| Honolulu is the capital and largest city in the state of Hawaii. The area that the city currently lies on has been inhabited for thousands of years by the Polynesians with a settlement dating to the 11th century, but the modern city was founded in 1804, when King Kamehameha I moved his royal court from the Big Island to Waikiki. Pearl Harbor, close to the city made it a critical spot for the US to rule, especially during wars. In 1898, the US took over Hawaii and made it a territory, and in 1959, a state. Today, Honolulu remains as one of the most desirable (and isolated) cities in the US and the world, and arguably the coolest state capital. |
 Honolulu's famous beaches are flanked by tall resort towers |
