg noodles served in hot dashi garnished with green onions. And Saimin is served like Japanese Ramen.

title: Honokaa


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Honolulu

The capital of Hawaii and its primary point of entry, Honolulu is by far the state's largest city, with 980,000 people in the metro area (2018) — two-thirds of the state's population—residing within the metro area. Situated on the southern shore of the island of Oahu, Honolulu serves as the center of government and commerce for the state, the home of the largest airport in the Hawaiian Islands, and the site of the state's best known tourist destination: Waikiki Beach.

Given the city's size and its prominence as a traveler destination, this is definitely not the place to go for a "get-away-from-it-all" Hawaiian vacation. Honolulu is as fast-paced and dynamic as any large city, with all the associated problems such as heavy traffic, crime, and homelessness. But Honolulu still has the charm of the islands' laid-back atmosphere and culture, with some of Hawaii's best museums, the historic sites of Pearl Harbor and former palaces of Hawaiian royalty, splendid beaches, and striking natural scenery, all set amidst a dynamic mix of cultures which hail from all corners of the Pacific Ocean.

Districts
Honolulu extends inland from the southeast shore of Oahu, east of Pearl Harbor to Makapu'u Point, and incorporates many neighborhoods and districts. You'll most often hear people refer to these districts by name—Waikiki, Manoa, Kahala, Hawaii Kai and so on—as though they're not part of the same city.

History
The name Honolulu means "sheltered bay" or "place of shelter" in Hawaiian, and its natural harbor catapulted this humble village to importance when King Kamehameha I moved his royal court from the island of Hawaii to Oahu in 1809, shortly after conquering Oahu to unite the Hawaiian Islands. In 1845, Kamehameha III moved the kingdom's capital from Lahaina on Maui to Honolulu.

Honolulu's ideally located port made the city a perfect stop for merchant ships traveling between North America and Asia, and through the 1800s, descendants of missionaries who arrived in the early 1800s established their headquarters in Honolulu, making it the center of business and the main seaport for the Hawaiian Islands.

The late 1800s and early 1900s brought the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and subsequent annexation by the United States. Under American rule, Honolulu saw the rise of tourism and the first hotels were constructed in Waikiki. The U.S. military also built numerous bases in the islands, including nearby Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor later became known for the surprise attack by the Japanese in 1941, which brought the U.S. into World War II in the Pacific.

Statehood for the islands brought rapid economic growth to Honolulu, with all the state's major businesses headquartered in the city, the Honolulu airport as the primary entrance point for visitors, and Waikiki as the center of the island's tourism industry.

Climate
Honolulu has a very moderate climate, with very little change of temperature throughout the year - the average high is 80-90°F (27-32°C) and the average low is 65-75°F (19-24°C) any time of the year. Water temperature averages 82°F (27°C) in the summer months and 77°F (25°C) in the winter months.

The only noticeable variation in seasons is in terms of rainfall. Honolulu is on the sunny, leeward side of the island, and where you are in the city will affect the chances for rain - areas like Waikiki, downtown, and the western side of the city will usually be sunny, while the hills or eastern side of the city may get some passing clouds and very brief rainfall. On average, Honolulu gets less than half an inch of rain in the summer months to almost three inches in the winter months.

Tourist information

 * Honolulu tourism information

By plane

The Airport Waikiki Express provides shuttle service to hotels in Waikiki every half hour ($9/$15 one-way/round-trip).

The local city bus company (known simply as "The Bus") operates Route 20 which comes through the airport every half-hour, going through downtown and on to Waikiki. There are no machines to buy tickets from. Exact change is required, $3 per ride, bills and coins accepted. You can catch Route 20 at bus stops on the upper level of the airport access road outside Terminals 1 and 2.

Since December 1, 2021, 10 major rental car companies have operated out of a consolidated rent-a-car (CONRAC) facility located within walking distance of Terminal 2. A shuttle bus system links Terminals 1 and 3 to the CONRAC.

The best way to get to Waikiki by rental car is to follow signs for H-1 east, then follow H-1 east about 2 miles to exit 18A (Waikiki/Nimitz Highway). Follow Nimitz Highway (which turns into Ala Moana Boulevard past downtown Honolulu) straight into Waikiki. You will pass through Honolulu's industrial district, along Honolulu Harbor, and past downtown Honolulu and the Ala Moana Shopping Center. You can also follow H-1 east into downtown Honolulu, take either exit 22 (Kinau Street) or 23 (Punahou Street), and follow signs to Waikiki.

By ship
Cruise ships frequently travel to Honolulu from the U.S. mainland. These voyages are designed for tourists, and are rarely used as one-way passenger service. As of Jan 2023, there is no regular interisland ferry service.

Navigating
Unlike many cities on the U.S. mainland, Honolulu is not laid out in a strict compass-point grid. Its street system conforms in large part to the shorelines, valleys, and ridges, with lots of twists and turns. It can be confusing for people used to straight grid systems. However, at the same time, it is not that difficult to navigate in, as long as you are familiar with the major arterials and terminology below.

Because it is difficult to differentiate north and south on an island, directions are normally given in terms of local landmarks. The most common terms that you will run into are mauka (Mow-kah) meaning "toward the mountain" and makai (mah-KAI) meaning "toward the sea". In the case of Honolulu, which is on Oahu's south shore, "mauka" is a rough north, and "makai" roughly south. You will also hear Ewa-bound (Eh-vah) and Koko Head-bound used a lot, in relation to downtown Honolulu, the former roughly means "west" (toward the town of Ewa on the southwest shore of Oahu) and the latter roughly means "east" (towards the volcanic crater Koko Head in East Honolulu). People who live in the western suburbs may also use "Town-bound" (east towards Honolulu; locals refer to Honolulu proper as "town").

Highway signs, however, will use standard compass directions, so if you are asked to go Ewa-bound on the freeway, look for the on-ramp to H-1 west.

It is a very good idea to invest in a good map of Honolulu before doing extensive driving. Members of the American Automobile Association (AAA) can request fold-out maps for free from their local office. Rand McNally paper fold-out maps are available in many stores; for more extensive coverage you can also purchase Bryan's Sectional Maps (a popular choice among locals) at most bookstores for about $9.50. GPS-enabled devices can also be used to navigate around Honolulu, and Oahu.

