Downtown, Honolulu

Foster Botanical Garden was established in 1853 and bequeathed to the City of Honolulu as a public garden in 1930. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Of particular interest is the Prehistoric Glen with its ferns and cycads. Other areas include the Lyon Orchid Garden, the oldest section known as the Main Terrace, the Butterfly Garden, the Economic Garden of herbs and spices, the blooming orchid display in the Orchid Conservatory, and a number of "exceptional trees" which are spread throughout the property. The collections of tropical plants and orchids have been added to the garden over the past 15- years from around the world.

Offering European and Oriental art, the Honolulu Academy of Arts is set around a series of garden courtyards.The fine Oriental collection features fabrics, furniture, porcelain, ceramics and sculptures from Japan, China, Korea and India.The European collection has strength in Italian Renaissance paintings which came from the Kress Collection.

This shopping center, located near to Ala Moana Shopping Center and divided into two linked complexes, has about 75 shops and restaurants.The Warehouse is the older of the two buildings and has been built to look as though it dates from an earlier time by the use of wooden beams and joists instead of steel.The shops have enjoyed increasing popularity as they sell mainly goods of very high quality. Those seeking souvenirs will find an extensive selection here. No fewer than ten shops sell art and craftwork. In both buildings there is a bookshop and in the Ward Center there are several shops selling men's and women's fashions.The shopping center is calmer than Ala Moana Shopping Center and the shops are both smaller and more specialized.

The Hawaii Maritime Center displays maritime historical displays such as Polynesian navigation, whaling history in Hawaii, shipping companies which served Hawaii, plus the romantic days when ocean liners and flying clippers were the prime way of getting to the islands.The museum has a ten-story tower, the Aloha Tower, with good views of the harbor.Tied up alongside the pier on which the museum sits is the four-masted sailing ship Falls of Clyde. This square-rigger was build in 1878 started its career running passengers and freight between San Francisco and the islands. The Falls of Clyde ended its days as an oil tanker under sail.

Aloha tower once greeted a vast array of passenger ships before the airplane became the principle trans-Pacific mode. Now it serves as a viewpoint to see the harbor, the Maritime Center with the four-masted tall ship Falls of Clyde and the modern skyline of Honolulu.The Tower is also the centerpiece of a Marketplace which bears its name.

Construction of this Episcopal Cathedral was begun in 1862 under the patronage of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma. The royal couple were quite taken with things English so not only does the building resemble an English Gothic country church, but even the stone was imported from England.The stained glass windows which cover the back and side walls range from traditional to some stunning modern designs.

The Hawaii Theatre Center opened in 1922, with major renovations leading to it's reopening in 1996. The 1400-seat, state-of-the art performance center features numerous types of productions including theater, dance, music and various other cultural activities.

Dating from 1843 on the site of an 1827 Catholic mission, Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, is one of the oldest in the U.S. Father Damien was ordained at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace.

The Chinatown area of Honolulu is quite simple compared to others around the world with a few Chinese restaurants, grocery stores and shops.