Top 10 Reasons Why Honolulu Is My City

As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, many people have limited preconceptions about what Honolulu has to offer.

Most ideas about Hawaii have to do with beaches, surfing, luaus and not much else. As a proud island girl who spent my entire pre-adult life growing up in the capitol city of the Aloha state, there are innumerable features about the island that make it the most memorable place no matter where I travel. Here are some truly distinct reasons why Honolulu is and always will be my city and my home.

1. The people

Never will you meet people who are as friendly and warm. You will definitely feel the Aloha spirit and almost always people will be happy to help you out. Not only are locals super nice, they are also strikingly beautiful. As people of color and multiracial individuals are the majority demographic, you will see bombshells and head-turners everywhere in this paradise where it’s bikini season all year round.

2. The pace

If you thought California was chill and laidback, wait until you experience the profoundly carefree and easygoing pace of island life. People give you right of way on the road, walk leisurely and everything runs on island time, meaning things get done when they get done.

3. The concrete tropical jungle 

Honolulu is a city after all, and the hustle and bustle of daily life in paradise is quite charming and exciting. From the swanky plazas and bright lights in Waikiki to the exquisite architecture around the capitol to the historic buildings throughout Chinatown, the mix of urban and tropical landscapes makes this city undeniably unique and colorful.

4. The secret spots

Growing up on an island did get boring sometimes which is why I did plenty of adventuring and discovering of beaches, parks, grottos and lookouts. From hidden beaches to sweeping views of the city, there are lots of places off the map that will take your breath away; these places always end up becoming the most unforgettable places.

5. The food 

There is nothing I crave more than an acai bowl or ahi poke or POG (passion orange guava juice) whenever I’m away from home. Honolulu is packed with delicious eateries and restaurants with ethnic and fusion foods of all kinds. The Japanese food is unmatched and we love our spam, chicken katsu, mac salad and loco moco, all our calorific local grinds you can find at our favorite 24 hour drunk pit-stop diner Zippy’s.

6. The parties

There’s a large population of youth and hedonists out here and we definitely like to party. You can go to any number of hip, crafty bars, raging nightclubs and even seasonal EDM rave events that cater to all sorts of party-goers looking for an upscale or wild time.

7. The rainbows

Lucky for us, bright, overarching rainbows are a common feature in our day-to-day lives. Seeing a rainbow can make your entire day while seeing a double rainbow is an awesome sight that never gets old.

8. Nature 

Not only do we have the beautiful clear ocean but also lush mountains, valleys and waterfalls, all within close proximity to the city center. As home to a large number of endemic species, anywhere in Hawaii is a dream for nature lovers and biologists of all kinds.

9. The weather

Sure we get some blazing hot days but the temperature stays around 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit and it never drops below 65. Even on humid, sweltering days, there are trade winds and breezes to cool you down and the beach is always five minutes away. Oh and did I mention it only rains for 10 minutes at a time?

10. Our very own regional culture

From efforts to preserve native Hawaiian traditions to products of multiethnic mingling such as the pidgin dialect, our unique history and population are visible in our local culture and day-to-day lives. There is an amazing presence of talented artists, musicians, chefs, intellectuals, athletes, activists and everything else under the sun, and that’s why we’re always thankful that we are lucky to live Hawaii.*

* #luckyWElivehawaii is a popular saying and hashtag that locals use to express appreciation for living in Hawaii.

Nadia Cho

Communications Associate

As the empowered female behind the blog: International Women of Mystery, Nadia reps Team JST traveling the world in search of exclusive features on hidden gems and cool hotspots. You can find her exploring metropolitan cities or lounging on tropical beaches.