Streets in Honolulu can be extremely narrow compared to the mainland. Locals are used to this lack of space on roads but if you are coming from the mainland and are used to wide roads, prepare yourself for driving very close to the cars around you. Just take a little extra caution and you should not have any problems. Once outside of Honolulu proper, the roads will be a bit wider.

Many intersections on busy streets in town prohibit left turns, especially intersections on Kapiolani Boulevard, due to flow of traffic and other various reasons.

If coming from the mainland, speed limits on roads in Honolulu are generally lower than you may be used to. For example, six-laned King Street is 25–30 miles per hour for its entire length. Most streets are no more than 25 miles per hour. In addition to this, many people disregard the speed limit, instead driving slower, which may be frustrating. In fact, even the speed limits on Interstate highways will be lower than you'd find on the mainland. For instance the stretch of H-1 through downtown Honolulu has a speed limit of only 45 mph, and even parts of H-3 out in rural areas have lower-than-average speed limits.

During periods of rain at night, the lane markings on the roads will not be easily visible even to people with excellent vision. Take extreme caution during these times.

Rules of the road
There are a few rules to take note of, especially if you come from a foreign country and are not used to driving in the United States:

 * City and County ordinance prohibits using or simply holding any electronic device while behind the wheel. This includes (but isn't limited to) a cell phone or iPod. Mounted GPS is permitted. Hands-free use is required, otherwise do not use them at all. If pulled over, you may want to hide (discreetly) any electronic devices to avoid fines. Using your in-car radio, however, is allowed.
 * You can assume that if there is no sign posted, you may turn right on a red light.
 * Pedestrians always have the right of way, even if not in the crosswalk.
 * During the morning and afternoon rush-hour, some streets have contra-flow lanes. Lanes from the direction less heavily traveled will be blocked off with cones and cars traveling in the other direction will allowed to use the lane. During these times, there are no left turns allowed against heavy traffic.
 * On busier streets, cars may not be parked on the side of the road during rush hour. This is heavily enforced, and often results in a parking ticket with fine and immediate towing at the expense of the driver.
 * Many streets allow street parking on one side and traffic to travel on the other. When on these streets, most times the road is not wide enough to allow two way traffic. In this case, cars traveling opposite the direction of the parked cars have the right of way, and cars traveling the same direction as the parked cars must pull over to allow the other cars to pass.

Major arterials
Most major streets in Honolulu run Ewa–Diamond Head (as described in the preceding section, roughly east-west). There are two main highways in Honolulu: Nimitz Highway (Hawaii 92) which runs from Pearl Harbor past Honolulu Airport to downtown Honolulu and Waikiki; and Interstate H-1 which runs mauka (mountain-ward) of downtown and runs the entire length of the south shore of Oahu.

H-1 is some distance away from Waikiki and you need to go onto surface streets to and from Waikiki. If you need to access H-1 west from Waikiki to go someplace outside of the city, there are two main routes:
 * 1) Go mauka to Ala Wai Boulevard and follow it 'Ewa-bound to McCully Street.  Follow McCully mauka for about 1 mile; it will take you over H-1.  At the foot of the bridge, turn left on Dole, then left again onto Alexander to the freeway onramp.
 * 2) Follow Kuhio or Kalakaua Avenue Diamond Head-bound to Kapahulu Avenue.  Follow Kapahulu mauka for about 1 mile, it will take you under H-1 and lead you to the freeway onramp.

To get back to Waikiki from H-1 east, take any of these routes:
 * 1) Take exit 22 (Kinau Street). Turn right on Ward Avenue and follow it to Ala Moana Boulevard.  Turn left on Ala Moana and follow it into Waikiki.
 * 2) Take exit 23 (Punahou Street).  Turn right on Punahou, and stay in lane #3 from the left.  This lane is right-turn only onto the left side of Beretania.  Take an immediate left onto Kalakaua Avenue from Beretania.  Follow Kalakaua into Waikiki.
 * 3) Take exit 25A (King Street).  After merging onto King Street, stay to the right.  Take the second right onto Kapahulu Avenue (follow signs to Waikiki).  Follow Kapahulu into Waikiki.
 * 4) Take exit 23 (Punahou Street).  Stay straight to merge onto Bingham Street. Turn right onto McCully Street and keep left to merge into traffic from the overpass. Follow McCully to Waikiki.

There are also several routes from H-1 to downtown and back. To get to downtown from H-1 east, use one of these routes:
 * 1) Take exit 21B (Punchbowl Street). This will take you to the Capitol area.
 * 2) Take exit 21A (Pali Highway). Turn right onto Pali Highway, which will curve to the left and become Bishop Street. This will take you to the downtown business district and Aloha Tower.
 * 3) Take exit 22 (Kinau Street). Turn right onto Ward Avenue, then turn right onto Beretania Street. This will take you to the Capitol area and Chinatown.
 * 4) Take exit 20B (Vineyard Blvd). This will take you to northern downtown.

To get to H-1 west from downtown, use one of these routes:
 * 1) Go north on Punchbowl Street (from the Capitol area), which will merge into a ramp at the end of the street. At the fork at the end of the ramp, keep left.
 * 2) Go north on Alakea Street (from Chinatown), turn left onto Beretania Street, turn right onto Pali Highway, turn left onto School Street, and keep left onto the H-1 ramp.
 * 3) Go east on Kinau Street, turn left onto Piikoi Street, turn left onto Lunalilo Street, then keep left onto the H-1 ramp.
 * 4) Go west onto Vineyard Blvd, which will become Halona Street after the H-1 overpass. Keep left onto the H-1 ramp.

