Historic Downtown Honolulu Self-Guided GPS Audio Tour

The journey, in full

The Kamehameha I statue is the starting point of the tour and has an unusual story associated with it. The statue is beautifully framed with the Ali’iolani Hale in the background. Pro tip: If you come near Kamehameha Day (June 11), the statue will be draped in long leis in celebration! The Ali’iolani Hale is a gorgeous and historical building - the name meaning “house of heavenly kings.” Here, you’ll hear some fascinating backstory about the building, and why it’s so important! The Kawaiahao Church is an extremely historic church - the first Christian chapel on the Hawaiian Islands. The audio goes deep into the building itself and the history surrounding it. Located on the grounds of the Kawaiahao Church, this tomb contains the People’s King of Hawaii - King Lunalilo. An extremely well-loved monarch who did a lot for his people. Learn all about him and his legacy on the tour. This is a sacred spot - please be respectful. This building is the City Hall of Honolulu - and is beautiful both inside and out. In the lobby, you can view the historic architecture, and also art exhibits from local artists on display! An imposing building with dramatic Greek-style pillars out front, the State Library is a sight to behold. The tour details the long history of reading and writing in Hawaii, and how the library was established. Iolani Palace is the last stop on the tour - and it’s quite the epic place to end! This Palace is easily the most significant building on the tour. This is because it was an actual palace that generations of Hawaiian royalty lived in. Heaps of landmark events in Hawaiian history - both good and bad - took place here at the palace.