HONOLULU
With a cosmopolitan population of 950,000, Honolulu is the largest city in Hawaii. It is also the hub of cultural, educational, political, gastronomic, commercial, business and entertainment activities in the State of Aloha. after Captain James Cook put the Hawaiian islands on the world map in 1778, Honolulu became an increasingly important stop for ships travelling between America and Asia. First came fur traders, who made a fortune by exchanging otter fur from the Pacific Northwest for tea, spices and silk from China. Later, scented sandalwood became such a valuable commodity that the island's forests were almost stripped of it. Around 1843, recognizing the importance of the port for local trade, King Kamehameha III transferred the capital of Hawaii from Lahaina, Maui to Honolulu, and since then has maintained that name. Fishing boats, tugboats, tourist boats, container ships, cruise ships and barges moor at its docks. A mega-vessel, the Pride of America of NCL, also home ports all year round in the port (at Pier 2). Its center, Aloha Tower Marketplace, is a fashionable shopping, dining and entertainment complex spanning 11 acres of waterfront. This is your starting point for an unforgettable stay in Oahu.