We may earn a commission when you book or buy through links on this page.
Honolulu Capitol District Top 10 Historic Sites
Downtown Honolulu is home to many of Hawaii’s most historic places, and The Hawaii Capital Historic District has been the center of government since the earliest days of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The architectural styles of the buildings range from Mission style and Spanish influenced, to the Gothic and traditional Palace styles commissioned by the Hawaiian Monarchy. Many of the structures were built as early as the 1820’s through to 1969, so it is interesting to note the broad range of architectural design in such a small area.
There is a lot to explore in the historic district situated between King and Beretania Streets, and in the vicinity of Richards, Queen and Kawaiahao Streets. Here at Hawaii-Guide, we have designed a self-guided walking tour that can easily be completed in a couple of hours. CLICK HERE for detailed information on location, opening times and admission prices for each attraction.
Hawaii-Guide’s Top 10 Historic Sites:
1. Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site & Archives
9. Hawaii State Capitol & Queen Lili’uokalani Statue
10. Hawaii State Archives & The Hewn Stones of Umi
We recommend setting aside a half-day for a more thorough exploration if you wish to venture inside the buildings as well as viewing the architectural design from the exterior. Parking in Downtown Honolulu can be difficult to find as well as expensive, so we recommend walking is the best way to see this area. Park your vehicle in a secure location and follow the steps below to get the most out of the historic sites.
Some of the major attractions on this walk are closed Sundays and/or Mondays, so we recommend this self-guided walking tour from Tuesdays through Saturdays.
Founder & certified Hawai'i travel expert with 20+ years in Hawai'i tourism, University of South Carolina climate-research training, and NOAA weather-station experience.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you book or buy through links on this page. See our Ad Disclosures & Standards.
Dry conditions on Oʻahu today, with breezy wind in exposed areas. Drier weather continues through Wednesday as moisture clears out.
A medium-sized northwest swell will bring elevated surf to north and west-facing shores tonight through Sunday morning—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. Winds remain breezy through Sunday, easing slightly Monday and Tuesday before picking up again Wednesday. A Small Craft Advisory is active through Monday morning for most coastal waters due to wind and sea state. Scattered showers arrive Thursday into Friday.
South and west shore beaches work well through Sunday for calmer conditions. North shore is worth watching tonight and Sunday morning if you're drawn to bigger waves.
0:000:54
Voice
Read the transcript
Skies are drying out across Maui today through Wednesday as moisture clears. Winds will be noticeably breezy, especially in exposed and terrain-favored spots.
North and west-facing shores will see elevated surf tonight into Sunday morning as a medium-sized northwest swell moves in—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Monday morning for coastal waters due to wind and sea conditions. Winds ease slightly late Monday and Tuesday, then strengthen again Wednesday. The next chance of scattered showers arrives Thursday through Friday.
If you're heading to the beach, south and west shores are your best bet through Sunday. North shore is worth watching tonight and Sunday morning if you're into bigger waves.
0:000:53
Voice
Read the transcript
Mostly clear and dry today on the Big Island, with noticeably breezy winds in exposed areas and terrain-favored spots. That breeze continues through Sunday.
North and west-facing shores will see elevated surf tonight into Sunday morning as a medium-sized northwest swell arrives—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. South shores stay small. A Small Craft Advisory covers most coastal waters through Monday morning due to wind and sea conditions. Winds ease slightly late Monday and Tuesday, then pick up again Wednesday. Scattered showers arrive statewide Thursday to Friday.
Head to the south and west shores for beach and snorkeling through Sunday. If bigger waves interest you, the north shore has surf to watch tonight into Sunday morning.
0:000:49
Voice
Read the transcript
Drier air is moving in through Wednesday. Winds will be noticeably breezy, especially in exposed areas.
Tonight into Sunday morning, a medium-sized northwest swell will push elevated surf onto the north and west shores—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Monday morning for coastal waters due to wind and sea state. Winds ease slightly late Monday and Tuesday, then pick up again Wednesday. Scattered showers arrive Thursday or Friday.
Hit the south and west shores for swimming and snorkeling through Sunday. If you want to watch big waves, the north shore is worth a look tonight into Sunday morning.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
