Honolulu where. Honolulu - an island paradise far from the coast

Honolulu(English and Hawaiian Honolulu) - a city on the island of Oahu in the Hawaiian archipelago, the capital of the state, the administrative center of Honolulu County. Translated from Hawaiian honolulu means "protected bay".

In the suburbs of Honolulu there is the main US naval base in the central Pacific Ocean - Pearl Harbor.

Story

Archaeological evidence and some oral histories indicate that the first Polynesian settlement arose in what is now Honolulu in the 11th century. After conquering the island of Oahu, King Kamehameha I moved the royal court from the island of Hawaii to Waikiki (now the Honolulu area) in 1804. His yard was moved again in 1809 to what is now business center cities. In 1812 the capital was moved to Kailua-Kona.

Port of Honolulu, 1816. The painting was painted by a resident of the Russian colony L. Choris

In 1794, British officer William Brown was the first European to sail into Honolulu Harbor. Russians first appeared in the area during round the world expedition I. F. Krusenstern and Yu. F. Lisyansky. Subsequently, the city becomes a focal point for merchant ships traveling between North America and Asia. The attempt to found a Russian colony and bring the entire archipelago under Russian citizenship, undertaken in 1815-17 by Yegor Sheffer, was initially quite successful, but was not supported by the Russian government. Alexander I, wanting to show the British Empire and the United States an example of the policy of good neighborliness and refusal to annex new lands, did not respond to the request of one of the Hawaiian leaders, Kaumualii, to transfer the islands to Russian protectorate. As might be expected, this show of restraint had the opposite effect. In 1817, the Americans forcibly liquidated Russian settlement, while killing three Russians and more than ten Hawaiians who converted to Orthodoxy. Over time, the United States annexed the entire archipelago.

In 1845, Kamehameha III moved the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from Lahaina on the island of Maui to Honolulu. Under him, as well as under his successors, the city was turned into modern capital, buildings such as the Cathedral of St. Andrew's, 'Iolani Palace, Ali'olani Hale (today the building houses the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii). At the same time, the city becomes an important center of trade on the islands; descendants of American missionaries are building large enterprises in the center of Honolulu. The Kingdom of Hawaii ceased to exist in 1893, and the islands became part of the United States in 1898. In 1900, a major fire occurred in the city, as a result of which most of the local Chinatown burned out (about 15 hectares of territory). The cause of the fire was a campaign to burn infected houses during the quarantine declared in connection with cases of bubonic plague. Due to the dense development of Chinatown, the fire quickly spread to neighboring buildings, leaving more than 7,000 people homeless. In December 1941, the Pearl Harbor naval base located near the city was attacked by a Japanese aircraft carrier force during the Hawaiian operation. During World War II, the city was one of the main supply centers for American forces in the Pacific theater of operations.

The subsequent development of the city is associated with the tourism industry.

Geography and climate

Honolulu at dusk

Honolulu is located on the leeward side of the island of Oahu, occupying the entire area between the ocean and the Ko'olau Ridge, which is a part of the crater slope of a colossal volcano that has survived from ancient times.

According to the Köppen climate classification, the city is located in the tropical savannah climate zone As. However, there is little precipitation due to the rain shadow effect from Ko'olau, and the wet and dry seasons are not clearly defined and smoothly flow into each other. Almost in Honolulu all year round sunny. Within 12 months, temperature changes are insignificant; The average monthly maximum temperature is 27-32 °C, and the average monthly minimum is 18-24 °C. Very rarely the thermometer rises to 35 °C, and the minimum temperature at night can drop to 14-15 °C no more than twice a year. The highest temperature of 35°C was recorded during a heat wave in September 1998. Later in the day, the state's highest temperature was recorded on Niihau Island. The lowest temperature reached 11.7 °C on February 16, 1902 and January 20, 1969. The water temperature off the coast is 27°C during the summer months and 25°C in the winter.

