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Neighborhoods
- ALA MOANA: Stretching west from Waikiki, this district, along with Downtown, comprises the bulk of Honolulu's retail and business markets. Ala Moana Beach Park attracts swimmers and picnickers to its lovely setting, while just behind it, Ala Moana Shopping Center is a mecca for shoppers, thanks to its wealth of upscale shops and boutiques. The Downtown area is known for its office towers and historic sites. Aloha Tower Marketplace, set right on the harbor, is a gathering spot day and night, and visitors can tour such well-known locales as Iolani Palace and the Bishop Museum.
- CHINATOWN: Towards the western edge of downtown lies a compact district that the Asian community made its own as far back as the 1850s, when they came to Hawaii to work on sugar and pineapple plantations. Opting to be merchants rather than workers, they established their own businesses and created a thriving district. Although Chinatown was destroyed by fire in both 1886 and 1900, residents rebuilt, and the area is bustling yet today. Folks often come for the vibrant atmosphere, the scent of spices and flowers, and the exotic items displayed in open-air markets. When you visit, make sure to explore the Cultural Plaza and the Maunakea Marketplace.
- DOWNTOWN: Stretching west from Waikiki, this district, along with Ala Moana, comprises the bulk of Honolulu's retail and business markets. The Downtown area is known for its office towers and historic sites. Aloha Tower Marketplace, set right on the harbor, is a gathering spot day and night, and visitors can tour such well-known locales as Iolani Palace and the Bishop Museum. Ala Moana Beach Park, then, attracts swimmers and picnickers to its lovely setting, while just behind it, Ala Moana Shopping Center is a mecca for shoppers, thanks to its wealth of upscale shops and boutiques.
- MANOA VALLEY: Most famous for being home to the University of Hawaii, this lush valley also serves as something of a city suburbs, thanks to its comfortable, turn-of-the-century homes and relaxed surroundings. The university-affiliated Lyon Arboretum emphasizes the area's natural beauty, which is also evidenced by lovely Manoa Falls. For terrific shopping, locals head to Manoa Marketplace, which plays host to a number of great restaurants and specialty shops.
- NORTH SHORE: With a reputation for relaxed living and incredible waves, this portion of the island attracts its fair share of latter-day hippies and surfers, both of whom eschew the corporate lifestyle. The North Shore offers all sorts of outdoor recreations, from hiking to scuba diving, parasailing to horseback riding. You'll also find one of the last vestiges of old Hawaii here, where locals stick to their heritage rather than sell out to development. Although the town of Haleiwa is most often equated with the North Shore, the area stretches across the top of Oahu, from western Kaena Point to Waimea Bay and east to Laie.
- WAIKIKI: Perhaps best known for its tourist trade and accompanying glitz, this region actually began as reclaimed swamp land west of Diamond Head. Today, it's rife with elaborate hotels, an abundance of shopping, and restaurants galore. As such, it remains the district of choice for folks vacationing in Hawaii who want to be in the midst of everything. For visitors who crave social activity, whether on the beach or in the bars, it's the ultimate destination. Authenticity, of course, isn't paramount, but fun is always on the agenda.
- AIEA
- AIRPORT
- DIAMOND HEAD
- EAST OAHU
- FORD ISLAND
- HALEIWA
- HAUULA
- HAWAII KAI
- HONOLULU
- IWILEI
- KA'A'AWA
- KAHALA
- KAHUKU
- KAILUA
- KAIMUKI
- KAKAAKO
- KALIHI
- KAPAHULU
- KAPOLEI
- LAIE
- LILIHA
- MAIKIKI HEIGHTS
- MANOA
- MILILANI
- MOILIILI
- NIU VALLEY
- NORTH HONOLULU
- NUUANU
- PEARL CITY
- PUPUKEA
- WAHIAWA
- WAIANAE
- WAIMANALO
- WAIPAHU
