Situated on the southern shore of the island of Oahu, Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii. From the hotel-lined beaches of Waikiki, the city extends inland for about 12 miles to Makapuu Point, stretching from Pearl Harbor to the volcanic crater of Diamond Head. The name Honolulu means "sheltered bay," and refers to the large, natural harbor on the southwestern shore. Archeologists believe this harbor was in use as early as the 12th century, but the first European to land there was Captain William Brown. His ship, the HMS Butterworth, entered the harbor in 1794. The sailors immediately dubbed the port Brown's Harbor in tribute to their captain, but Brown declined the honor and insisted that the port keep its native name.

The island of Oahu was conquered in 1795 by King Kamehameha I, who moved his royal court to Honolulu from the island of Hawaii. During his reign, Honolulu Harbor began to thrive as a stop for merchant ships between Asia and North America. In 1845, Kamehameha III proclaimed Honolulu as the official capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and went to work converting Honolulu from a tropical village to a modern city. Hawaii's attempts at self-sovereignty were thwarted in 1893 by the overthrow of the monarchy, and Hawaii was annexed by the U.S. in 1898 (although it did not achieve official statehood until 1959).