From the harbor, the City & County of Honolulu was developed and urbanized, in an outward fashion, over the course of the modern history of the island of Oahu.

The boat rowed into the harbor on December 12, 1786, commanded by a Mr. Hayward and piloted by Towanooha, servant of a friendly Hawaiian priest.

Foreign vessels that docked at Honolulu Harbor poured vast amounts of wealth into the kingdom's coffers and provided for the well-being of native Hawaiians.

Honolulu has become a historical Hawaiian town and transformed into the state’s capital city mainly due to its status as the world-famous port.

The city title was taken from the harbor, which serves as the center of the state’s corporate and commercial operations as well as the major tourist attraction for the island’s 884,000 citizens.

In 1982, the Hawaiʻi Maritime Center was opened near the Aloha Tower in an old royal pier to present the history of Honolulu Harbor and the relative industries it served.

[7] The Honolulu Harbor will be served by five Skyline stations: Mokauea (Kalihi), Niuhelewai (Kapalama), Kūwili (Iwilei), Hōlau (Chinatown), and Kuloloia (Downtown) once it opens its city center phase in 2031.