The city receives an average of 434 mm of rainfall annually, most of which occurs during the winter months from October to mid-April. In summer there is little rainfall. On average, Honolulu has 278 sunny and 90 rainy days a year. Although the city is considered to have a dry season and a rainy season, this is almost unnoticeable due to the fact that there is little rain in the summer and more intense rain in the winter. Despite this, both seasons have the same number of rainy days.

Although the city is located in a tropical zone, hurricanes are considered a rare occurrence. The last hurricane to hit Hawaii was in 1992. Hurricane Iniki was classified as a Category 4 hurricane. Tornadoes are also rare and usually hit the islands once every 15 years. Waterspouts occurring close to the coast are somewhat more common, hitting the city every five years.

Diplomatic missions

City Hall and City Council building

Diplomatic missions (consulates) of the following states are located in the city:

• Australia

Population

As of the 2010 census, Honolulu had a population of 390,738. Gender composition: men - 49.3%; women - 50.7%. Average age city ​​dwellers - 41.3 years (40 years for men, 43 for women). The share of people over 65 years old is 18.1%.

Ethnic composition:

• white - 17.9% (in 1970 - 33.9%)
• black - 1.5%
• Asians - 54.8% (including Japanese - 19.9%, Filipinos - 13.2%, Chinese - 10.4%)
• Hawaiians and other Polynesians - 8.4% (including Hawaiians - 3.2%, Samoans - 1.5%)
• Hispanic - 5.4%

Thus, Honolulu is the capital of the state with the smallest proportion of whites and the largest proportion of Asians in the United States, and also the only capital where the proportion of Polynesians exceeds the proportions of blacks and Hispanics (both combined).

The city's crime rate is about 1/4 lower than the US average, but slightly higher than the Hawaiian average.

Hawaii State Capitol

Population dynamics of Honolulu:

• 1890 - 22,907 people
• 1900 - 39,306 people
• 1910 - 52,183 people
• 1920 - 83,327 people
• 1930 - 137,582 people
• 1940 - 179,326 people
• 1950 - 248,034 people
• 1960 - 294,194 people
• 1970 - 324,871 people
• 1980 - 365,048 people
• 1990 - 365,272 people
• 2000 - 371,657 people
• 2010 - 390,738 people

Economy

IN currently Honolulu is not only the most Big city and an airport in the Hawaiian Islands, but also a recognized international tourist centre. Millions of tourists enter the islands through Honolulu, bringing the city's economy up to $10 billion annually. Because of this favorable location in the Pacific Ocean, the city is an important business, commercial and transport center, connecting East and West. In addition, the Pearl Harbor naval base, as well as various research and production centers (mainly in the field of information technology, the creation of modern materials, medicine and biotechnology), play an important role in the city's economy.

Business center of the city

Companies based in Honolulu include:

• Alexander & Baldwin
• Bank of Hawaii
• Central Pacific Bank
• First Hawaiian Bank
• Hawaii Medical Service Association
• Hawaii Pacific Health
• Hawaiian Electric Industries
• Matson Navigation Company
• The Queen's Health Systems

Headquarters of Go! Mokulele, Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air, and Aloha Air Cargo are located in the city. Before ceasing operations, Aloha Airlines had its main offices in Honolulu. For some period of time, the local airline Mid-Pacific Airlines was based at the Honolulu International Airport. In 2009, the cost and rent of housing in Honolulu increased by an average of 4.5%, since then the city ranks second in the most expensive real estate market among 210 American agglomerations .

Since major national banking chains do not have branches in Hawaii, tourists and local residents use the services of various local banks. The largest and oldest banking institution in the Hawaiian Islands is First Hawaiian Bank. Main office the bank is located in the First Hawaiian Center skyscraper, the tall building in state.

Transport

The city is served by Honolulu International Airport (IATA: HNL, ICAO: PHNL), located 5 kilometers northwest of the business district and is one of the busiest airports in the United States, with an annual passenger turnover of about 18 million people (data for 2011). From the airport regular flights to all major cities, several cities and Australia, as well as to, and. Three main directions: , and . The airport also provides connections to many settlements Hawaiian Islands and in general.

