Honolulu Hotels & Tourism

Hawaii's cultural and state capital is a cosmopolitan brew frothed with surf.

Despite Honolulu's skyscrapers and traffic jams, it's one of the most relaxed urban centers in America. Add sandy beaches, waving palms and the balmy weather of Waikiki and you've got a great mix of sun-fun and culture, best enjoyed with a multi-ethnic plate lunch.

It might be part of the USA, but tropical Honolulu is more laid-back than any mainland capital. With its blend of sunny charm and legislative gravitas, the downtown area is surprisingly fascinating to explore - make the effort to drag yourself away from the Gidget-and-mai-tai scene of Waikiki.

Honolulu is a harbour city at the southern end of O'ahu, the most visited island of the Hawaiian archipelago. Downtown Honolulu contains all O'ahu's state and federal government buildings, including the state capitol and 'Iolani Palace, once home to Hawaii's last few monarchs and still the only royal palace in the USA. Chinatown is a few blocks northwest of the palace; the Aloha Tower and cruise ship terminals are a few blocks west. Southeast of downtown, Waikiki is the epicentre of all things touristy: all the big resorts are found here. Just southeast of Waikiki stands the 760ft (230m) Diamond Head crater. All of these sites are within the boundaries of greater Honolulu.

H-1, the main south shore freeway, passes east-west through Honolulu, connecting it to the airport and all other freeways on the island. Interestingly enough, it's a US interstate freeway - no small achievement for an island in the middle of the Pacific.

Honolulu International (HNL) is a 15km (9mi), 25-minute drive northwest of downtown via Ala Moana Blvd/Hwy 92 (Nimitz Hwy) or the H-1. The Ala Moana Center, a bustling open-air shopping mall, on Ala Moana Blvd just northwest of Waikiki, is the central transfer point for TheBus, the island's public bus network.

Welcome to Honolulu, Hawaii! Enjoy the vibrant street life, and then retreat to the peace and quiet of your Honolulu hotel, motel, B&B, Honolulu resort or even budget hostel. There are great Honolulu accommodation options for couples, singles, families and even those visiting for business. Whether you’re visiting Honolulu as part of a longer holiday in the USA, as part of a trip around Hawaii, or as a single-destination holiday, you’ll find some of the USA's best sights, experiences and hotels. Enjoy the amazing Waikiki Beach and the famous Pearl Harbor, go shopping at the open-air Ala Moana Centre, and sample the famous Diamond Head for a unique Honolulu experience. Wherever you’re staying, hotels.com.au offers a huge range of Honolulu hotels and Honolulu accommodation options.