In central Honolulu, the two main streets are King Street and Beretania Street. The two streets are one-way for most of their route; King Street runs from 'Ewa to Diamond Head, and Beretania Street from Diamond Head to 'Ewa. Both streets run parallel through downtown Honolulu. Despite their rough west to east orientation, addresses on these streets are designated North and South respectively (the streets form an S curve, running north-south through downtown). The dividing line between North and South designations is Nuuanu Avenue in downtown Honolulu, which runs mauka-makai. Ala Moana Boulevard is a key route leading out of Waikiki to Downtown Honolulu. Past Honolulu Harbor, Ala Moana becomes Nimitz Highway and runs all the way to the airport and beyond. Tree-lined Kapiolani Boulevard is another major thoroughfare traversing east-central Honolulu, linking the Waikiki district and points east with downtown Honolulu, becoming Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki. Dillingham Boulevard runs from Middle Street in Kalihi to Aala Park right outside of Chinatown, then continues as Liliha Street into Liliha. McCully Street runs from Waikiki to the H-1 Freeway, an easy route to get to the interstate and out of town, or just to get out of Waikiki. Two major streets from Ala Moana to residential Makiki and the H-1 are Pensacola Street and Piikoi Street, running makai to Ala Moana and mauka to Makiki, respectively. Downtown, Pali Highway from the Windward side of the island becomes Bishop Street, a major one-way thoroughfare through the compact downtown running makai to Aloha Tower, and its counterpart Alakea Street is one block east, running from Aloha Tower to Vineyard Boulevard, which forms the unofficial northern border for downtown. Through working class Kalihi is Kalihi Street, which becomes Likelike Highway running to Kaneohe on the windward side.

In Waikiki, the three main streets, from makai to mauka, are Kalakaua Avenue (one way Ewa to Diamond Head, along Waikiki Beach), Kuhio Avenue (two-way), and Ala Wai Boulevard (one way Diamond Head to Ewa, along the Ala Wai Canal).

Traffic
Traffic in Honolulu, and on Oahu in general (in particular the southern shore), is a persistent problem. In fact, Honolulu's rush hour has been ranked among the worst in the nation. There are almost one million people living in a relatively small space, and only a few main routes connecting the major populated areas on the island to each other and to downtown Honolulu. As a result, a single traffic incident has the potential to induce gridlock across the entire island. You are unlikely to encounter a traffic jam of that magnitude, but someone visiting Oahu and traveling during a weekday should be aware of traffic problems.

Normal weekday rush hour in Honolulu is 5AM to 8AM going inbound and 3PM to 6:30PM going outbound. Expect heavy traffic on Interstates H-1 and H-2, Nimitz Highway/Ala Moana Boulevard, and the surface streets in downtown Honolulu and Waikiki. However, traffic congestion is the norm for most of the daylight hours, often crawling along at less than ten miles per hour on the freeway, and often congested near onramps and offramps on the surface streets. There is almost always a slow down during the day on the H-1 between the Likelike and Punahou exits, often in both directions. On the H-1 eastbound (toward downtown Honolulu), the interchange at Middle Street (H-1 & H-201), the Vineyard Boulevard and Ward Avenue onramps, and the H-1/H-2 Merge are some of the worst bottlenecks, especially during rush hour. The merge at Middle Street has been named the single most congested section of freeway in the United States. Traffic is lighter during the summer and over the holidays when the University of Hawaii at Manoa and public and private schools are not in session. Maybe a unique thing about Honolulu is that while traffic congestion is high, drivers are generally courteous and will let you in front of them if you signal beforehand and wave after.

All in all, though, driving on Oahu is pleasurable once you get off of the Interstates. Having a car on Oahu gives a visitor a chance to visit the whole island in just a few days. Once you get a little ways inland, the traffic is not too bad, and in the agricultural areas there is little traffic. Unless you are familiar with this climate, convertible tops should be up when the sun is intense.

By bus
The local bus service in Honolulu is called, with remarkable succinctness, TheBus.
 * One-way fares are $3.00/adult, $1.50/child, $1.25/senior (no change given). The one-way fare no longer includes free transfers between routes; once you get off the bus, a new fare is required.

If you would like any kind of pass with free transfers, you will need to buy a Holo card. The cards cost $2.00 for a new card, and can be purchased and loaded (cash-only) at 7-Elevens, ABC Stores, and some small local grocery stores. Holo cards provide several advantages over a cash fare:
 * Free transfers: Unlike a cash fare, if you pay the appropriate fare on a Holo card, you do not have to pay another fare for 2.5 hours.
 * Daily fare cap: After you have paid the equivalent of two and a half fares in one day with a Holo card ($7.50/adult, $3.75/child, $3.00/senior), you will be able to ride for free for the rest of the service day (until 2:59AM the next morning).
 * Monthly passes can be loaded on to Holo cards at 7-Elevens and supermarkets. Monthly bus passes begin on the first of each month and cost $80 (all-you-can-ride) regardless of which day of the month you purchase the pass.
 * Monthly fare cap: If you ride enough times to pay $80 in fare for the calendar month, you can ride for free for the remainder of the month, giving you the benefits of a monthly pass without the up-front cost.

All buses in the fleet are equipped with bike racks that can hold two or three bikes. Buses are also wheelchair accessible. A map of Waikiki Beach shows TheBus routes to various points of interests. Larger groups may want to tour the city via charter bus; there are several chartering companies available on the island.

In Waikiki, there are tourist buses that will take you to local attractions, most notably Waikiki Trolley.

By taxi
A taxi ride from Honolulu International Airport to Waikiki will cost about $40 plus tip. Taxis are locally regulated, so fares will be the same regardless of the company. Some taxi companies also offer tours around the island of O'ahu.

By train
Much delayed and hugely over budget, the mostly elevated Skyline finally opened for service in far Western Honolulu in June 2023. Alas, it is unlikely to be of much use to casual visitors for some time, since planned extensions to the airport, Honolulu/Downtown and the Ala Moana Center will not open until 2031 at the earliest.

See
''See the districts articles for more listings. Also see Oahu for details on attractions outside of Honolulu.''

Beaches
Naturally, when most visitors think of beaches here, they think of the famous Waikiki Beach. As the tourist center of the Hawaiian Islands, this white sand beach, framed by hotels and Diamond Head as a backdrop, is easily the most crowded. Waikiki is popular with a wide crowd, as it's an excellent place for swimming, sunbathers, catamaran and outrigger canoes, as well as a great spot for beginner surfers and body boarders (and there are plenty of surf schools set up in Waikiki for lessons). Remarkably, even in Waikiki, you can find a fairly quiet beach; it's just a matter of knowing where to look.

