It isn’t exactly the nation’s capital or Philadelphia that you’ll be touring here. In the first place, most of Hawaii’s history is oral – passed along from generation to generation and only recently committed to book and electronic recording.
Hawaii has been a state for just 50 years. Almost half the country was alive when Hawaii became a state.
Our monuments are natural ones. In contrast to the Washington Monument, the Seattle Space Needle, the St. Louis Arch and Independence Hall, we offer Diamond Head, Haleakala, the Na Pali Coast and Kilauea Volcano.
But there is a Historic Honolulu to see. It’s more than worthwhile, and it doesn’t take very long to cover – half a day should do it.
The area is on the Waikiki side of Downtown Honolulu. A good place to start is at the statue of Kamehameha, on King Street across from Iolani Palace. It’s a favorite photographic attraction, commemorating King Kamehameha I, who was the warrior who united (some would say conquered) all the islands. The statue is draped with dozens of 30-foot lei in June to celebrate his birthday, which is a state holiday.
Across the street, Iolani Palace is the only royal residence in the United States. It was built in 1822 by King David Kalakaua and was last occupied in 1893 by Queen Lilioukalani, who was deposed. The grounds are pleasant and welcoming, and inside tours can be arranged during which you can witness the furnishings and amenities that prevailed at the time.
In the same area, the Hawaii State Capitol is worth a look, if only for its non-traditional architectural approach. The Hawaii State Art Museum is a beautiful and rewarding stop, and, on the other side of the palace, Honolulu Hale (City Hall) and Kawaiahao Church are eye-catching landmarks.
The Mission Houses, next to the church, were the original headquarters of the Sandwich Islands Mission, are the oldest structures in Honolulu and provide a link to an era of significant cultural change in the islands. Built between 1821 and 1841, the three mission houses that make up the MissionHawaii Vacation Blog - Hawaii Travel Guide, Hawaii News › Edit — WordPress Houses Museum served as homes and workplaces for the first Christian missionaries to travel to the Hawaiian Islands. The Frame House was shipped around Cape Horn from Boston in 1820 and is the oldest wood house in Hawaii. The Chamberlain House, built of coral blocks, was both a family home and storehouse for mission supplies. The third building today functions as the Printing Office. A working replica of the first printing press to be brought to Hawaii is demonstrated there on a regular basis.
You might consider beginning or finishing your tour of the area at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Aloha Tower once was the tallest structure in the islands and served as a welcoming beacon to the visitors who first reached island shores on luxurious passenger liners. The marketplace features lots of unique shops with international labels, Hawaii-made fashions and crafts, some great restaurants and free attractions – right on the water.
It’s not the most exciting history you’ll ever re-live, but it is unique and enjoyable. If you’d like us to help you work a tour into your vacation plans, pick an agent at Hawaii-Aloha.Com, or call 1-800-843-8771.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
Related Blog Posts:
Hawaii’s 50th Anniversary of Statehood
Make Way, Hawaii Has arrived
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March 24th, 2009
Here’s a current published description of a relatively-new Honolulu restaurant:
The majestic "Million Dollar" ocean view from The Ka Ikena Restaurant is surpassed only by the gourmet delights found on its menus. Great food at reasonable prices, served in a beautiful atmosphere — that is the Ka Ikena Restaurant.
Sounds like a typical blurb for a pretty typical restaurant, doesn’t it?
But Ka Ikena is, in fact, not typical at all.
Let’s back up a little. You may be aware of what is referred to as “Hawaii Regional Cuisine (HRC).” It’s the island style of cooking that utilizes Hawaii’s freshest ingredients of all varieties and incorporates them into wonderfully creative and beautifully presented dishes at many of the state’s high-end restaurants. Not only has Hawaii Regional Cuisine taken Island dining to the highest possible level, it’s also established Hawaii-grown products as among the finest in the world.
Okay. The Ka Ikena Restaurant is on the campus of Honolulu’s Kapiolani Community College, which happens to contain the state’s pre-eminent cooking school, The Culinary Institute of the Pacific. The Institute has produced many of Hawaii’s top chefs who have become world famous for their HRC artistry. The restaurant’s menu is prepared by students and alumni. Lunch is produced and served by students enrolled in its culinary and pastry arts program, while dinners support work opportunities for both alumni and apprentices of the American Culinary Federation program. What you find on the menu will be creative, well tested, and delicious.
Named in honor of Queen Kapiolani, the college and its culinary arts program maintain her legacy and her motto, “kulia i ka nu`u” (to strive for the highest) in all that we do.
The campus is at the foot of Diamond Head (back side) on Diamond Head Road, and there are zillions of parking spaces in the evening (harder to find at lunchtime, when classes are in session).
It’s — yes — a unique dining experience. Try it out while you’re on Oahu for vacation.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
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February 9th, 2009
If you’re planning to be on Oahu during your Hawaii vacation, check to see what might be going on at the Waikiki Shell.
The Shell sits in beautiful and spacious Kapiolani Park with Diamond Head as a backdrop and Waikiki Beach at the opposite end. The attractive (It looks a lot like the Hollywood Bowl), tropical outdoor amphitheater has been Hawaii’s place to see the stars, under the stars, since 1952.
The Waikiki Shell is a venue for outdoor concerts and other large gatherings in Waikiki. It seats 2,400 persons, but the lawn area has capacity for an additional 6,000 persons. Local residents seem to prefer the lawn. There are no seats, but we pack picnics, take the kids along and often just lie back and chill, gaze at the amazing sky above and listen to whatever might be going on up on the stage. It’s a terrific venue for concerts, and political rallies and corporate functions are held there. Virtually all of the top local entertainers have performed in the Shell, and world-class comedians, singers, rock groups and other performers appear regularly.
It doesn’t really matter what the attraction might be while you’re in Waikiki. Going to an event at the Shell is a great way to spend an evening in a place where Hawaii’s wondrous weather is shown off to its very best advantage.
Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-843-8771. We’ll advise you of the Shell schedule of events that will be taking place during your visit.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
Your Blogger’s Side Bar
It was back in the 70s. My boss Carlos Rivas had invited me and my wife Mary to be his guests at the Waikiki Shell for a performance by Cat Stevens, a British pop star who had sold over 60 million albums around the world since the late 1960s.
Mary and I had not yet been to the Shell and accepted eagerly. (Mary was a Cat Stevens fan.) Carlos said that he would take care of the food, I should take care of the booze, and he would meet us at the gate. We would not be in seats, but sitting on the lawn, so we should also bring a blanket. I bought a gallon of red wine. As it happened, I drove past the gate on my quest for a parking space and could see that security guards were frisking people as they entered, unrolling their blankets and examining their bags. Obviously, outside alcohol was not permitted.
Thinking quickly, I drove to a nearby Kentucky Fried Chicken and bought a large bucket. I disposed of most of the breasts, legs and wings and replaced them with the jug of wine inside the bucket. The top stuck out from the remaining pieces a little too far so I covered it with a roll.
When we met Carlos at the gate, he was empty-handed. “What’s that?” he asked me. I explained. “Actually,” he said, “I was going to buy the food inside and you could have bought the drinks there. They have a full bar.”
I lugged the bucket in anyhow, once I cleared inspection, which was halfhearted at best. I still was a little wary, not wanting to get us busted, and was as surreptitious as possible when I poured the wine for us into the cups Mary had brought.
As the lights dimmed and the warm-up act readied, I became aware of a slightly familiar, distinctive aroma. Everybody around us was smoking pot!
It was a concert well-appreciated by all of us.
Jim Winpenny
December 1st, 2008
