Attractions
Arizona Memorial Museum
The USS Arizona was one of several United States battle ships that were sunk by the Japanese Imperial Navy during its surprise historic attack on Pearl Harbor, Oahu, on December 7, 1941, causing the U.S. to enter into World War II. Visitors are carried by Navy shuttle boats to the unusual memorial center, which has been constructed over the sunken hull that lies six feet below. The Arizona sank in about nine minutes, along with 1,177 sailors and marines who were on board. The names of the dead are inscribed in stone inside the memorial. Visitors are shown a documentary film and can view artifacts and exhibits explaining the tragedy. The memorial is open daily, but there is always a large queue for the free tickets, which are issued on a first-come-first-served basis, so be prepared to wait. Bookings are not taken.
Address: 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu
Telephone: (808) 422 0561
Web site:www.nps.gov/usar
Opening time: Daily 7.30am to 5pm. Interpretive programs, including a documentary film about the attack on Pearl Harbor and the boat trip to the USS Arizona Memorial, begin at 8am (7.45am in summer). The last program each day begins at 3pm;
Admission: Free, tickets issued on a first-come-first-served basis
Bishop Museum
The Bishop Museum in Honolulu is the largest museum in Hawaii and the premier natural and cultural history institution in the Pacific, recognized worldwide for its cultural collections, research projects and educational programmes. The museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop, in honor of his late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha family of Hawaii. Originally the museum housed the extensive family heirlooms of the royal family, but now the collection includes millions of artifacts, documents and photographs relating to Hawaii and other Pacific island cultures. It also has one of the largest natural history specimen collections in the world. All these treasures are housed in the former Kamehameha School for Boys in Bernice Street, Honolulu, established by the princess, which moved to a new location in 1940.
Address: 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu
Telephone: (808) 847 3511
Web site:www.bishopmuseum.org
Opening time: Daily 9am to 5pm, closed Christmas Day
Admission: $15.95 (adults), $12.95 (children 4-12). Concessions available
Honolulu’s Chinatown
Enter Honolulu’s Chinatown neighborhood through the Gateway Plaza on the corner of Bethel and Hotel streets in the city’s downtown business district, and you step into an exciting and exotic world made up of a colorful and eclectic blend of Southeast Asian cultures. Here Vietnamese, Laotian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Filipino, and a myriad of other ethnic groups work in harmony to sell their wares, serve their delicacies and perpetuate their cultural traditions. The market sells an array of delicacies from noodles to duck eggs, and tantalizing smells issue from the numerous inexpensive speciality restaurants in this 15-block area. Visitors can also consult a herbalist, view an art exhibit, watch a dragon procession, make an offering at a Buddhist temple, or perhaps buy a precious jade memento in this rich and memorable part of town.
Web site:www.chinatownhi.com
Iolani Palace
The only royal residence in the United States, the Iolani Palace, stands on the corner of King and Richard Streets in Honolulu, its opulent interior giving a glimpse into the lives of Hawaii’s last reigning monarchs between 1882 and 1893. Initially it was home to King Kalakaua and his Queen, until he died in 1891. His successor, Queen Lili’uokalani, then took up residence until the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown in 1893 by the US Marines in a palace coup. The palace has been fully restored. Visitors on guided tours can see the portraits of Hawaiian kings and queens, valuable vases and statuary, the grand staircase, the throne room decorated in crimson and gold, the state dining room and the royal family’s private quarters.
Address: 364 South King Street, Honolulu
Telephone: (808) 522 0822
Web site:www.iolanipalace.org
Opening time: Docent-guided tours are offered every 20 minutes between 9am and 11.15am. Audio tours and self-guided tours are also available
Admission: Grand Tour: $20 (adults), $5 (children 5-17); no under 5s permitted
