Honolulu means “sheltered harbor” or “calm port.” The old name is said to be Kou, a district roughly encompassing the area from Nuuanu Avenue to Alakea Street and from Hotel Street to Queen Street which is the heart of the present downtown district. The city has been the capital of the Hawaiian Islands since 1845 and gained historical recognition following the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan near the city on December 7, 1941.
Honolulu is the epicenter of Hawaii and home to the famed Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head.