Walking Tour of Historic Downtown
Honolulu
Walking Tour of Historic Downtown
Honolulu |
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ISLAND GIFT SHOP
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Honolulu means "protected bay" in the Hawaiian language. Honolulu Harbor has always been the main boat harbor in Hawaii and was the first area to be developed by westerners who came to the islands. There are many interesting historical spots within walking distance of each other which makes for a great walking tour. You can enjoy an entire day by exploring historic downtown Honolulu by foot. All the spots mentioned in this review are located within about a one mile radius.
Docked next to Aloha Tower is the HAWAII MARITIME CENTER which features the historic Hokulea Polynesian sailing canoe. The canoe was crafted in the ancient tradition and is a replica of those used by the first settlers of Hawaii. They also have the only four-mast, full-rigged iron ship left in the world. Their whaling museum displays the rare complete skeleton of a humpback whale, one of only two in the world.
Located a short walk from Aloha Tower are other interesting historical sites. On the corner of Merchant and Bethel Streets is the site of KAMEHAMEHA V POST OFFICE which was built in 1870 and used as a post office until 1922. This building (shown above) is the first structure in Honolulu built entirely of concrete and iron bars to reinforce the pre-cast blocks. At the time this reinforcing technique was still experimental in Europe and was probably unknown in the United States. The cannon above and others that had once armed the Fort at Honolulu Harbor were placed in front of the post office to use as hitching posts for horses. The building and cannons still stand today, the building is now the office for the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.
On all four corners of Merchant and Bethel Streets there are unique buildings of amazing architectural design built between 1854 and 1931. It is interesting to walk around this block and just look at the intricate building trim and design.
Because of the close proximity to Honolulu Harbor some of the oldest buildings in Hawaii can be found in this area. From the corner of Merchant and Bethel streets we recommend exploring the surrounding streets of Merchant Street, Bethel Street, and Fort Street.
As you head up Bethel Street you will enter the CHINATOWN DISTRICT. In the 1860's the Chinese plantation laborers who completed their contracts moved to this part of Honolulu. This area was wiped out by a fire in 1886, but the Chinese rebuilt it. In 1900 the while the Board of Health was burning down some buildings to eradicate a bubonic plague outbreak the fire got out of control and burned down 12 blocks. The Chinese again rebuilt their shops and homes. Today you will find a collection of bakeries, noodle shops, produce vendors, meat and fish vendors, Chinese herbalists, flower and lei shops, Asian gift shops, pool halls, bars, and book shops.
You'll be amazed at the wide variety of fresh meat, shellfish, and fish there is available. We found literally every part of an animal available for sale. There are also large selections of fresh produce; from local and exotic fruits to popular Asian cooking vegetables. The prices on the produce and meat are very reasonable and everything is very fresh. If you plan to cook a meal while on Oahu this would be a great place to pick up supplies.
It's a good idea to explore Chinatown with an empty stomach because there are many great shops to stop in and try unique Asian pastries and delicacies. Whole roasted duck and pig are popular dishes for special celebrations and the best place to acquire these ono (delicious) dishes is in Chinatown.
The oldest restaurant on Oahu is WO FAT CHOP SUI on Mauna Kea Street. The building is easy to locate because the beautiful Chinese inspired architecture really stands out. They serve a nice selection of Asian dishes with good ambience. It is a great place to go if you want to enjoy a sit down lunch or dinner.
On MAUNA KEA STREET there is an interesting market place filled with vendors of Asian products, souvenirs, and food vendors. We do not recommend exploring Chinatown after dark. The area tends to attract some not so desirable folks in the evening hours.
