Honolulu (/ˌhɒnəˈluːluː/ ⓘ HON-ə-LOO-loo;[8] Hawaiian: [honoˈlulu]) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean.

The city is characterized by a mix of various Asian, Western, and Pacific cultures, reflected in its diverse demography, cuisine, and traditions.

[12] The city's desirability as a port accounts for its historical growth and importance in the Hawaiian archipelago and the broader Pacific region.

The city gained worldwide recognition following the Empire of Japan's attack on nearby Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which prompted the entry of the U.S. into World War II; the harbor remains a major U.S. Navy base, hosting the United States Pacific Fleet, the world's largest naval command.

[14][15] Honolulu's favorable tropical climate, rich natural scenery, and extensive beaches make it a popular global destination for tourists.

[16] Evidence of the first settlement of Honolulu by the original Polynesian migrants to the archipelago comes from oral histories and artifacts.

The settlement grew from a handful of homes to a city in the early 19th century after Kamehameha I chose it as a replacement for his residence at Waikiki in 1810.

[19] He and the kings who followed him transformed Honolulu into a modern capital, erecting buildings such as St. Andrew's Cathedral, ʻIolani Palace, and Aliʻiōlani Hale.

At the same time, Honolulu became the islands' center of commerce, with descendants of American missionaries establishing major businesses downtown.

Modern air travel brings, as of 2007[update], 7.6 million visitors annually to the islands, with 62.3% entering at Honolulu International Airport.

[22] Today, Honolulu is a modern city with numerous high-rise buildings, and Waikiki is the center of the tourism industry in Hawaii, with thousands of hotel rooms.

[26] Honolulu experiences a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen classification BSh), with a mostly dry summer season, due to a rain shadow effect.

The "winter" months from December to March can occasionally see lows fall below 64 °F (18 °C), whereas the "summer" from June to September can get a limited number of hot days achieving 90 °F (32 °C) or higher.

The Asian ethnic groups are Japanese (19.9%), Filipinos (13.2%), Chinese (10.4%), Koreans (4.3%), Vietnamese (2.0%), Indians (0.3%), Laotians (0.3%), Thais (0.2%), Cambodians (0.1%), and Indonesians (0.1%).

[57] Similarly, the general cost of living, including gasoline, electricity, and most foodstuffs, is much higher than on the U.S. mainland, because the city and state have to import most goods.

[58] According to a 2024 report from the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, Honolulu experienced a 1.5 percentage point higher CPI-U compared to the 3.2% U.S. average increase in the first half of 2024.

[62] The Honolulu Zoo is Hawaii's main zoological institution, while the Waikiki Aquarium is a working marine biology laboratory.

The main music venues include the Hawaii Theatre, the Neal Blaisdell Center Concert Hall and Arena, and the Waikiki Shell.

They include consulates of Japan,[78] South Korea,[79] the Philippines,[80] Taiwan,[81] Federated States of Micronesia,[82] Australia,[83] New Zealand[84] and the Marshall Islands.

The Pacific Forum, one of the world's leading Asia-Pacific policy research institutes and one of the first U.S. organizations to focus exclusively on Asia, has its main office on Bishop Street in downtown Honolulu.

The East–West Center (EWC), an education and research organization established by Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific, and the U.S., is headquartered in Mānoa, Honolulu.

The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), a U.S. Department of Defense institute, is based in Waikiki, Honolulu.

[87] Public high schools in the CDP area include Wallace Rider Farrington, Kaiser, Kaimuki, Kalani, Moanalua, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt.

[91] Branches in the CDP area include Aiea, Aina Haina, Ewa Beach, Hawaiʻi Kai, Kahuku, Kailua, Kaimuki, Kalihi-Palama, Kaneohe, Kapolei, Liliha, Mānoa, McCully-Moiliili, Mililani, Moanalua, Wahiawa, Waialua, Waianae, Waikiki-Kapahulu, Waimanalo, and Waipahu.

At the western end of the CDP, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is the principal aviation gateway to the state of Hawaii.

Kalaeloa Airport is primarily a commuter facility used by unscheduled air taxis, general aviation and transient and locally based military aircraft.

[97] In November 2010, voters approved a charter amendment to create a public transit authority to oversee the planning, construction, operation and future extensions to Honolulu's rail system, now known as Skyline.

Skyline aims to alleviate traffic congestion for West Oʻahu commuters while being integral in the westward expansion of the metropolitan area.

[108][109][110][111] According to the 2016 American Community Survey (five-year average), 56% of Urban Honolulu residents commuted to work by driving alone, 13.8% carpooled, 11.7% used public transportation, and 8.7% walked.

Honolulu Police Department has a mixed fleet of marked patrol cars and unmarked along with a subsidized vehicle program in place.