Discover the Aloha Spirit: Top 8 Fun Facts About Honolulu You Never Knew

1. Shopaholics' Haven

Say "aloha" to shopaholics' paradise, where fashion-forward visitors hang loose and ride the wave of designer boutiques: Honolulu's Ala Moana Center is the world's largest open-air shopping center, featuring over 350 stores and eateries, the most extensive selection of designer brands in Hawaii, and even some entertaining hula performances to get you in the island spirit.
Source => alamoanacenter.com

2. Musical Monarch Queen Liliʻuokalani

When someone says you can overthrow a queen but you can't silence her music, they're probably talking about Hawaii's last monarch: Queen Liliʻuokalani was not only a political figure but also a melodic mastermind, penning over 200 tunes—including the iconic "Aloha 'Oe"—and using her lesser-known songs as powerful outlets of protest against the U.S. government's forceful dethronement of her kingdom. And she didn't stop there: She anonymously published the track “Mai Wakinekona a Iolani Hale” in a Hawaiian newspaper to voice her disapproval of her own incarceration, ultimately becoming an unmistakable voice in the resurgence of the Hawaiian language and culture.
Source => smithsonianmag.com

Did you know that Hawaii is the only US state where coffee is grown commercially, spanning over 6,900 acres and producing 5 million pounds of world-renowned green coffee? Discover more brew-tiful facts about Hawaii's unique coffee culture! ☕🌴

=> Fun Facts about Hawaii

3. Stargazing Paradise

Houston, we have an astronomically awesome vacation spot: Honolulu welcomes over 100,000 stargazers each year to the Mauna Kea observatory, boasting one of the darkest skies on Earth for out-of-this-world celestial sightseeing.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Fierce Housing Market

In the land of sun, sand, and surf—where palm trees sway amidst a backdrop of tropical paradise—lies a fierce battleground like none other, where potential homebuyers don their armor to conquer the exotic terrain: Honolulu's housing market sees homes receiving an average of two offers and selling in around 59 days, with a median sale price per square foot of $684, down 5.2% since last year.
Source => redfin.com

5. Tunnel to Eternity

Who needs a time machine when you have Hālona Beach Cove's lava tube – the "tunnel to eternity": This picturesque spot in Honolulu, famous for the iconic scene from the movie "From Here to Eternity," boasts a long lava tube cave at the back of the beach that adventurers can traverse armed with nothing more than a flashlight, though it's worth noting it doesn't spout water like a punctual geyser.
Source => hawaii.com

6. Postal Musical Chairs

Before it was "going postal," the Honolulu Post Office was playing a serious game of musical chairs: First opening in a room in the Government Printing Office in 1850, it then moved to the Polynesian Office and Honolulu Hale, clocking in as Hawaii's second-ever post office location and a historic landmark in its own right.
Source => hawaiianstamps.com

7. Spooky Ghost Tours

Who you gonna call? Ghost Tour-ers: Experience the eerie side of paradise with Honolulu's famous Ghost Guy, Lopaka Kapanui, as you venture on native Hawaiian-owned ghost tours, delving into haunting tales, visiting spine-chilling sites, and unraveling the mysteries of the Hawaii Supreme Court Building's emotional echoes - all while supporting local small businesses with every goosebump!
Source => viator.com

8. Insta-Perfect Garden

"Strike a pose but don't hit the road": In the world where perfect Instagram posts are as hard to find as a needle in a selfie stick stack, fear not, for Honolulu's Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden comes to the rescue with its palm tree paradise, mountainous majesty, and Greenpeace vibe: Just keep in mind that while striking a pose and snapping photos on the main road is now strictly forbidden due to the fame of the spot, there are still countless other beautiful locations throughout the garden, only asking for your camera (and that early bird attitude to beat the crowds!).
Source => gringajourneys.com