Heading West from Chinatown are a collection of historic buildings that are very significant in Hawaiian history. IOLANI PALACE, shown above, was built in 1882 to replace a more modest one story palace that stood there during the reign of five kings Kamehameha III, Kamehameha IV, and Kamehameha V, Lunalilio, and Kalakaua. Construction cost almost $350,000 which was a huge amount of money in the 1800's. The palace has been restored and many of the original decorations are on display. Informative guided tours are offered by reservation. The CORONATION PAVILION is located on a corner of the Palace grounds. It was constructed octagonal in shape with it's eight pillars representing the eight major islands in the Hawaiian Chain. Each Friday the Royal Hawaiian Band provides a free concert at noon.
Also located on the Palace grounds is 'IOLANI BARRACKS. It was originally built where the State Capitol Mall is now and was constructed of coral cut from the reef bordering Honolulu. The Barracks were moved block by block to the current location in 1965. The Barracks were the headquarters and home to the Royal Household Guards from 1871-1896. Across the street from 'Iolani Palace is the ALI'IOLANI HALE which was built in 1874 and was the Hawaiian Nation's courthouse and the meeting place of the legislative assembly. Today it houses the State Supreme Court. A statue of King Kamehameha the Great stands in front of Ali'iolani Hale.
In 1878 the Hawaiian Kingdom's legislature commissioned a STATUE OF KAMEHAMEHA THE GREAT and arranged for American sculptor living in Europe, Thomas B Gould, to sculpt and cast the statue. King Kalakaua chose his close friend John Timoteo Baker to be the model for photographs sent to Gould in Europe to create the statue. He was chosen because of his handsomeness rather than his likeness to Kamehameha I. When the finished statue was shipped from Bremen, Germany the vessel caught fire just off the Falkland Islands and sank. A copy of the statue that sank was created and shipped to Hawaii and is what has stood at Ali'iolani Hale since 1883. The original statue was later recovered and now stands outside the old courthouse in Kohala on the Big Island near the birthplace of King Kamehameha I. Each year on the birthday of Kamehameha I, June 11, the statues are draped in beautiful leis to honor the King who united the Hawaiian islands.
Behind the Kawaiah'ao Church on King Street are three MISSION HOUSES built between 1821 and 1841. In 1821 a prefabricated frame house that was cut and fit in Boston, Massachusetts was constructed in Hawaii to create the oldest frame house in Hawaii. It served as the home for the early missionaries. In 1831 the Chamberlain House was built of coral blocks cut from Honolulu Harbor and was used as the storehouse for mission goods. An addition constructed of coral block was built in 1841 and was used as a bedroom for the frame house and was also used as a print house.
ST. ANDREW'S CATHEDRAL (upper-left photo) is an Episcopal Church that construction began in Hawaii with stone from England in 1867 and took over 90 years to complete. Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma raised funds in England for the Anglican church while visiting Queen Victoria in 1861. The cathedral is located at the corner of Beretania and Queen Emma Streets. The projected cathedral became a memorial to Kamehameha IV and was named for the day on which he died in 1863, Saint Andrew's Feast. Next to St. Andrew's Cathedral on South Beretania Street is WASHINGTON PLACE (upper-middle photo). In the early 1840's a successful merchant and ship's captain John Dominis began construction of this lavish home. The Territory of Hawaii purchased Washington Place from his family in 1921 and it has been used as the Governor's mansion ever since. This is the oldest continuously-occupied residence in Honolulu. On the other side of Washington Place is the ARMED FORCES ETERNAL FLAME MEMORIAL OF HAWAII.
Across the street from Washington Place and the Armed Forces Eternal Flame Memorial of Hawaii is the HAWAII STATE CAPITOL BUILDING. A replica of the Liberty Bell that was presented to Hawaii when it became a State stands in front of the Capitol. The State Seal and Motto hangs over the entry into the Capitol. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor's office is located at the Capitol on the top floor and is open to the public. They have interesting artifacts on display in their offices and you can check out where important decisions are made in paradise.
Between the south of the Capitol Building and 'Iolani Palace stands a beautiful bold statue of QUEEN LILI'UOKALANI, the last reigning Hawaiian Monarch. On the southwest grounds of the Capitol is the KOREAN AND VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL OF HAWAII.
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