But if you really need to get away from the crowds, there are plenty of other beaches. Just to the west, near Downtown, is Ala Moana Park, a green space with plenty of trees and grass as well as a nice sandy beach that's popular with the locals and is perfect for families or a calmer swim.

The area surrounding Makapu'u Point in Eastern Honolulu has several excellent beaches, the most popular being Hanauma Bay, which is set in the crater of an extinct volcano, now open to the sea and filled with a coral reef. This is not the place for a good swim and certainly not the spot for surfing, but the calm water and abundance of marine life makes it excellent for snorkeling and scuba diving. Even if you don't get in the water, the scenery makes it a great place to sunbathe or picnic, although you may find parking to be an issue.

Just near Hanauma Bay is the Halona Beach Cove, known as "the Peering Place". It is a small, rocky cove that has good swimming when the surf is calm, but no lifeguards here means it's at your own risk. Nearby Sandy Beach does have lifeguards, and has been popular with surfers and bodyboarders for decades. On a calm day, it can be good for a fun day of swimming. Makapu'u Beach, just a little further up the road, is quite scenic. It tends to have very large waves, meaning it may not be the best place to swim but a fantastic place to surf.

Military memorials
Pearl Harbor, in Western Honolulu, is well-remembered for 7 December 1941, a day that lives in infamy, when an attack by Japanese forces killed over 2,000 personnel and brought the U.S. military into World War II. Today the harbor, still functioning as a Navy base, is the site of several memorials honoring the fallen of that day and the rest of the war. The centerpiece is the USS Arizona Memorial, which was built over the sunken hull of the USS Arizona battleship; the resting place of many who died that day. The memorial itself is accessed after an introductory movie and a short ferry ride, and lists the names of those lost as well as a chance to view the wreck.

Next to Pearl Harbor's visitor center is the USS Bowfin, a WWII submarine that's open for tours and offers a glimpse at life aboard a submarine. Ford Island, in the middle of the harbor, is home to the Pacific Aviation Museum, which has plenty of WWII fighter planes to view. The island is also home to the Battleship Missouri Memorial, a battleship best known as the site where World War II ended when the Japanese government formally surrendered to the Allied forces. The ship is open for tours and watches over the USS Arizona, marking the end of the war at the site where it began for the U.S.

Also in Honolulu is the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, in the Punchbowl Crater near Downtown, just above Makiki. The cemetery is the final resting place of over 45,000 Americans who served their country in the military, and has a memorial to those missing in action in World War II as well as panoramic views of Honolulu. The memorial contains a series of time-line and map-based wall paintings that tell the story of the Pacific Theater of WWII.

Museums
Of all the museums in Honolulu, none approach the size of the Bishop Museum in Western Honolulu; a complex of buildings with a large collection of Hawaiian artifacts. Much of the museum is dedicated to Hawaiian history, with a growing number of science-based exhibits, including a planetarium, a large natural history hall, and an area centered around volcanology. The museum is huge, so give yourself a few hours to take it all in.

Downtown is home to several museums. On the state capitol grounds is the gorgeous `Iolani Palace, which was the official residence of the Hawaiian Kingdom's last two monarchs and is now open for tours. Nearby is the Mission Houses Museum, which has three 19th century Honolulu houses restored for viewing, and the Hawaii State Art Museum, which displays visual art by Hawaii artists.

Makiki has two major art museums worth a look: the Honolulu Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the city and houses one of the largest collections of Asian art in the United States, along with an impressive Western collection to boot, including Van Gogh, Picasso, Gauguin, Cézanne, Monet, Modigliani and other masters. Further east along the Pali highway is Queen Emma's Summer Palace, the summer home of King Kamehameha IV and his family that is now transformed into a museum commemorating its past residents.

Kapiolani Park in Waikiki is home to the city's zoo and aquarium. The Honolulu Zoo is fairly small but quite enjoyable, with plenty of exotic animals including the big-name ones like lions, elephants, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, etc. The also small but rather impressive Waikiki Aquarium holds a spot on the beach and has marine life from all over the Pacific Ocean, including sharks, octopus, colorful reef fish, jellies, and an outdoor exhibit with seals. On the far east part of the island lies Sea Life Park which includes exhibits of marine life as well as entertaining dolphin, sea lion, and penguin shows.

Scenic
It's Hawai'i, so there's no shortage of natural scenery, even near the big city. For those looking for expansive vistas, Diamond Head is a good starting point - this ancient volcanic crater in Eastern Honolulu dominates over Waikiki and the top offers an incredible view over the city. Along the trail leading up to a World War II-era bunker are two sets of stairs, one with 99 steps and the other with 76 steps, so the climb can be challenging for the average couch potato. Other than a 225-foot (70-m) unlit tunnel, there is no shade - so schedule an early hike and bring water.

If you're looking for a vista that doesn't require a long hike, look no further than the hills above Makiki. The Punchbowl crater, home to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, offers a panoramic view closer to Downtown. Pu'u Ualaka'a State Wayside, also above Makiki along Tantalus/Round Top Drive, is the site of a lookout with sweeping view of southern O'ahu from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor, including Honolulu and Manoa Valley. Picnic shelters are available, and trailheads for a network of hiking trails can be found at various points along the drive. Another popular overlook is the Nu'uanu Pali Lookout, 6 miles north of Downtown on State Route 61 (Pali Highway). The scenic vista, set between two incredibly high cliffs, provides a panoramic view of Windward O'ahu. The overlook is often buffeted by high winds, but the view is more than worth it.

If ocean scenery is more your speed, the rocky shoreline of the Makapu'u Point area is an excellent bet. In addition to the scenic beaches, the Makapuʻu Point State Wayside is a roadside stop which offers an excellent view of Makapu'u Point and the Windward O'ahu coast - and if you're lucky, off-shore humpback whales in the winter months. Hike the Makapu‘u Point trail for magnificent views of the offshore islets, as well as the historic red-roofed Makapu‘u Lighthouse built in 1909. Nearby is the popular Halona Blowhole, one of the many blowholes (an underwater cave with a hole in the top, so ocean water blasts out the top) in this area, but the easiest to view from the large parking area overlooking it.