City bus

Honolulu, sad for its citizens, holds the title of leader in traffic jams among US cities, having surpassed Los Angeles in this regard in the late 2000s. On average, drivers spend 58 hours in traffic jams each year, with roads leading into the western suburbs particularly problematic. In the early 2000s, plans were developed and began to be implemented to build a 32-kilometer light rail line connecting the center and west of the city, but due to a lack of money and protests from the Greens, construction was constantly delayed. The current global crisis has completely called into question the completion of the project; the opening of the movement has been postponed from 2015 to 2019. Honolulu is technically part of the United States Interstate Highway System, with Interstate highways passing through it H-1 and Interstate H-201. In practice, for obvious reasons, it is impossible to travel along these roads to another state.

Public transport represented by 110 bus routes managed by the company TheBus. System public transport Honolulu has been recognized by the American Public Transportation Association twice, in 1995 and 2001. American Public Transportation Association) the best in the country.

Cultural institutions

Natural history museums

Honolulu's premier museum, the Bishop Museum, houses the largest collection of paleontological specimens in the state. The museum houses the world's largest collection of artifacts related to Hawaiian and Polynesian culture. The Honolulu Zoo is the premier zoological institution in the Hawaiian Islands, and the Waikiki Aquarium is an active ocean biology laboratory. The laboratory works closely with the University of Hawaii and other universities around the world. IN botanical gardens Honolulu: Foster Botanical Garden, Liliʻuokalani Botanical Garden and Walker Estate breed plants from around the world.

Performing arts

Founded in 1900, the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra is the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains. Among other groups performing classical works, Hawaii Opera Theater should be noted. Honolulu is also considered the center of traditional Hawaiian music. The city's main concert venues are the Hawaii Theater, Waikiki Shell, the Neal Blaisdell Center multifunctional complex with concert hall and a platform for various sports and public events. Honolulu has several art theaters, the most famous of which is the Diamond Head Theatre.

Fine arts

There are institutions in Honolulu where you can get acquainted with various works of art. The Honolulu Museum of Art houses the largest collection of Western and Asian art in the Hawaiian Islands. The Shangri La estate has the largest collection of Islamic art exhibits. The museum houses a cinema, which bears the name of a famous American woman, collector and philanthropist Doris Duke.

It hosts screenings of masterpieces of world cinema, as well as films and videos of directors working in the art-house style.

The Museum of Modern Art houses the state's only collection of contemporary art. The exhibition is located in two locations: the main museum building is located in the Makiki area, and a multi-level gallery is located in the center of Honolulu, in the First Hawaiian Center building.

The collection of the Hawaii State Art Museum (downtown) features works by local artists and traditional Hawaiian art. The museum is managed by the State of Hawaii Arts and Culture Foundation.

Every year the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) is held in Honolulu. The festival showcases the best films by directors from the Asia-Pacific region. The festival, which takes place in the style of “Meeting of East and West,” is the largest event of its kind in.

Sport

Honolulu's favorable climate is ideal for year-round exercise. In 2004, Men's Fitness magazine named Honolulu the fittest city in the United States. Honolulu hosts three major road running competitions:

• The Great Aloha Run takes place every year on President's Day.
• Every year, about 20,000 people take part in the Honolulu Marathon, which starts on the second Sunday in December, two-thirds of whom are residents.
• The Honolulu Triathlon is an Olympic distance triathlon run by USA Triathlon. Since 2004, the competition has been held annually in May, although the city does not have a specially equipped track for the sprint distance.

The first competition and the first Ironman Hawaii triathlon world championship were held in Honolulu in 1978.

Several spectator sports are popular in Honolulu. The city has many fans of local teams participating in American football, volleyball, basketball, rugby, rugby league, and baseball (as part of the University of Hawaii at Manoa program). American football competitions are especially popular among high school teams.

