Honolulu

Honolulu, Hawaii 

The capital and largest city of Hawaii, a state in the Pacific Ocean, is Honolulu. It is the most western and southern significant U.S. city, and the unincorporated county seat of the combined City and County of Honolulu. It is located along the southeast coast of the island of Oahu. Hawaii's principal international entry point is Honolulu. In the state as well as Oceania, it serves as a significant center for commerce, finance, hospitality, and military defense. The city has a unique blend of Asian, Western, and Pacific cultures, which is evident in its diversified population, cuisine, and traditions. 

Hawaiian for "sheltered harbor" or "calm port," Honolulu's previous name, Kou, roughly covered the region that today's downtown district is centered on, extending from Nuuanu Avenue to Alakea Street and from Hotel Street to Queen Street. The city's historical expansion and significance in the Hawaiian archipelago and the larger Pacific region are due to its portability. Since 1845, Honolulu has served as the capital of both the autonomous Hawaiian Kingdom and, starting in 1898, the U.S. territory and state of Hawaii. Following Japan's attack on nearby Pearl Port on December 7, 1941, the city received international notoriety. The harbor continues to be a significant naval station, housing the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the largest naval command in the world. 

The U.S. Census Bureau recognizes the general region generally known as the "City of Honolulu"—not to be confused with the "City and County"—as a census county division because Hawaii is the only state with no incorporated towns below the county level (CCD). Honolulu has a population of 350,964 as of the 2020 U.S. Census, while the urban Honolulu census-designated place (CDP) had an estimated 802,459 residents. In 2020, 1,016,508 people called the Urban Honolulu Metropolitan Statistical Area home. Honolulu is the most populous Oceanian city outside of Australasia with over 300,000 residents. 

Honolulu is a well-liked tourist destination around the world due to its pleasant tropical climate, abundant natural landscape, and large beaches. Between 7,000 and 11,000 tourists arrive in the city every day as of May 2021, making up the majority of visitors to Hawaii. This is less than the daily average of 10,000 to 15,000 passengers expected in 2019. 

History 

Oral narratives and relics provide proof of the first Polynesian settlers in the archipelago who established Honolulu. These show that there was a settlement there in the eleventh century, where Honolulu presently is. Kamehameha I relocated his royal court from the Island of Hawaii to Waikk in 1804 after capturing Oahu in the Battle of Nuuanu at Nuuanu Pali. In 1809, his court moved to the area that is now downtown Honolulu. Kailua-Kona once again became the seat of government in 1812. 

Captain William Brown of Great Britain entered what is now Honolulu Harbor for the first time in November 1794. As more foreign ships arrived, Honolulu became a hub for commercial ships going between North America and Asia. In the early 19th century, the community expanded from a small group of houses to a metropolis after Kamehameha I chose it in 1810 to replace his home in Waikiki. 

Kamehameha III relocated Honolulu from Lahaina on Maui as the permanent seat of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1850. Through the construction of structures like St. Andrew's Cathedral, Iolani Palace, and Ali'i Lani Hale, he and the kings who came after him transformed Honolulu into a modern metropolis. With the establishment of significant companies in downtown Honolulu by the offspring of American missionaries, the city also rose to prominence as the commercial hub of the Hawaiian Islands. 

Honolulu continued to be the capital, largest city, and primary seaport of the Hawaiian Islands despite the turbulent history of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which included the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, the subsequent annexation of Hawai'i by the United States in 1898, followed by a large fire in 1900, and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. 

Following statehood, Honolulu and Hawaii experienced significant economic expansion due to a surge in the economy and tourism. As of 2007, modern air travel brought 7.6 million tourists to the islands every year, with 62.3% landing at Honolulu International Airport. Honolulu is a contemporary city with several high-rise structures, and Waikiki is the hub of Hawaii's tourism economy with thousands of hotel rooms. 

Geography 

The Urban Honolulu CDP has an area of 68.4 square miles (177.2 km2), of which 7.9 square miles (20.5 km2), or 11.56%, is water, according to the United States Census Bureau. 

One of the most remote cities in the world and the most remote big city is Honolulu. The Point Arena Lighthouse in northern California is 2,045 nautical miles away from the nearest place on the mainland United States (3,787 km). (Nautical vessels must travel a little further to circle Makapu'u Point.) San Francisco, California, is the closest large city and is 2,397 miles away (3,858 km). Honolulu is a little bit closer to some islands off the coast of Mexico and a portion of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska than the mainland. 

Part of the Honolulu Volcanics' volcanic field is situated inside the city. 

