This graceful pink, tile-roofed California-Spanish mission style structure was built in 1929 and now serves as Honolulu's City Hall. Hale (pronounced HA-lay) means "house" in Hawaiian. The open interior courtyard is patterned after the Bargello, a 13th-century palace in Florence, Italy. Public space in the high-ceilinged lobby is often used for art exhibits, concerts and other public events. Between mid-December and the beginning of January, huge statues of Santa and Mrs. Claus in Hawaiian attire, penguins, reindeer and other winter decorations cavort across the expansive lawn and fountains. Admission is free.
Tucked in the back of lush Mānoa Valley is Mānoa waterfall, which is commonly thought to be one of the most beautiful sights of O'ahu. It rushes over a precipice and drops 100 feet to the pool below. The briskly cold water makes a refreshing change from the sticky Hawaiʻian air. The hike to the waterfall takes approximately an hour and is not particularly difficult. The trail can get slippery during the rain, but on sunny days, it's clearly marked and easy to follow.
This beautiful white historical structure was the home of Captain John Dominis, a rich merchant who built it in the 1840s. Queen Lili'uokalani married his son, John Owen, and also lived here at one time. Up until 2001, it served as mansion to the governor, following which a new residence was built in its vicinity to serve this same purpose. Washington Place is now a museum open to people eager to learn of Hawaii's history. The vintage furniture and elegant architecture are its distinguishing features, and it is definitely worth a visit. Admission is free, but donations by visitors are encouraged. Reservations for touring must be made 48 hours in advance.
Built in 1915 as an army reservation to protect Honolulu and Pearl Harbor, Fort DeRussy stands today as a place where people can visit the historic fort and enjoy a large strand of white sand beach. The fort is open to the general public and provides large green spaces perfect for a picnic or to catch some waves outside of crowded Waikiki just down the shore.
Koko Crater Railway Trail is a trail for every nature enthusiast. The old railway tracks here, which were used once for transporting goods, are now defunct and used as stairs to head up to the mountain. The trail covers a large part of the Koko Head and offers spectacular views of the Honolulu shoreline. The panorama is a major highlight and is definitely worth the challenging climb. The visitors can also explore the Botanical Garden located at the top of the Koko Crater.
This Pearl Harbor memorial park is dedicated to World War II submarines and their valiant crews. The park takes its name from a particularly distinguished sub, the USS Bowfin SS-287. Tour the narrow corridors and compartments where the crew worked, ate, and slept on nine hazardous missions. In addition to the Bowfin exhibit, there is a waterfront memorial. Also visit the Battleship Arizona and Missouri memorials.