Honolulu does not have its own professional teams. In the past, the city was home to baseball teams - the Hawaii Islanders (Pacific League, 1961-1987), American football - The Hawaiians (World League of American Football, 1974-1975), football - Team Hawaii (North American Soccer League, 1977) and mini-soccer. Hawaiian Islanders football (af2, 2002-2004).

The NCAA is hosting the Hawaii Cup playoff series in Honolulu. Since 1980, the National Football League has hosted the Pro Bowl All-Star Game in the city every February. Although the 2010 match was played in Miami, the 2011 match was again played in Honolulu. From 1993 to 2008, Honolulu hosted the Hawaii Winter Baseball league, which featured minor leaguers from Major League Baseball, the Japanese Professional Baseball League, and the Professional Baseball League. South Korea and independent baseball leagues.

Athletic facilities

You can attend spectator sports matches in Honolulu at:

• Les Murakami Stadium, which is located on the territory of the University of Hawaii at Manoa (baseball)
• Neal Blaisdell Center (basketball)
• Stan Sheriff Center located on the campus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa (basketball and volleyball)

Aloha Stadium, home to American football and soccer, is located outside of Honolulu in the Halawa area. Honolulu // Dictionary geographical names foreign countries/ answer ed. A. M. Komkov. - 3rd ed., revised. and additional - M.: Nedra, 1986. - P. 93.

Links

• Official site

Let’s continue his monologue: “Do you know where Honolulu is? In which country?" In our minds, Honolulu is associated with the azure tropical sea, snow-white beaches and slender palm trees. And we turn out to be right about this. Because Honolulu is a city in the Hawaiian archipelago. But the answer to the question of which state it belongs to may surprise you. United States of America! Yes Yes. Residents of Honolulu (and, according to the 2010 census, there are about four hundred thousand people) consider Washington to be their capital. Although this city cannot be called a backwater either. After all, it is the capital of the whole and, of course, a tourist Mecca. Read about sunny Honolulu in this article.

Geographical location

The Hawaiian archipelago lies in tropical latitudes between 19 and 22 degrees north latitude and near the 160th meridian west longitude. The islands are washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The main city in the Hawaiian archipelago is Honolulu. Where is the capital of this US state? It lies on the southern edge of the archipelago's third largest and most populated island, Oahu. The name Honolulu itself translates as “protected, quiet bay.” And this is the honest truth. Typhoons, tornadoes and hurricanes avoid Honolulu. And even the rainy season here does not look as heavy as in other tropical countries. And all because the area where Honolulu is located lies with the trade winds. The Koolau mountain range reliably protects it from strong whirlwinds. Not far from the city, the Diamond Head volcano rises - a point of pilgrimage for tourists.

How to get to Honolulu?

Isolated from the rest of the world, the islands leave you no other choice. Only a plane will take you to a tropical archipelago lost in the Pacific Ocean. From Moscow you can outline two routes. The first is through Frankfurt and Los Angeles, and the second is through New York and Los Angeles. From this last American city it takes five and a half hours to fly to Honolulu. The lion's share of passengers arriving in the archipelago land in international airport Honolulu. Where is it in relation to the city? The airport is located in the western suburbs, near the Pearl Harbor War Memorial and the Bishop Museum. This is one of the major hubs in the USA. It welcomes more than twenty million passengers annually. The airport consists of several terminals, between which free Vicky Bus shuttles run at intervals of several minutes. If your plane lands late at night, you won't need to take a taxi. City buses run 24 hours a day. To the center (downtown) follow route No. 19. The most favorite with tourists The location is the Waikiki beach area. SpeediShuttle minibuses and city routes No. 20 go there.