Climate 

Due to a rain shadow effect, Honolulu has a hot, semi-arid climate (Köppen classification BSh) with a primarily dry summer. Contrary to common opinion, it receives insufficient precipitation to be considered a tropical region, despite temperatures that satisfy the criteria of 64.4 °F (18.0 °C) or above for the mean monthly temperature in all months. The average high temperature ranges from 80 to 90 °F (27 to 32 °C) while the average low temperature ranges from 65 to 75 °F (18 to 24 °C) throughout the year. On average, there are 32 days each year when the temperature reaches or exceeds 90 °F (32 °C), while there are occasionally a few nights when it drops below 50 °F (14-15 °C). On September 19, 1994, and August 31, 2019, 95 °F (35 °C) were the highest temperatures ever recorded. 52 °F (11 °C) was the lowest temperature ever recorded on February 16, 1902, and January 20, 1969. 

The region experiences the majority of its 16.41 inches (417 millimeters) of annual rainfall from early October through early April, with very little falling in the summer. However, the number of rainy days is roughly the same for both seasons. Summertime showers are brief, while wintertime rainstorms are more intense. A typical year in Honolulu includes 278 sunny days and 89.2 days with rain. 

Despite the city's location in the tropics, hurricanes are quite infrequent. Hurricane Iniki, a Category 4 storm, made landfall in the area nearby Honolulu in 1992, according to records. Additionally rare, tornadoes often occur just once every 15 years. About once every five years, there are waterspouts off the coast. 

Honolulu is located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 12b. 

From 75.7 °F (24.3 °C) in March to 80.4 °F (26.9 °C) in September, the sea's average temperature varies. 

Economy 

Honolulu, the main city and airport in the Hawaiian Islands, serves as a natural entryway to the region's significant tourism sector, which draws in millions of tourists and generates $10 billion in local revenue each year. Due to its location in the Pacific, Honolulu is also a significant commercial and trading hub, especially between the East and the West. Manufacturing, R&D, and military defense are other crucial facets of the city's economy. 

Sports 

The tropical environment in Honolulu makes it ideal for year-round activity. Honolulu was rated the fittest city in the United States by Men's Fitness magazine in 2004. Three major road races are held in Honolulu: 

Presidents' Day marks the annual Great Aloha Run. 

Every year on the second Sunday in December, more than 20,000 people take part in the Honolulu Marathon, with between 50 to 70 percent of them coming from Japan. 

The Honolulu Triathlon is an Olympic distance triathlon competition that is partly overseen by the Japanese and USA Triathlon. Since 2004, it has been held every May without a sprint course. 

Honolulu hosted the first edition of Ironman Hawaii. It is both the world championship and the inaugural Ironman triathlon competition. 

Annually, the Waikiki Roughwater Swim competition takes place off the shore at Waikiki. The 2.384-mile (3.837-km) circuit, which Jim Cotton established in 1970, runs from the New Otani Hotel to the Hilton Rainbow Tower. 

The football, volleyball, basketball, rugby union, rugby league, and baseball teams of the University of Hawaii at Manoa typically receive support from spectator sports enthusiasts in Honolulu. Football games at high schools are especially well-attended. 

There are no professional sports teams in Honolulu, and any future clubs would have to make extraordinarily long trips to play away games in other states on the mainland. The Hawaiians (World Football League, 1974–75), Team Hawaii (North American Soccer League, 1977), and the Hawaii Islanders (Pacific Coast League, 1961–87) all called it home (af2, 2002–04). 

In Honolulu, there is a football game known as the Hawaii Bowl. From 1980 until 2009, the NFL's annual Pro Bowl was held in Honolulu each February. From 2011 to 2014, with 2016 being the most recent, the Pro Bowl was once again held in Honolulu after the 2010 and 2015 games were held in Miami Gardens and Glendale, respectively. Hawaii Winter Baseball, which included minor league players from Major League Baseball, Nippon Professional Baseball, Korea Baseball Organization, and independent leagues, was held in Honolulu from 1993 until 2008. 

The Honolulu Little League squad earned a spot in the 2018 Little League World Series competition. The group earned a spot in the American Little League championship game by going unbeaten, defeating Georgia's Peachtree City American Little League club 3-0. The team competed against the South Seoul Little League club from South Korea in the world championship game. Honolulu Little League won the 2018 Little League World Series and earned Hawaii's third overall triumph at the Little League World Series after Hawaii pitcher Ka'olu Holt recorded a full game shutout while striking out eight batters. 

Population 

In Honolulu County, Hawaii, there is a city called Honolulu. It serves as Honolulu County's county seat as well. It is the largest city in Hawaii and the 54th largest city in the United States as of 2023, with a population of 355,077. Honolulu's population has grown by 1.17% from the most recent census, which indicated that there were 350,964 residents in the city in 2020. The city is now expanding at a rate of 0.39% year. Honolulu has a population density of 5,865 persons per square mile and a total length of about 68 miles. 

Honolulu has a 12.12% poverty rate and a $97,456 average household income. The median monthly cost of rent in recent years has been, and the median value of a home is. In Honolulu, the median age is 41.7 years, with 39.8 years for men and 43.8 years for women. 

