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Modern Honolulu is a bustling metropolis, home to the state government, major industrial interests, large commercial entities, and a primary entry point for the tourist industry. It is certainly a large city (over a million people) but is also definitely still an island location with charm and beauty. Located on the island of Oahu, holiday travellers will find some of the most famous Hawaiian attractions in and around Honolulu.
Waikiki Beach, perhaps the best known beach in the world, is located in Honolulu and is a major draw for visitors. Along this scenic beach you will find terrific opportunities to surf, play in the water, relax in the sunshine, and the like. Just off the beach are some of the best shopping areas in Honolulu, making it easy and convenient for travellers to combine beach activities with shopping activities.
Honolulu is the gateway to major U.S. military memorials, particularly in and around Pearl Harbour. These include the very moving USS Arizona Memorial where you can learn about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941. After exploring the visitor centre visitors board a ferry boat taking them out to a floating platform located directly above the USS Arizona, which is easily visible in its final resting place on the bottom of the harbour. If you plan to visit this amazing place, be sure to arrive early in the day to secure tickets because they often run out by lunch time.
Another spectacular war memorial to see is the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Here are buried over 45,000 Americans whose military service is honoured. It is located high above the city on the crater rim, which means it offers a stunning panoramic view. Also located in the cemetery is The Courts of the Missing, a gorgeous and moving shrine built of glistening marble to remember those soldiers missing in action from World War II. It is inscribed with the names of all of these soldiers, creating a sense of personal contact and connection with the missing.
When you're ready to explore the amazing landscapes of Honolulu and the surrounding area, plan a visit to Diamond Head State Monument. This is an ancient crater of an ancient volcano, offering a stunning glimpse into the origins of the Hawaiian Islands. You can drive or take a tour bus up to Diamond Head and then hike along the rim of the crater to reach the crater basin. It is a truly fantastic adventure so be sure to bring along your camera and your comfortable walking shoes.
Honolulu offers some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving locations in Hawaii, most notable at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. This bay is actually the crater of a long extinct volcano, filled with exotic fish, beautiful coral, and other interesting marine life. You can rent snorkels and swim fins right there at the bay, so get there early in the day to ensure there is plenty of equipment available.
The Honolulu International Airport is the primary entry point for holiday travellers coming to Hawaii. It is served by a wide range of international carriers from all over the U.S. and the Pacific Rim countries, so finding a convenient flight is generally pretty straightforward. From this airport you can catch connecting flights to the other islands and holiday destinations across the Hawaiian Islands. Getting into Honolulu proper is easy via shuttle vans, buses, taxis, or rental cars.
Wiki:- Honolulu
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