Location: Honolulu
Top Things to do in Honolulu
Top 8 Architectural Buildings in Honolulu, Hawaii (HI)
The mere mention of Hawaii is enough to prompt visions of grass skirts and colorful cocktails with tiny umbrellas. While you will find some kitsch in Honolulu, you’ll also find art museums, bike paths, and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Popular Waikiki Beach has soft sands and great surf. For majestic Oahu views scramble to the top of Diamond Head – a 350-acre volcanic crater. Historic structures like Iolani Palace and Ali'iolani Hale are worth a visit on a non-beach day.
Restaurants in Honolulu
1. Shangri La
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 930 reviews
Shangri La is a museum for learning about the global cultures of Islamic art and design through exhibitions, digital and educational initiatives, public tours and programs, and community partnerships.
Reviewed By reikitraveler3 - South Hadley, United States
I had recently been to Rough Point, Doris Duke's Newport, Rhode Island mansion when Shangri La was mentioned. Knowing I would be visiting family in Honolulu, I planned on visiting Shangri La during my stay. I made a reservation through The Honolulu Art Museum in advance and joined the tour of this marvelous mansion that the museum oversees. Like Rough Point, Duke made it possible for her homes to be open to the public. This mansion contains a large and beautiful collection of Islamic art, culture, and design in every room of this home. The siting is breathtaking...be sure to take in the dining room extension that overlooks the ocean. The tour guide was thorough and unrushed, something that is most appreciated and that seems to be disappearing from many historic home tours. Your fee also gets you a day ticket at the Honolulu Museum of Art ( a fabulous museum itself) back in the center of Honolulu from where your tour group departs via Museum shuttle buses. Parts of the house are handicap accessible. You need to contact the Museum of Art way in advance to schedule this kind of tour of Shangri La. Visit the Art Museum website for more information. It is closed for annual cleaning and maintenance until December 18, 2018.
2. Saint Augustine by-the-Sea
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 572 reviews
Reviewed By 661matthewy - Salt Lake City, United States
This is a beatifiul church right off the Waikiki beach so it gets lots of visiting parishioners. We attended the Aasumption of Mary Mass and the priest who was visiting from the states did a wonderful homily. The story of St Augustine is a wonderful story by itself. We have attended Mass each time we visit. .
3. Ali'iolani Hale
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 133 reviews
Originally intended as a royal residence, the historic Aliiolani Hale was reconfigured to house government offices when Iolani Palace was constructed. Today, it’s still the home of Hawaii’s Supreme Court.
Reviewed By interceptpubs - Columbus, United States
While today this impressive Italian Renaissance Revival structure is home to the state's Supreme Court and other offices of the state's judiciary branch, it was designed originally to be a king's palace, specifically the palace for King Kamehameha V. However, when the plans arrived in 1871 from the Australian architect who drew them up, it was decided that what the country really needed was a building to house the state's legislature and courts. The palatial plans were modified for this purpose and construction undertaken in 1872. Besides being an architectural triumph, the building was also something of an engineering marvel being constructed of a then relatively new building material described as “infinitely superior for both durability and ornament,” concrete blocks. As they have survived with no signs of deterioration for well over a century, the claim has proven very true. Under the supervision of Australian stone masons and with the addition of local convicts to bolster the ranks of the construction crew, the building was completed in two short years. For the next two decades, the building housed not only the courts and legislature but also much of the kingdom's executive department. It even housed the country's first national museum and served as an observatory for the 1874 transit of Venus. Ali'iolani Hale was also the focal point of the movement to overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. The instigators of the revolution took over the building and stationed their troops here to counter the loyalist forces protecting the Queen in Iolani Palace across the street. After the establishment of the Republic of Hawaii, the legislature moved to the palace, renamed the "Executive Building," and this building became the "Judiciary Building," a function that it still serves to this day. We visited Ali'iolani Hale along with Iolani Palace across the street recently. The exterior of the building, including the lovely courtyard and its statue of King Kamehameha I, is certainly beautiful (especially compared to rather nondescript modern state capitol building a couple blocks away). We didn't have time to go inside which isn't too big of a loss as it was gutted and completely rebuilt around 1911 so isn't original anyway - however, if you are interested in the judiciary history of the state, there is a museum inside that might be worth taking in. If history or architecture isn't your thing, the building may still be of "cultural" interest as it served as the Hawaii Five-0 headquarters in the old '70s TV series.
4. Mendonca Building
5. Honolulu Police Station
6. Hale Koa: Iolani Barracks
7. Yokohama Specie Bank Building
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 1 reviews
8. Hsu Yun Temple
