Honolulu, Hawaii

A census-designated place with a popluation of 359,870 in 2017. The capital and most populous community of the State of Hawaii. In the Hawaiian language, honolulu means "sheltered bay" or "place of shelter". The term also refers to the consolidated city-county of Honolulu, which encompasses the entire island of O'ahu. The county population is nearly one million, which is approximately 77% of the population of the entire state.

Oral tradition says that Polynesian people settled this area in the 12th century. After Kamehameha I conquered Oʻahu in 1795, he moved his court to the island, eventually locating it here in 1809. Kamehameha III made Honolulu the permanent capital of the kingdom in 1845. It remained the capital after the Kingdom became a republic in 1894, and became territorial capital upon annexation by the United States in 1898. In 1959 it became state capital. Honolulu is now a major tourist destination, with nearly 8 million tourists a year visiting.