American Cities, CITYSCAPES

Honolulu in Focus: How a Sheltered Harbor Became a Kingdom’s Capital

Aloha! Welcome to Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, the youngest state of the United States.

The City of Honolulu is often called the “Crossroads of the Pacific” because it is literally the largest and most isolated urban center in the entire world!

Unless you actually live in the Hawaiian archipelago, you are traveling some serious distance to get there.

Aerial view of a city skyline with tall buildings along a marina, surrounded by lush greenery and mountains in the background during sunset.
Magic Island (foreground), Kahanamoku Lagoon & Ala Wai Boat Harbor | Purchase

From cities in nations along the Pacific Rim, Honolulu is:

  • 2,560 miles / 4,120 km from Los Angeles, California, USA.
  • 3,860 miles / 6,210 km from Tokyo, Japan.
  • 4,381 miles / 7,050 km from Auckland, New Zealand.
  • 4,947 miles / 7,962 km from Shanghai, China.
  • 5,064 miles / 8,150 km from Sydney, Australia.
  • 5,254 miles / 8,460 km from Panama City, Panama.
  • 5,306 miles / 8,540 km from Manila, Philippines.
  • 6,860 miles / 11,040 km from Santiago, Chile.
Distances provided by TravelMath.com
Map showing Honolulu at the center, with distance indicators to various cities including Tokyo, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Manila, Sydney, Auckland, Panama City, and Santiago.
Honolulu’s distance from other cities along the Pacific Rim
Aerial view of a city at dusk, showcasing skyscrapers, waterfront, and urban structures with a colorful sunset in the background.
Aerial View of Downtown Honolulu @ Twilight | Purchase

Translated from Polynesian to mean “Sheltered Harbor”, historians debate the age of Honolulu, which was first settled by Polynesian immigrants sometime between 900 and 2,000 years ago! By any definition, Honolulu is definitely an ancient city in its own right.

City skyline at night reflecting in water, featuring tall buildings and palm trees alongside a waterfront promenade.
Ala Wai Canal & Waikiki Skyline, Honolulu | Purchase

Before becoming the 50th state of the United States in 1959, Hawaii was its own kingdom for more than two centuries. The archipelago was ruled by a lineage of seven kings and one queen during its extensive and fascinating history. Kamehameha III, Hawaii’s third king, proclaimed Honolulu as the kingdom’s capital in 1795.

Long exposure shot of a highway at dusk, featuring streaks of car lights and a city skyline in the background, with signs indicating directions to Waikiki.
Interstate H1 & Honolulu Skyline @ Dusk | Purchase

The capital city, located on the island of Oahu, is both magnificent and mystifying. Many visitors come for the wide selection of beaches to sunbathe and surf. Additionally, if one wishes to attain a solemn perspective regarding how the United States entered World War II, a memorable visit to Pearl Harbor is only a few miles away.

View of a beach with people sunbathing and playing in the sand, with tall buildings and palm trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
Hotel Resorts & Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki | Purchase

As a personal recommendation, if you’re able to rent a car or obtain transportation, a scenic drive along Interstate H3 (a.k.a. the John A. Burns Freeway), is highly recommended. The distance from one end to the other is about 15 miles, but your eyes will behold some of Oahu’s most enchanting natural landscapes. (In retrospect, I wish I had some additional photos from my drive to illustrate this point)!

A scenic view of a city skyline along a waterfront, with a rainbow arching over the buildings. The foreground features a sandy area with rocks and greenery, while the background shows modern skyscrapers and mountains under a partly cloudy sky.
Rainbow Adjacent to Downtown Honolulu | Purchase

Whatever you choose to do in Honolulu will be enjoyable. The people of this very isolated oasis are friendly, very laid back, and have a keen sense of humor.

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TIA INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

TIA International Photography (TIA) is a licensed, small photography business based in Seattle, Washington, USA. TIA specializes in cityscapes (international, American, and Canadian), night-time, and event photography. TIA International Photography's objective is to contemplate, execute, and deliver cityscapes and urban landscapes of your city, town, region, or locale in the most mesmerizing and atypical way possible. You can license and purchase print enlargements of TIA's cityscapes and travel photography directly from TIA's official website. Tosin I. Arasi is a Professional Photographer and the Sole Proprietor of TIA.

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