Honolulu means "place of shelter" and serves as just that for thousands of tourists each year. Nearly 375,000 Hawaiians call Honolulu home. That large population makes the city the most populous in the entire State of Hawaii. As the largest city in one of the U.S.'s most popular vacation states, there are diplomatic facilities of Japan, Philippines, South Korea, Australia, and the Marshall Islands among others. Honolulu is the Capital of the State of Hawaii. Consequently, Honolulu is home to many of the government facilities including the City of Honolulu and Honolulu County as well as Federal instillations like the Federal Detention Center, Honolulu. The prison is a temporary holding place for no more than 1,000 inmates awaiting trial and is located just across from the Honolulu International Airport.

Downtown Honolulu is home to Hawaii's tallest building, the First Hawaiian Center, as well as the Hawaii Pacific University campus. The Honolulu Arts District and Waikiki are the most popular attractions among tourists. The arts district rests on the eastern edge of Honolulu's Chinatown. The Arts District is home to lots of cultural institutions like the Hawaii Theatre, galleries, and venues for performing arts and music. Waikiki is one of the most popular tourist districts and home to the Ala Moana Center which is the worlds largest open air shopping center. The district also has a number of other shops and eateries that cater to tourists and locals alike.