Local Information

Honolulu is on the south shore of Oahu; it dominates the island, and the city's government administers all of Oahu. The island itself is a volcanic mass divided into sections by two separate mountain ranges.

Honolulu's neighborhoods have distinctive identities. The office buildings of downtown Honolulu are just north of Honolulu Harbor. To the east of downtown is Waikiki, which is bordered by Diamond Head. Makiki Heights, to the north of downtown, surrounds the Punchbowl, a crater that is the home of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Inland from Waikiki is lovely, rainy Manoa, where you will find the University of Hawaii. Farther east are Hawaii Kai and Kahala, both known for their expensive homes

Weather
The Hawaiian Islands have a moderate tropical climate with gentle northeasterly tradewinds and warm Pacific waters almost year-round. Temperatures vary little from place to place, except at higher elevations (see "mountain conditions," below). The average annual temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23.9 degrees Celsius) fluctuates only a few degrees from summer (May through October) to winter (November through April).

Water Temperature
Hawaiian waters are inviting year-round, averaging 74 degrees F (23 C) and reaching close to 80 degrees F (26 C) in the summer months. Surf conditions vary year-round according to seasonal storms in the Pacific.

Sightseeing
From Diamond Head to Waikiki Beach to Pearl Harbor and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Oahu's Honolulu area is home to a series of landmark attractions known throughout the world. All are well worth seeing, but the island's geographic and cultural attractions are by no means limited to these well-known sites. Honolulu proper is also home to two world-class museums of fine art (The Honolulu Academy of Arts and The Contemporary Museum); some of the state's best luau where visitors can get a taste of Polynesian culture; 'Iolani Palace and the Mission Houses Museum; the state legislature; historic Chinatown and much more. See a representative at the American Express Travel Desk at the hotel for information regarding tours.