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Honolulu is the capital and largest community of the U.S. State of Hawaii. In the Hawaiian language, honolulu means "sheltered bay" or "place of shelter." The census-designated place (CDP) is located along the southeast coast of the island of O'ahu. The term also refers to the District of Honolulu (see Geography below). As of July 1, 2004, the U.S. Census Bureau estimate for Honolulu puts the population at 377,260 and that of the city and county (essentially, the Island of O'ahu) is 900,000. In Hawaii, local governments operate only at the county level, and the City & County of Honolulu encompasses all of the Island of O'ahu (approximately 600 square miles).

Neighborhoods and special districts

Downtown Honolulu is the financial, commercial, and governmental center of Hawaii. On the waterfront is Aloha Tower, which for many years was the tallest building in Hawaii. Currently the tallest building is the 438-foot-tall (134 m) First Hawaiian Center, located on King and Bishop Streets.
The Capitol District is the eastern part of Downtown Honolulu. It is the current and historic center of Hawaii's state government, incorporating the Hawaii State Capitol, Iolani Palace, Honolulu Hale (City Hall), State Library, and the statue of King Kamehameha I, along with numerous government buildings.
''Kaka'ako'' is a light-industrial district between Downtown and Waikîkî that has seen a large-scale redevelopment effort in the past decade. It is home to two major shopping areas, Ward Warehouse and Ward Centre. The John A. Burns School of Medicine, part of the University of Hawaii at Mânoa is also located there. A Memorial to the Ehime Maru Incident victims is built at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park.
''Waikîkî'' is the world famous tourist district of Honolulu, located between the Ala Wai Canal and the Pacific Ocean next to Diamond Head. Numerous hotels, shops, and nightlife opportunities are located along Kalâkaua and Kuhio Avenues. World-famous Waikîkî Beach attracts millions of visitors a year. Just west of Waikîkî is Ala Moana Center, the world's largest open-air shopping center. A majority of the hotel rooms on O'ahu are located in Waikîkî.
''Mânoa and Makiki'' are residential neighborhoods located in adjacent valleys just inland of downtown and Waikîkî. Mânoa Valley is home to the main campus of the University of Hawaii.
''Nu'uanu and Pauoa'' are middle-class to upper-middle-class residential districts located inland of downtown Honolulu. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is located in Punchbowl Crater fronting Pauoa Valley.
''Palolo and Kaimukî'' are neighborhoods east of Mânoa and Makiki, inland from Diamond Head. Palolo Valley parallels Mânoa and is a residential neighborhood. Kaimukî is primarily a residential neighborhood with a commercial strip centered on Wai'alae Avenue running behind Diamond Head. Chaminade University is located in Kaimukî.
''Wai'alae and Kâhala'' are the upper-class districts of Honolulu located directly east of Diamond Head, where there are many high-priced homes. Also found in these neighborhoods are the Wai'alae Country Club and the Kâhala Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
East Honolulu includes the residential communities of 'Âina Haina, Niu Valley, and Hawaii Kai. These are considered upper-middle-class neighborhoods.
''Kalihi and Pâlama'' are working-class neighborhoods with a number of government housing developments. Lower Kalihi, toward the ocean, is a light-industrial district.
''Salt Lake and Âliamanu'' are (mostly) residential areas built in extinct tuff cones along the western end of the Honolulu District, not far from the Honolulu International Airport.
Moanalua is two neighborhoods and a valley at the western end of Honolulu, and home to Tripler Army Medical Center.

Culture
Performing arts
Established in 1900, the Honolulu Symphony is the oldest US symphony orchestra west of the Rocky Mountains. Other classical music ensembles include the Hawaii Opera Theatre. Honolulu is also a center for Hawaiian music. The main music venues include the Neal Blaisdell Center Concert Hall, the Waikîkî Shell, and the Hawaii Theatre.

Honolulu also includes several venues for live theatre, including the Diamond Head Theatre and the Manoa Valley Theatre.


Visual arts
Located near downtown Honolulu, the premier venue for visual arts in Hawaii is the Honolulu Academy of Arts. The Honolulu Academy of Arts features the largest collection of Western and Asian art in Hawaii and also hosts a year-round film and video program dedicated to the presentation of arthouse and world cinema in the museum's Doris Duke Theatre. The Contemporary Museum in Makiki is the main museum of contemporary art in the state.


''Museums, aquariums, zoos, and cultural centers''
The Bishop Museum is the largest museum in the State of Hawaii and houses thousands of natural history specimens and cultural artifacts relating to Hawaii and the Pacific.
The Waikîkî Aquarium and the Honolulu Zoo are both located at the eastern end of Waikîkî in Kapi'olani Park.
The Hawaii State Art Museum (HISAM) (official site) is located in the downtown district in the old YMCA building and features local artists. Blessed with both a great collection and a competent house staff.

Sports
Currently, Honolulu has no professional sports teams. However, Honolulu hosts the NFL's annual Pro Bowl each February in addition to the NCAA football Hawaii Bowl. Fans of spectator sports in Honolulu generally support the football, volleyball, basketball, and baseball programs of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Highschool sporting events, especially football, are especially popular.