Near Downtown are two beautiful gardens. The Foster Botanical Garden has a collection of rare and beautiful plants from the tropical regions of the world, while the Liliuokalani Botanical Garden nearby is the only one of the five botanical gardens that contain only plants native to Hawaii. Portions of this 7.5-acre garden belonged to Queen Liliuokalani, the last reigning Monarch of Hawaii.

On land
Hawaii's year-round tropical weather provides perfect running weather all year, so bring your running shoes. Kapiolani Park and Ala Moana Beach Park are where most joggers in Honolulu congregate; the 4-mile 6.4-km) loop around Diamond Head is also a popular and scenic route. If you're up for a challenge, Tantalus Drive above Makiki is a winding, two-lane road that is relatively safe for joggers. The Honolulu Marathon, held annually on the second Sunday in December, is a huge event that attracts from 20,000-25,000 runners annually.

Cycling around Honolulu's streets and bike paths can be a great way to see the city and stay in shape. There are several bike shops in the city that rent various types of bikes. You can also take Highway 72 to Waimanolo, east of Honolulu, if you want to get out on the open road.

Ice skating is probably the last thing you'd expect to be able to do in a tropical city, but the Ice Palace in Western Honolulu makes for the perfect getaway if the hot climate is too much for you.

On water
There are great surfing beaches around Waikiki. For lessons, beach boys give private surfing lessons daily at Waikiki Beach. A one hour lesson includes dry land and in-the-water instruction. Instructors teach paddling, timing and balance skills. No reservations required, just sign up at the stand on the beach at Diamondhead of the Waikiki Police Station. You can also try one of the many surfing schools in Waikiki.

Performing arts
In addition to the traditional luaus and hula shows, Hawaii has a thriving scene of theatre, concerts, clubs, bars, and other events and entertainment. Honolulu has two major theatre complexes. The oldest and most popular one is Diamond Head Theatre. They have been entertaining audiences with broadway style performances since 1919, and has been called "The Broadway of the Pacific". Another theatre is the Hawaii Theatre in Downtown Honolulu. They have similar performances to that of Diamond Head Theatre and have been performing since 1922. Other performances are also held at the Neil S. Blaisdell Arena and Concert Hall, and the Waikiki Shell.

Buy
See the Districts articles for more listings.

There are several shopping centers in Honolulu, ranging from your typical large strip malls to more unique areas popular with tourists. The International Market Place in Waikiki is one such spot, filled with market stalls and shops laid out amongst a jungle-like backdrop of banyan trees. Also in Waikiki is the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, the duty-free T Galleria by DFS, and the Waikiki Shopping Plaza, also very popular with tourists.

Downtown also has a few shopping areas. The Aloha Tower Marketplace on the harborfront next to Aloha Tower is popular with tourists. Between Downtown and Waikiki is the Ala Moana Center, the largest shopping mall in Hawaii and the largest open-air shopping center in the world. There are also the Victoria Ward Centers. For something truly unique, Chinatown has food and seafood markets, as well as many Lei (the ornamental flowered necklace) makers on the street corners.

Eastern Honolulu has a couple of regional malls, Kahala Mall and Koko Marina Center, with various large stores and movie theaters. In Western Honolulu, Aloha Stadium is home to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, and offers a chance to buy from local merchants and artists and get things for far cheaper than you can anywhere else. Past Western Honolulu in the suburb of Aiea is the Pearlridge Center, the largest indoor mall in the state, with the upscale outlet center Waikele Premium Outlets further afield in the suburb of Waipahu.

Eat
See the Districts articles for more listings.

For general information on the kind of food available in Hawaii, see the Eat section in the Hawaii article. Honolulu and Waikiki in particular offer a vast array of dining options for tourists. The local farmers markets are a great place for fresh and local food.

Scattered around Oahu are various locations of the local Zippy's chain. It's the island equivalent of Denny's; but much more popular with the locals. They provide a wide variety of food, including plate lunches at reasonable prices. Most are open 24 hours and as such are very popular late-night spots to hang out. Zippy's signature dish is their chili, which they prepare in many different ways: such as served over rice, or over a burrito, or over french fries. Another popular chain is Genki Sushi, a Japanese-style eatery with employees shouting "irrashaimase!" when you enter, which is the Japanese word for "welcome." Very popular with the younger crowd; the eatery offers many types of sushi, often served on a sushi conveyor belt.

Drink
See the Districts articles for more listings.

There are several places open till 2AM. Some are open until 4AM. Most of Honolulu's bars and night clubs can be found along Kuhio Avenue and are covered in the Waikiki article.

Sleep
See the Districts articles for more listings.

Not surprisingly, most hotels in Honolulu are found in Waikiki or its vicinity. Generally Hawaii is most popular when the weather is the worst on the U.S. mainland. High season in Hawaii is mid-December to March (high rates and tight booking), and June to September (high rates but somewhat easier booking). Low season is from spring (April to June) and fall (September to mid-December), when the best bargains are available.

Connect
The area code for Honolulu, and the rest of Hawaii, is 808.

Stay safe
Although Honolulu is relatively safe as far as violent crime goes, the risk of property crime is much greater. Take particular care when parking vehicles in popular tourist spots, especially Diamond Head and the Halona Blowhole near Sandy Beach; always lock your vehicle; and do not leave any valuables in your car. Keep all valuables within sight and within reach at all times. Your car is not a safe place to store anything: Thieves have commonly dismantled locks and broken into vehicles, or conversely will just bash open your window to get in. Use extra caution when visiting less savory parts of town, including the Chinatown district after dark, but during the day you should have no problem. Effective 25 October 2017, it's illegal in the city for pedestrians to look at their cell phones while crossing the street. (Talking on phones is permitted, and the law doesn't apply to sidewalks.)

Cope
There's a popular bumper sticker here: "Slow down, brah. This ain't the mainland." Drivers rarely use horns here, even if someone is stopped at a green light, or just going slow. Drive with some Aloha; leave room for others to change lanes and take your time. Whether you're visiting or a long-time kama'aina (local resident), there's little sense in driving fast on a small island.

