DOWNTOWN & CHINATOWN 216 Hawaii Military Guide • Summer-Fall 2026 onolulu means “sheltered harbor” in Hawaiian, and oral history indicates the original Polynesian migrants settled on Honolulu’s beautiful shores in the 11th century.After conquering Oahu, Kamehameha I moved his royal court to Waikiki in 1804 and relocated to Downtown Honolulu in 1809 for three years. In 1845, Honolulu became the permanent capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and iconic buildings such as Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, Iolani Palace and Aliiolani Hale were erected. Throughout the 19th century, foreign merchant ships and American missionaries arrived at Honolulu Harbor. They established businesses and also contributed to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy in 1883, leading to Hawaii’s annexation by the United States in 1898. However, Honolulu has remained as Hawaii’s capital, largest city, and main seaport and airport for the islands. H
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==