History of Honolulu

The first Polynesian settlement arose on the island of Oahu in the eleventh century. The “calm bay” became the capital in 1804, when King Kamehameha I of Hawaii moved here with his court. At first, the palace stood in the area of ​​modern Waikiki, but a little later it was built where the business center of the city is now located. Europeans learned where Honolulu was located in 1794, when the British sailor William Brown sailed to " quiet bay"In 1845, under Kamehameha III, the capital of Hawaii was again moved from Oahu. Since then, Honolulu has taken on its modern appearance. The royal palace of Iolani, St. Andrew's Cathedral and Aliiolani Hale were built. In 1898, the archipelago became part of the United States America. In the vicinity of Honolulu there was a US naval base called Pearl Harbor, which was attacked in December 1941 by Japanese aircraft carriers. After World War II, Hawaii experienced rapid development due to its tourism industry.

Climate

Lie in the tropical natural area. However, the rain shadow from the Ko'olau Range, where Honolulu is located, reduces precipitation. Even the dry and wet seasons, so typical of the tropics, are not clearly defined here. It just rains a little more in the winter months. In general, we can say that in Honolulu holiday season lasts all year round. The climate here is favorable. In summer, the thermometer fluctuates between +27 and +31 °C, and in winter it is +18-25 °C. Hawaii is a sunny archipelago. Meteorologists count no more than 90 cloudy days a year here. The sea off the coast of Honolulu is always warm. The water temperature never drops below 23 °C, and in summer it warms up to 28 °C. Severe storms are rare. There are also no dangerous currents.

Beaches

Waikiki Beach is a magnificent wide strip of golden sand stretching for many kilometers. The name translates as “flowing water.” There are many streams here that flow from the mountains into the sea. Waikiki Beach is something of a calling card of Honolulu. Where to relax is up to you. After all, Oahu has many beaches for perfect... various categories holidaymakers. Waikiki is home to money-bags and entertainment lovers, shallow Sunset Beach is home to parents with small children, and Hanauma Bay is chosen by divers and snorkelers. North Store on the northern tip is famous for its high and stable waves, which is why professional surfers go there. Kailua Beach is located on the windward side of Oahu. It is ideal for windsurfing.

Prices

Hawaii, and Honolulu in particular, cannot in any way be called a budget resort. Prices here are high, and for all goods, since almost 99% of the necessities for life are delivered from the mainland. Hawaii has the highest real estate values ​​in the United States. Therefore, you should not choose a holiday in the Waikiki area (Honolulu), where the sector of luxury luxury hotels is located. You may be able to find affordable housing in Chinatown or the countryside. Despite the mild climate throughout the year, Hawaii has high and low tourist seasons. Peak prices occur in the winter months and March. In summer, the so-called middle season begins. If you want to at least slightly minimize your vacation costs in Hawaii, choose the off-season (spring or fall).

Historical landmarks

Don't limit yourself only beach holiday. Where Honolulu is located, there is something to see for an inquisitive tourist. In the city itself, this is the only royal palace in the United States. It's called Iolani. Translated, it means “palace of the bird of heaven.” The building was built in 1882 and acquired electricity and telephones earlier than the White House and the residence of the Queen of Great Britain. Now in the building royal palace The museum is open.

Another attraction of Honolulu is the Pearl Harbor Memorial Complex. But there is no Barack Obama house museum in Honolulu, although it is known that the 44th President of the United States was born here and graduated from the local high school.

Natural attractions

The luxurious nature of the island of Oahu, where Honolulu is located, attracts tourists like a magnet. From the city you can see the crater of Diamond Head Volcano, which you can climb. The view from the top is stunning. Another attraction of the island is Hanauma Bay on the southeast coast. Children will be interested in visiting the Waikiki Aquarium, where about two hundred species of fish and waterfowl are on display. The Bishop Museum houses a rich collection of Polynesian culture. You can walk through the jungle to Manoa Falls (about a kilometer from the city). Or visit the local zoo. Sacred in Hawaii, 335 meters) can only be seen from the air. Many travel companies offer helicopter excursions to this unique natural site.

Information

In 2015 240.00 passengers visited Honolulu. There are 2 mooring places for cruise ships in the capital of Hawaii:

• Cruise terminal Pier 11, known as Aloha Tower, is located almost in the center of Honolulu. Waikiki's most popular beach is 5 km away.
• Pier 2 located even closer to Waikiki.