Consulates
Most consulates are honorary which means they offer limited services to travelers and their nationals living in the area and usually available by appointment only. The nearest cities for additional foreign consulates for the west coast are in Los Angeles and San Francisco:

 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇧🇩 Bangladesh
 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇩🇰 Denmark
 * 🇫🇯 Fiji
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * Federated States of Micronesia
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇳🇿 New Zealand
 * 🇳🇴 Norway
 * 🇵🇹 Portugal
 * 🇵🇭 Philippines
 * 🇼🇸 Samoa
 * 🇦🇸 American Samoa
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden
 * 🇹🇼 Taiwan
 * 🇹🇴 Tonga
 * 🇹🇴 Tonga

Go next
Don't spend all your time on Waikiki Beach; the whole island of Oahu, with more secluded beaches, hiking opportunities, and the sight of huge waves in the winter, awaits you. Most of the island's major attractions can be seen in a day trip, or spread out over several days. Check out:
 * Kailua - Lanikai beach is a much quieter and beautiful alternative to Waikiki

title: Honolulu


text:
Honolulu/Downtown

Downtown Honolulu is the commercial and governmental center of the Hawaiian Islands, with a number of cultural attractions for visitors to enjoy. Unlike many cities in the United States, Honolulu's downtown has few hotels, with the city's major concentration of hotels located in the tourist center of Waikiki. Nevertheless, Downtown Honolulu and its adjacent neighborhoods have many historical and cultural attractions for the tourist to see, as well as a few nice parks and a smattering of restaurants and bars.

Get in
From Waikiki, taking Ala Moana Boulevard west will take you to the waterfront section of downtown, Aloha Tower, and Chinatown. To get to the Capital District from Waikiki, take Kalakaua Avenue and follow it until it ends at Beretania Street; Beretania Street will lead you into downtown.

From the airport and points west, you have the option of taking the H1 freeway eastbound to the Nimitz Highway (State Road 92) and following it into Downtown, or staying on H1 and getting off at either Vineyard Blvd (State Road 98) and following it into Downtown, or the Pali Highway (State Road 61) and turning south. From points east of Waikiki, get on H1 westbound and get off at Vineyard Blvd (State Road 98).

If you plan on driving to downtown Honolulu, be sure to bring a lot of quarters. Parking meters are easy to find, but the charge is 10 minutes per quarter. Many parking garages and parking lots are only equipped with parking meters. These include the ones underneath the state capitol building and at the Iolani palace. Without coins, it is extremely difficult to find a place to park.

Many bus routes serve Downtown, making it pretty easy to get to by mass transit. From the airport, routes #19 and #20 travel through Downtown, passing by the waterfront before continuing on to Waikiki. Routes #2 and #13 also connect Downtown to Waikiki, traveling along King and Beretania Streets pass the capitol district.

An elevated rail project, officially called HART, is under construction and is expected to be completed in phases through 2022. The line will connect Kapolei on the southern Leeward Coast with Downtown Honolulu, with stops at Pearl Harbor/Aloha Stadium and the airport.

Get around
Downtown Honolulu is about one mile across; all the major attractions are within walking distance of each other. Locations in the Ala Moana district are distant enough from Downtown to make driving or public transit more convenient. Most major roads in downtown have buses that run along them, e.g., TheBus routes #20 runs along Ala Moana Boulevard.

See

 * Bishop Street is Honolulu's equivalent of Wall Street, home to most of Honolulu's skyscrapers, including the, the tallest building in the Hawaiian Islands (450 ft/137 m tall).

Buy

The area around the intersection of Nuuanu and Pauahi is filled with art galleries and antique shops. The first Friday of every month is a downtown festival into the evening and all the galleries are open late. There is also a Farmer's Market every Tuesday and Friday from 7:30AM until 2:30PM on the Fort Street Mall, a pedestrian-only walkway running parallel to Bishop Street from Beretania Avenue to the waterfront.

Sleep
There are only a couple of hotels in the Downtown area; most hotels in the city are located in Waikiki or near the airport in Western Honolulu.

title: Honolulu/Downtown


text:
Honolulu/Eastern

Eastern Honolulu is an area of Honolulu, made up of several neighborhoods between the Diamond Head crater near Waikiki and Makapu'u Point, the very southeastern corner of Oahu. The neighborhoods of Kapahulu, Kaimuki, Kahala, Waialae, Aina Haina, and Hawaii Kai are covered here, along with the Makapu'u Point area.

Get in
From anywhere else in Honolulu, getting here is a simple matter of getting on the eastbound H1 freeway. Just after it passes the Kahala Mall, the H1 turns into a surface street - the Kalanianaole Highway (State Road 72). The Kalanianaole Highway passes everything of interest in this area, before curving north past Makapu'u Point and continuing upshore to Waimanalo and Kailua. From Waikiki, you can get to H1 by heading towards Downtown on Kalakaua Avenue, turning right on Kapiolani Blvd, and continuing to the H1 eastbound onramp.

There is bus service to this area, but it is somewhat limited. From Downtown, routes #1 and #1L go along the Kalanianaole Highway, with the 1 usually ending at the Kahala Mall and the 1L going all the way to Hawaii Kai. The #22 and #23 travel from Waikiki to Hanauma Bay and Sea Life Park, although service is limited.

title: Honolulu/Eastern


text:
Honolulu/Manoa-Makiki

Manoa and Makiki are two prominent neighborhoods of Honolulu situated in the foothills of the Ko'olau Mountains north of Downtown Honolulu. Along with Nu'uanu, these neighborhoods sit within valleys which extend into the Ko'olau Range, varying in character from unpretentious bungalows, 1960s cinderblock walkup apartments and small businesses in the lower reaches of the neighborhoods to upscale apartment and condo complexes on the hillsides above. Manoa is best known as the home of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, the main branch of the largest university in the Hawaiian Islands. Makiki sits beneath the Punchbowl crater, home to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, and gained fame as the birthplace and childhood home of former President Barack Obama.

