subject: Wonderful Honolulu [print this page] Having a population that outranks any other Hawaiian city, Honolulu Hawaii also happens to be the state capital. The city houses a monumental 470 skyscrapers, only following Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, in number. Another interesting point, is that it is the birthplace of Barack Obama the current US president, and it also was home to the traditional monarchy that ruled the islands. Waikiki, which is now a neighborhood of Honolulu, was the imperial area, and court, for the famous Kamehameha I (of Polynesian descent), who claimed the land after winning fierce battles with the tribes of other islands - to effectively rule all of Hawaii.
Tropical and dry are apt descriptions for the climate in Honolulu. The rainy season is between October and April, and the annual rainfall totals only about 18 inches on average. Out of 365 days in the year, only 90 are wet and hurricanes are extremely rare. Watersprouts are much more common, but not to be concerned about as they generally occur only over bodies of water. A watersprout is a small but intense vortex, appearing like a funnel of water between the sea and the cloudy sky.
Water-sport activities abound around Honolulu, such as water skiing, scuba diving, swimming, and fishing, as there are many beaches. Cultural traditions are still highly regarded throughout the city. One of the oldest American symphony organizations in North America, is the Honolulu Symphony. The Hawaii Opera Theatre is well known for its productions, as well as the Diamond Head Theatre, the Waikiki Shell and the Hawaii Theatre. Tickets are highly sought after, for both theater productions and Live music shows!
The Honolulu Museum of Art, houses a massive collection of both Asian and Western art. An Islamic art collection is also held in an estate house, that is also one of the museum's structures. Modern art is the main feature of the Hawaii State Art Museum and it specializes in works that date primarily from the 1960's. The museum curators strive to collect pieces from artists within the state, exhibiting their own expression of the Hawaiian people.
Natural museums are of course important for any culture, and in Honolulu the Bishop Museum is the largest. Wonderful exhibits of Pacific culture artifacts and Hawaiiana, are shown to the public from their massive collection. Specimens from previous Polynesian monarchs, tribes and colonizers bring together a visual history of the region. There are of course the live displays as well, such as the Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki Aquarium with its working marine biology lab, the Foster Botanical Garden and many others. Honolulu is a cultural center that just happens to be set on a tropical island with its own rare natural beauty, all of which makes Honolulu heavenly!
