Historic Downtown Honolulu Walk

Before it was a state capital, Honolulu was the seat of an independent kingdom with its own palace, legislature, army and seat at the table of world nations. This walk follows that story through twelve stops: the palace and the buildings around it, the churches and houses of the New England missionaries, the 1893 overthrow told from both sides, the long road to statehood, and the Chinese and other immigrant families who built Chinatown.

The loop is about 4 kilometers on flat city sidewalks and takes around two hours with time to look around. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen. It starts at the front gates of Iolani Palace on King Street, but because it is a loop, cruise passengers can just as easily join at the Aloha Tower, beside the harbor piers, and walk it from there.

Two famous sights are separate trips: the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor and the hike up Diamond Head both need advance reservations for most visitors, so book them before you go.

12 stops on this tour:

Iolani Palace - A King's Modern Palace

Iolani Barracks - Home of the Royal Guard

Capitol Modern - Art in an Old YMCA

Chinatown - Lions at the Gate

Aloha Tower - The Harbor's Front Door

Aliiolani Hale - Where the Kingdom Fell

King Kamehameha Statue - The Statue That Sank

Kawaiahao Church - Built From the Reef

Mission Houses - New England in the Tropics

Washington Place - The Queen's Home

Damien and Liliuokalani Statues - Two Beloved Figures

Hawaii State Capitol - Open to the Sky

Plan your visit

Route: 12 stops · about 2.5 miles · walking loop
Time: about 2 hours at an easy pace, with stops
Start: Iolani Palace (directions)
Cost: free tour

Stops on this tour

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