Marking the emergence of Hawaii as a united kingdom, Kamehameha the Great took over Oahu in 1795. He landed on the shore of Waikiki and blasted into the defenses of the Oahuans. Kamehameha soon moved his court to the Honolulu Harbour area to keep an eye on the flow of trade from foreign merchant ships. From this, the king established Honolulu as Hawaii's center of commerce. History will show that soon after the establishment, many travelers came and left the island. Whalers brought supplies and sought out liquor and women, missionaries came to introduce Christian teachings and different rulers of the Hawaiian court emerged during the decades. With time, Honolulu became a modern city and one of Hawaii's top tourist's destinations.
Honolulu is full of diversity. The city is home to 800,000 people of all races and cultures thus giving Oahu the nickname "The Gathering Place." There are three main areas of the city one of them the downtown/waterfront section. Here travelers will witness many skyscrapers and luxury high-rises along the waterfront. Scattered among these giants are historic palaces, churches, museums and numerous landmarks. As the sun begins to settle, the city frequently offers entertainment. The waterfront area is famous for its festivals, parties and celebrations more than any other part of Honolulu. To get a different taste, Chinatown is an exciting and colorful neighborhood. For more than 120 years immigrants have established this section of Honolulu as a major gateway. There is a huge presence of Eastern religion as well as Chinese medicine. There are many Buddhist, Taoist and Shinto temples situated between all the hustle and bustle of locals and tourists. There is a shopping area with an ethnic food court and a courtyard inhabited by shops and restaurants.
Moana is one of the first areas of Honolulu that travelers will see. This section is home to a large open-air shopping mall and the Hawaiian Convention Center. Restaurant Row is a popular strip along the main street that provides tourists with numerous options for dining and nightlife. This area has been mentioned as the gateway to downtown and the stomping ground for the Happy Hour and corporate lunch crowd. Whatever part of the city tourists may venture, there is an endless option of restaurants, shopping and entertainment. Honolulu is home to people throughout the Pacific, but welcomes visitors with a warm aloha spirit.