Hawaii's most visited island, Oahu, has many different attractions for every taste. It’s difficult to see everything during the ship’s stay. Therefore, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with and interesting places islands and decide what interests you most.

Main attractions:

The city of Honolulu itself. It is rightfully considered one of best cities peace. Quite compact.

There are many bass tourists from different companies traveling around Honolulu. For example, Waikiki Trolley. The cost of a ticket to the center is $18, to the Diamond Head caldera - $30. To be honest, we don't recommend it. The city center is only 5 km from the pier. It's better to walk to Waikiki Beach. There are many interesting buildings along the way. Many coastal hotels have green and picturesque areas. Free admission.

Video of Waikiki from above

Bus number 23 goes to Diamond Head. The fare is $2.5. Please note that on observation deck You will have to walk up for about 30 minutes. In the heat, this walk is not for everyone.

At the end of Waikiki Beach is a zoo. Ticket costs $14. Nearby on the shore there is a small aquarium. Entrance – 12$

Pearl Harbor Memorial Complex. The most important place of worship for Americans in memory of World War II. There are separate museums on the territory of the complex:

• Memorial to the sunken battleship Arizona.
• battleship Missouri. It was built in 1944.
• submarine "Bowfin" 1942 the buildings.
• aviation museum. There are 43 aircraft in total, including the Soviet MIG-15 and MIG-21.

Entrance to the complex itself is free, but a ticket to all museums costs $63. You can choose to visit.

Video review of Pearl Harbor

From the cruise pier to Pearl Harbor you can take buses No. 20,42,62 in 45 minutes. The ticket costs $2.5. The memorial is of greater interest to history and technology buffs.

• ethnographic center Polynesian Cultural Center, where 6 cultures of the peoples of Polynesia are represented. Very interesting place. It is located 50 km from the cruise pier in the northeast of the island. In an hour and a half you can take bus No. 55 ($2.5) along the picturesque coast. If parking time allows, we recommend taking a ticket with the evening show and Admission and Show w/ Free Dinner for $70. It runs from 7 to 9 pm.
• sea ​​animal park Sea Life Park. Ticket costs $30. You can get there by buses No. 22 and 23 from Waikiki Beach in 45 minutes.
• Buddhist temple Byodo-In Temple.
• Dole pineapple plantation. Feel free to skip, nothing interesting.

Excursions cruise companies on Oahu, as usual, dear ones. Cost using the example of the Princess company.

There are more than 100 beaches on the island. The most beautiful ones are on the east coast. Beaches are divided into 2 categories - for swimming and for surfing. Read more about them.

All beaches are free, except Hanauma Bay. Entrance $7.5. According to many cruisers, the beach looks better in photographs than it actually is. Snorkeling is quite mediocre, there are a lot of people, there is not a good entrance to the sea everywhere.

Most famous beach of course Waikiki Beach in downtown Honolulu. Protective jetties prevent waves from crashing onto the shore. There are changing rooms and toilets on the beach. Umbrellas and sun loungers are expensive. All vacationers sit on towels or mats.

When traveling to the north of the island east coast The order of beaches worthy of attention, starting with Hanauma Bay, is as follows:

• Sandy Beach Beach for surfers with big waves.
• Makapuu Beach. Be careful with large and treacherous waves.
• Waimanalo Beach is 9 km long.
• Lanikai Beach - 1st place among US beaches in 2014 according to Tripadvisor.

• Kailua Beach. Continuation of Lanikai Beach.
• beach in Kahana Bay. Secluded, small, with beautiful mountains around.

In the north of Oahu, the beaches are not as picturesque, but there is a romantic surfing atmosphere. We recommend visiting there. Along the way, you can grab a bite to eat at roadside food trucks, where shrimp are a specialty. Lunch costs from $8 to $14.

In the northwest, Waimea Bay Beach is interesting.