Get in
Manoa and Makiki are bisected by the H-1 freeway, and are easily accessible heading East (from Downtown) via the Punahou or University exits and heading West (from Hawaii Kai) via the University or Wilder exits. You can also follow surface streets into the area, namely King Street (one way heading east) or Beretania Street (one way heading west), which run through the southern end of the Manoa and Makiki area and continue west straight into Downtown. Nu'uanu is located along the Pali Highway (State Road 61), which can be accessed from the freeway or, if coming from Downtown, by heading straight inland on surface streets.

If you're coming from Waikiki it's a 15 minute drive. Get on Kalakaua Avenue and head west, towards Downtown. For Manoa, turn right onto Kapiolani Blvd immediately after crossing the canal and continue for about half a mile before turning left onto University Avenue, which will take you straight to the UH campus. For Makiki, stay on Kalakaua Avenue until it ends at Beretania Street, where you make a left, then make a right onto either Keeaumoku Street or Ward Avenue, both of which will cross the freeway and take you into Makiki.

If taking TheBus, both the #2/#13 and #4 routes connect Makiki with Waikiki to the east and Downtown to the west, with the #2/#13 running along King and Beretania Streets and the #4 heading past the UH campus and along Wilder Avenue. The #4 also travels north of Downtown into Nu'uana.

See

 * Walking Tour of Obama's former neighborhood. This is one of the newest attractions in Honolulu; so new that there are no historical markers or signs erected by the city. In the thirty years since "Barry" Obama, as he was known as a youth, attended high school, the neighborhood hasn't changed all that much. Major landmarks along the walking tour, which takes about an hour to complete, include his grandmother's former apartment at the, (which he attended from 1971-1979),  (where Obama was born on August 4, 1961), the  (the site of Obama's baccalaureate), the  ice cream store where he worked after school, the  (where he learned to play basketball), and his mother's old apartment at . For a route and detailed description of the walking tour check out the maps available on the website.
 * Walking Tour of Obama's former neighborhood. This is one of the newest attractions in Honolulu; so new that there are no historical markers or signs erected by the city. In the thirty years since "Barry" Obama, as he was known as a youth, attended high school, the neighborhood hasn't changed all that much. Major landmarks along the walking tour, which takes about an hour to complete, include his grandmother's former apartment at the, (which he attended from 1971-1979),  (where Obama was born on August 4, 1961), the  (the site of Obama's baccalaureate), the  ice cream store where he worked after school, the  (where he learned to play basketball), and his mother's old apartment at . For a route and detailed description of the walking tour check out the maps available on the website.
 * Walking Tour of Obama's former neighborhood. This is one of the newest attractions in Honolulu; so new that there are no historical markers or signs erected by the city. In the thirty years since "Barry" Obama, as he was known as a youth, attended high school, the neighborhood hasn't changed all that much. Major landmarks along the walking tour, which takes about an hour to complete, include his grandmother's former apartment at the, (which he attended from 1971-1979),  (where Obama was born on August 4, 1961), the  (the site of Obama's baccalaureate), the  ice cream store where he worked after school, the  (where he learned to play basketball), and his mother's old apartment at . For a route and detailed description of the walking tour check out the maps available on the website.

Do

 * Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wāhine. The southern end of the UH campus is home to most of the university's sports facilities. The baseball team plays at, while the men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams play at . With the football team's former home of Aloha Stadium in Western Honolulu having been permanently closed in 2020 due to structural issues and set for demolition, the team was forced to move to the university's far smaller on-campus track and field stadium, the . (A new football stadium is planned for the Aloha Stadium site.) Adjacent to these three facilities are the university's swimming pool, tennis courts, and softball and soccer fields. Note that UH is one of a dwindling number of schools with separate nicknames for men's and women's teams—men are Rainbow Warriors and women are Rainbow Wāhine (the second word translates to "women" in the Hawaiian language).

title: Honolulu/Manoa-Makiki


text:
Honolulu/Waikiki

One of the best-known beaches in the world, Waikiki is a famous district of the city of Honolulu, on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. Sandwiched between the Ala Wai Canal and the ocean in the shadow of the towering Diamond Head crater, Waikiki is noted for being the tourist center of the Hawaiian Islands.

Understand
Waikiki was the favorite playground of Hawaiian royalty in the 19th century, when it was an area of wetlands fed by streams from the valleys above Honolulu. That all changed in the 1920s when the government decided to build what would become the Ala Wai Canal, which would drain the wetlands and pave the way for later development.

These days, this 1.5-mile (2.4-km) stretch of white sand beach is the nucleus of Hawaii's tourist industry, packed full of high-rise hotels that promise to treat you like a king, some of which may also require a king's ransom for admission. Although it is often criticized for its concrete-jungle appearance, large crowds, and touristy feel, there is a lot to enjoy here and you can still find a quiet spot if you know where to look.

Get in
For information on getting to Honolulu, see the Get in section of the Honolulu article.

From the airport, there are plenty of options for getting to Waikiki. There are various airport shuttle services to hotels in Waikiki starting at $12 per person (Nov 2021). Some are full coach buses, and if your hotel is on the eastern end of Waikiki, it will take the shuttle just as long to get through all the other hotels and traffic as it did to reach Waikiki from the airport. If you are a party of multiple people, it's better to take a cab.

Additionally, city bus #20 ($3 in bills, coins, or Holo card; no change given) connects Waikiki to the airport once every half-hour, passing through Downtown. You can catch them on the outside second level of the international and domestic departure terminals. The bus only allows luggage that fits on your lap and under your seat. If you have more luggage than this, consider other options.

If coming to Waikiki by car from the airport or points west, follow signs for the H1 freeway east, then follow H-1 east about 2 miles (3 km) to the Waikiki/Nimitz Highway exit and follow the Nimitz Highway (which turns into Ala Moana Boulevard past Downtown) straight into Waikiki. Another option is to stay on H1 east and take exit 25A (King Street); after merging onto King Street, stay to the right and take the second right onto Kapahulu Avenue and follow Kapahulu into Waikiki. If coming from the east, take H1 west to the Kapiolani Blvd exit and follow to Kapiolani Blvd to McCully Street and make a left into Waikiki.