On the island of Oahu, Honolulu serves as a vital entryway to Hawaii, the United States, and a popular tourist destination. The most western and southern major city in the United States is Honolulu. 

Honolulu is a significant center for worldwide trade, military defense, and travel. Additionally, it is the only city in Hawaii with a population of more than 50,000. Honolulu had a population of 390,700 at the time of the most recent census in 2010, although it is now estimated to be 402,500. This places Honolulu, which has a metropolitan area with a population of 955,000, as the 46th most populated city in the US. 

Top 2 News Websites 

Honolulu Star-Advertiser 

Your go-to source for breaking news, regional coverage, sports, business, and more is the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. covering the news, business, sports, entertainment, and weather in Honolulu and Hawaii. 

KHON2 

We are the news crew for Hawaii, and we respect how valuable your time is. We work hard to provide the most significant stories of the day to you as they happen, no matter where you are. 

Current Mayor 

Rick Blangiardi has dedicated his entire life to serving Hawaii, his coworkers, and most importantly, his family. He is currently in charge of the approximately one million citizens of the City and County of Honolulu, the eleventh largest municipality in the US, after being decisively elected by the population of Oahu. 

After taking office on January 2, 2021, Blangiardi got to work immediately by assembling a committed leadership team of more than 40 exceptionally talented and seasoned individuals to handle the immediate and long-term problems the City faces. The COVID-19 epidemic and its effects on health and the economy, affordable housing and homelessness, public safety, rail, elder care, and upgrading services to bring the City's technology into the twenty-first century are among the top objectives. 

With a results-driven leadership ethos free of the politics of the past, Blangiardi won his first election to public office decisively over a crowded field of rivals. 

Blangiardi had a successful and award-winning career as a media executive for more than four decades before he was elected mayor. He started his broadcasting career in 1977 at KGMB and went on to excel in top executive roles in many of the most competitive cities in the country, including Seattle, New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. From there, he rose to become a nationally renowned leader. 

The second-largest Hispanic television network in the country, Telemundo Holdings Inc., was where Blangiardi last had a position on the mainland. Based in Los Angeles, he was in charge of running Telemundo's 11 owned and managed stations throughout 10 important areas in the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as overseeing their rapid turnaround. Leading the sale of Telemundo to NBC for $2.7 billion in 2001, the largest purchase in NBC's history at the time, was a notable accomplishment during Blangiardi's tenure. 

Blangiardi served as Senior Vice President & General Manager of KHON2 (a FOX affiliate) and KGMB9 (a CBS station) in Honolulu from 2002 until the sale of KHON2 in 2006. He was the general manager of KGMB from 2006 to 2009; in 2009, he was named the general manager of Hawaii News Now, the state's largest multi-media organization, which included KGMB (CBS) and KHNL (NBC). 

He has a long history of involvement with Hawaii's top educational institutions, youth development initiatives, and non-profit organizations, including chairman, past president, and director positions for the American Red Cross, Hawaii Chapter, Central Pacific Bank, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Food Bank, Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and Pub. 

Blangiardi, a lifelong educator, started teaching football in the early 1970s at the University of Connecticut. He later transferred to the University of Hawaii, where he worked his way up the coaching ladder to become the associate head football coach and defensive coordinator. He still speaks to his staff and the public as though he is inspiring his players to give nothing less than their very best. 

The United States Naval Reserve is where Blangiardi served for more than six years before being honorably discharged on August 1, 1970. 

Blangiardi began at the University of Hawaii, Manoa as a freshman in 1965 before transferring and completing his undergraduate studies at Springfield College in 1969. In 1973, after moving back to Hawaii, he earned his M.Ed. in educational administration from the University of Hawaii. 

Blangiardi and his staff won more than 100 Emmy Awards, Mark Twain AP Awards, and Edward R. Murrow Awards for journalistic quality in competition against large west coast markets during his most recent ten-year employment at Hawaii New Now, before quitting to run for mayor. 

Among Blangiardi's most prominent accolades are: 

"Salesperson of the Year" was awarded in 2010 by the Sales and Marketing Executives International Chapter. This highly valued and distinguished award is given each year to a person "who has significantly improved the quality of life in our community" in Hawaii. 

Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Hawaii for 2014 

"Hawaii's Distinguished Citizen of the Year" for 2015, according to the Boy Scouts of America - Aloha Council 

2016 - Silver Circle Society Lifetime Achievement Award for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). 

University of Hawaii's Sports Circle of Honor for the year 2018 

Springfield College will honor its distinguished alumni in 2019. 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Award for Distinguished Community Service – March of Dimes 2019 

2019: Distinguished Service Award for the Consular Corps of Hawaii 

Rick and his wife Karen Chang reside in Honolulu, and he is humble and proud of his family. He has five grandchildren in addition to his three children, Matt, Ryan, and Laura.