On the island good roads and developed bus service. By using Google maps You can calculate a route to any point on the island by public transport.

Hobby companies organized excursions can book an individual tour of the island from local Russian-speaking travel agencies Marina Hawaii Travel, Russia Hawaii Tours or HIKCI.

Let's go and look... We've been to many big cities. Honestly, Honolulu is the most tropical city, it is simply surrounded by greenery! After some time, we found ourselves in the Waikiki area, where we needed to take another bus from the same company to get to Diamond Head.
And here the beach is shining through! Well, how good it is there! It’s so great to be able to quickly get to the beach while waiting for the next bus. Warm water!!! I didn't want anything negative about this magic island and therefore they decided to refuse to visit Pearl Harbor. Although it’s probably also worth attention, it’s still a story. We decided to spend the saved time after the excursion here, on this wonderful beach.

Our bus has arrived and we are moving on, admiring the most beautiful view to the island. On the way to the crater we passed beautiful park Queen Kapi"olani Park, where many people like to relax. Opposite this park is one of the oldest aquariums in the United States, founded back in 1904. The guide stopped the bus at another beautiful view point, which overlooks the ocean.

Finally we arrived at the foot of the crater of the extinct Diamond Head volcano. The bus dropped us off at the road and then we had to walk all the way to the park, where the climb to the observation deck begins. We had to walk for about 15 minutes in the heat... Then through a tunnel through the walls of the crater, where it was very pleasant in the shade after such heat. Entrance to the park is paid - $5 per car to the parking lot, $1 per person. Cash only (CASH ONLY).

This is where good physical shape is required. The route takes 2 hours along the mountain to the top and back. We “took off” in half an hour (I specially noted the time), and under the bright tropical sun. People walk at different paces, some faster, others resting and relaxing. All you can hear around is: “After that I want only beach!”

Well, here we are at the very top. Wow, how much we walked! As a reward for such a journey, a panorama of the fabulous coast opens up. This climb is definitely worth the climb. Breathtaking! But only if you are in good shape!

Many people know that Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing. The most big waves on the island of Oahu, they occur on the north shore in November or December. There, on the Banzai Pipeline beach, the world-famous “Triple Crown of Surfing” surfing competition is held, which attracts the best surfers in the world. Imagine, the waves in winter reach 6, and sometimes even 12 meters! An impressive sight. You can look. In general, the coolest waves called "Jaws" 18m high (!!!) are found on the island of Maui.

After climbing Diamond Head we boarded the bus again to head back. On the way we passed another interesting place on the island - the zoo. Due to a lack of time, we didn’t go, but later I had enough of the animals at the Sydney Zoo.

After lunch on the ship we decided to return to the enchanting Waikiki beach. In fact, there are as many as 139 beaches on Oahu and all of them are luxurious. We went to Waikiki because there are still many different shops around, small and large shopping centers, where we also wanted to go for a walk. And besides, you don’t need to pay anything extra for travel, because the same bus goes there, for which we already had tickets for the whole day.

This nice beach made us happy. There are many hotels around with vacationers from all over the world. A lot of Japanese. The sun is gentle, the water is warm, the artificial breakwaters “calm” them and even children can swim. And on the horizon there are dozens of surfers who are very interesting to watch. Fascinating.

Marik and I really enjoyed everything! We were there almost until sunset; we didn’t want to leave anywhere. And you can photograph life in Waikiki endlessly!

After the beach we walked around the nearby shops. WITH shopping center overlooks one of the most beautiful hotels Royal Hawaiian 5*, opened on February 1, 1927.

Meanwhile, it got dark and gas torches began to be lit around. Very Hawaiian

Well, now it’s time to return home to our ship. We had a great time! And this hand gesture, the famous sign “shaka, brah!”, means “relax” and says that Hawaii is not a place where you need to worry and stress, says that everything is fine! As I already wrote, “aloha” here means love, greeting, farewell, affection, wishes, tenderness, and the “shaka” gesture also expresses all this. We can see that everything is just great in Hawaii!