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Honolulu,
is the capital and most populous census-designated place
(CDP) in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Although Honolulu
refers to the city itself along the south shore of the
island, it is commonly designated[citation needed] as
the entire island of Oahu. In the Hawaiian language,
Honolulu means "sheltered bay" or "place
of shelter." It lies along the southeast coast of
the island of Oahu and of the City & County of Honolulu.
The population was 371,657 at the 2000 census.
Honolulu is the only incorporated city in Hawaii; all
other local government entities in Hawaii are administered
at the county level. The island of Oahu (approximately
600 square miles/1,600 square kilometres) is under the
administrative jurisdiction of the consolidated City
and County of Honolulu.
History
It is not known when Honolulu was first settled by the
original Polynesian migrants to the archipelago. Oral
histories and artifacts indicate that there was a settlement
where Honolulu now stands in the 12th century. However,
after Kamehameha I conquered Oahu in the Battle of
Nu uanu at Nu uanu Pali, he moved his royal
court from the Island of Hawai to Waikīkī in
1804. His court later relocated, in 1809, to what is
now downtown Honolulu.
In 1845, Kamehameha III moved the
permanent capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom from Lahaina
on Maui to Honolulu. He and the kings that followed
him transformed Honolulu into a modern capital, erecting
buildings such as St. Andrew's Cathedral, Iolani
Palace. At the same time, Honolulu became the center
of commerce in the Islands, with descendants of American
missionaries establishing major businesses in downtown
Honolulu.
Despite the turbulent history of the late 19th century
and early 20th century, which saw the overthrow of the
Hawaiian monarchy, Hawaii's subsequent annexation by
the United States, and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor,
Honolulu would remain the capital, largest city, and
main airport and seaport of the Hawaiian Islands.
An economic and tourism boom following
statehood brought rapid economic growth to Honolulu
and Hawaii. Modern air travel would bring thousands,
eventually millions (per annum) of visitors to the
Islands. Today, Honolulu is a modern city with numerous
high-rise buildings, and Waikīkī is the center
of the tourism industry in Hawaii, with thousands of
hotel rooms.
Geography and climate
Honolulu is located at 21°18'32" North, 157°49'34" West
(21.308950, -157.826182)[1]. While the climate is clearly
in the tropics, the climate (temperature and humidity)
is moderated by the mid-ocean location and some cooling
achieved by the California Current that passes through
the islands much of the year. The average daily low and
high temperatures in January are 65/80 °F (18/27 °C)
and in July are 74/88 °F (23/31 °C). Temperatures
exceed 90 °F (32 °C) only rarely, with lows in
the 50's °F (15 °C) occurring perhaps once or
twice in a year. The hottest temperature ever recorded
in Honolulu was 95 °F (35 °C) on September 19,
1994 and the coldest temperature ever recorded was 53 °F
(11.6 °C) on January 31, 1998, 1972 and 1948; January
20, 1969; February 1 and February 2, 1976; February 9,
1981; and February 12, 1983.
The closest location on the mainland to Honolulu is
the Point Arena, California Lighthouse, at 2,045 nautical
miles (2,353 statute miles) or 3,787 kilometers.[2] (Any
nautical vessel would require some additional distance
to circumnavigate Makapu'u Point.) However, part of the
Aleutian Islands of Alaska are slightly closer than California.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 371,657 people,
140,337 households, and 87,429 families residing in
the CDP. The population density was 4,336.6 people
per square mile (1,674.4/km²). There were 158,663
housing units at an average density of 1,851.3/sq mi
(714.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was
19.67% White, 1.62% Black or African American, 0.19%
Native American, 55.85% Asian, 6.85% Pacific Islander,
0.89% from other races; and 14.93% from two or more
races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.37% of
the population.
There were 140,337 households out of which 23.7% had
children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5%
were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female
householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families.
29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and
10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age
or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the
average family size is 3.23.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 19.2%
under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25
to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years
of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every
100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females
age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,112,
and the median income for a family was $56,311. Males
had a median income of $36,631 versus $29,930 for females.
The per capita income for the CDP was $24,191. About
7.9% of families and 11.8% of the population were below
the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under the
age of 18 and 8.5% of those 65 and older.
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