Get around
When getting directions in Hawaii you're more likely to hear "mauka", "makai", "ewa", and "diamond/koko head" rather than north, south, west or east. Mauka means towards the mountains. Makai means towards the water, in this case the ocean. Ewa means toward Ewa Beach, or roughly west, and Diamond/Koko Head means roughly east in the direction of Diamond Head. This means that directions are dependent on where you are on the island. In the case of Waikiki and Honolulu, which are located on the south shore of Oahu, mauka roughly means north, and makai roughly means south.

In Waikiki, the three main streets, from makai to mauka, are Kalakaua Avenue (one way Ewa to Diamond Head, along Waikiki Beach), Kuhio Avenue (two-way), and Ala Wai Boulevard (one way Diamond Head to Ewa, along the Ala Wai Canal).

Everything in Waikiki is within easy walking distance of each other. Another option is to use a moped - around Waikiki, numerous stands can rent mopeds (small motor scooters). Prices vary greatly, so look around a bit before deciding. These bikes generally cannot exceed, allowing for easy travel on city streets. A couple of rules to remember and locals will respect you better:
 * 1) Stay to the right! At all times stay as far right as possible, and if turning, stay to the far right of the lane you are in (moving to the far right side of the road as soon as you can).
 * 2) It is illegal to ride double, so avoid having a passenger on your bike.
 * 3) Don't park your bike on the sidewalk -- police will ticket.
 * 4) Unless experienced, don't ride the bikes in at night in dark areas -- it is very difficult for you to be seen.

See

 * Kapiolani Park. A large public park at the east end of Waikiki (toward Diamond Head), home to the amphitheater and the Honolulu Zoo. Right across the street on the shore is the Waikiki Aquarium.

Beaches

If not the most famous stretch of beach in the world, Waikiki Beach (which is in fact, a series of beaches) is by far the most famous in Hawaii. It forms the foreground of most postcard pictures, with Diamond Head in the background, and it is the first beach that comes to mind when most people think of Hawaii. Consequently, it is also, by far, the most crowded. It's a good place to learn to surf if you can manage not to hit or be hit by other beginners in the throng.

From west to east:

Do
First time visitors should be sure to book at least one luau. Some are better than others, check with your hotel concierge for recommendations.

 * Waikiki has excellent surfing for beginners and old hands alike. It doesn't have the killer waves like Pipeline, but it has nice small longboard waves right off the beach which is where the beginners lessons are. A bit of a paddle will bring you out to some moderate sized waves. There are several places to rent boards and hire lessons right on the beach, all of which open early, and there are countless cheaper places to rent off-beach.

Buy
At the west end of Waikiki you can find the ridiculously expensive stores like Armani, Tiffany's, and Bvlgari.

Drink
Almost all bars in Waikiki also serve good food and sometimes it's hard to draw the line between pub and restaurant. Any of these places should also be considered a good place to get dinner.

Sleep
There are many hotels in Waikiki. Try to find a place that's close to the center of town and has decent amenities and has been recently renovated. Don't bother eating at the hotel restaurant unless it's one of the famous high-end ones like Duke's. The usual hotel booking websites all do a pretty good job here, although don't be surprised to find that the name of your hotel has changed since you booked your reservation.

Stay safe

 * If you are not familiar with this climate, at times you may feel like you are about two inches from the sun. The cool breezes or convertible you are driving may offset the heat, but not the ultraviolet sun rays. Take appropriate care and keep the convertible top up, until evening or early morning.
 * Do not pick up strangers, regardless of whether they act friendly and say they really need a ride.
 * Be careful when you're in the ocean. Never underestimate the power of the currents and the waves, and don't swim alone. If in doubt, ask a lifeguard about the current conditions. If there are signs posted, heed them. Jellyfish sometimes float near shore — if you get stung, head to a lifeguard station.  The lifeguard will spray vinegar on the stings.
 * Although certainly safer at night than Chinatown, exercise caution when walking in Waikiki at night. A potent mix of drug dealers, prostitutes and drunken tourists can explode into a bad situation.
 * Theft is rampant on Waikiki Beach. Never leave items unattended.

Connect
There is an internet cafe,, at 2463 Kuhio Ave. Also in same building there is a little shop to get a prepaid SIM card for your mobile, Dakine Cellular. Tiny place, but helpful staff.

Go next
Waikiki is a pleasant place, but there is much more to see in the rest of Honolulu and other parts of Oahu. Definitely consider making it your base, but unless all you want to do is be on the beach in Waikiki during the day and have dinner and cocktails there at night, don't spend all of your time there.

title: Honolulu/Waikiki


text:
Honolulu/Western

Western Honolulu is an area of Honolulu, made up of the neighborhoods between Downtown Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. The neighborhoods of Kalihi, Moanalua, Salt Lake, as well as the Honolulu International Airport and Pearl Harbor are covered in this article.

Get in
Getting to this area from anywhere else in Honolulu is a simple matter of getting on the westbound H1 freeway and following it in. The freeway passes by the main points of interest here: the Bishop Museum (take the Kalihi Street/State Road 63 exit), the airport, and Pearl Harbor (get on State Road 99 westbound), continuing west into the suburbs past Pearl Harbor, ending at Kapolei. If coming from Waikiki or Honolulu, get on Ala Moana Boulevard and follow it west; it will become the Nimitz Highway and merge into H1 near the airport.

TheBus route #20 connects Waikiki and Downtown with the airport, continuing past Pearl Harbor. Also serving Pearl Harbor from Waikiki and Downtown is the #42. If heading to Kalihi and the Bishop Museum, the #2 runs from Waikiki and Downtown.

Pearl Harbor

title: Honolulu/Western


text:
Honor

Honor is a city in Northern Michigan.

Get in
Honor is a small village located in Benzie County in Northwestern Lower Michigan close to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the Platte Lakes, Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan also the Platte River runs through the outskirts of town which makes Honor a popular canoeing and fishing destination.

title: Honor


text:
Honshu

Honshu (本州 Honshū, lit. "main island/province") is the largest island of Japan, housing the great majority of its population and hosting most of the visitors as well. Due to its size, it is commonly subdivided into smaller regions. From northeast to southwest:

title: Honshu