How to Tour the State Capital of Hawaii

Historians believe that Hawaii was originally inhabited by Polynesians. In the late 1700s, King Kamehameha the Great named all the Hawaiian islands as part of his kingdom. Whaling became an important part of the economy and was centered in Honolulu. In 1850, King Kamehameha III named Honolulu as the capital of the Hawaiian islands. In 1900 Hawaii became a territory, and in 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Stop off at the State Capitol Building in Honolulu, one of the most unusual capitol buildings in our country. The State Capitol replaced the Iolani Palace in 1969. The Legislature is seated in rooms designed in a cone shape to symbolize volcanoes, and 40 pillars surround the building.
2. Catch your breath as you look out on the Pacific Ocean from the Nuuanu Pali Lookout. This historical site in Honolulu is where the ruler Kamehameha the Great won the skirmish that brought all the Hawaiian islands together under his rule.
3. Spend some solemn moments at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl Center. The cemetery is in the bowels of an extinct volcano, and is the gravesite of over 33,000 soldiers. The site also offers an extraordinary view of Honolulu.
4. Tour the Hawaii State Art Museum, located in Honolulu across the street from the Capitol. The building was formerly the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the first hotel in all of Hawaii. The Museum displays a large collection of art created entirely from Hawaiian artists, including painting, sculpture and photography.
5. Fulfill your dreams by being in Shangri-La and Honolulu at the same time. Shangri-La is one of the most beautiful homes in the Hawaiian Islands and former home to Doris Duke, daughter of one of the founders of Duke University. Shangri-La is home to 3,500 pieces of Islamic art.
6. Walk over to Honolulu's own Chinatown, on the border of the downtown district. Contact the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for a guided tour.

Who Can Help: