Hawaiian History

On our second day in Honolulu we decided to walk to the historic district, right in the heart of the busy city. There were banyan trees everywhere, their trailing branches taking root when they hit the ground, forming a mass of smaller tree trunks. 

Similar to British tradition. there were ornate emblems on the wrought iron gates, pale comparisons to the ones at Buckingham Palace in London. 

 

I am sure the early explorers and settlers did not envision 'grass huts' this size. 

The back side of the King Kamehameha palace and now museum. Admittance only with prior day reservations and the tour downloaded onto an app on your phone for a self guided tour. Just like they did in the 1800's.   

We found a pond with giant Koi. 

One of the massive old trees in front of the court house had to be culled. Large slabs were being carefully cut apparently for some artistic work to be completed in the courthouse. 

The old and new, side by side. 

A unique sculpture, a mom and dad and their two children, on two sides of a mirrored archway. Interesting, and I did not know how to photograph it in order to do it justice. One had to walk around it a few times to get the true impact. 

Tribes from other islands would come to visit the king and queen in their palace, and no doubt enjoy the nearby beaches. 

The impressive statue of King Kamehameha. In our previous trips to Oahu, we drove past this place many times but never took the opportunity to see it closeup.  

A parting shot of one of the beautiful trees growing in the heart of the city.