Honolulu Hale (City Hall)
Honolulu Hale (City Hall)
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.0
105 reviews
Excellent
41
Very good
51
Average
9
Poor
3
Terrible
1
TravelTea
Foster City, CA1,748 contributions
Dec 2013 • Family
This display of Christmas w/ a Hawaiian flavor is always a favorite! Located @ city hall & surrounding blocks, lots of Christmas lights/decorations, displays, a few food vendors, and a small carnival ride area for the kids. The centerpiece is the Shaka Santa & Mrs. Claus display in their Hawaiian Christmas attire. Best enjoyed @ night.
Inside city hall, there are decorated trees & displays that follow a theme. This year's (2013) theme was from Hawaii Kon 2013 w/ Pikachu, Ponyo, Totorro themes (a real treat for the kids). City Lights usually lasts a month (all of December) & is open from 9 - 11pm. There are restrooms & water fountains inside the city hall bldg.
(Plenty of) Event parking was provided free @ a nearby parking garage; only a short walk to all the festivities. A wonderful time for the whole family! Mahalo to the city of Honolulu for providing this free annual tradition for all to enjoy.
Inside city hall, there are decorated trees & displays that follow a theme. This year's (2013) theme was from Hawaii Kon 2013 w/ Pikachu, Ponyo, Totorro themes (a real treat for the kids). City Lights usually lasts a month (all of December) & is open from 9 - 11pm. There are restrooms & water fountains inside the city hall bldg.
(Plenty of) Event parking was provided free @ a nearby parking garage; only a short walk to all the festivities. A wonderful time for the whole family! Mahalo to the city of Honolulu for providing this free annual tradition for all to enjoy.
Written January 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
daw808
Denver, CO40 contributions
Feb 2013
Well constructed, beautifully designed "Spanish Territorial/ Hawaiian" influenced architecture, but then the beauracrats started to chop it up into little office empires and ruined the building. I don't think anyone has really cleaned th etiled floor or dusted the light fixtures since the building opened inthe1920's.
Written March 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glenn
Waterlooville, UK131 contributions
Dec 2011 • Couples
We visited the City hall during a stop on our city tour. Whilst everyone else had a hot dog after going to the Iolina Palace we decided to take a walk down the road to look at the massive Santa and Mrs Santa models dipping their feet in the water, great display of trees and decorations inside and out that I am sure any child would have loved. Why don't we do things like this in England? Also outside was a memorial (eternal flame) to 9/11. Would recommend parents take their children here at Christmas time.
Written January 16, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Retired_Miami
Miami, FL347 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
We were looking for authentic historic Honolulu buildings, but did not come across any on our first day there. The second day we happened to find Honolulu Hale, City Hall, which was built in 1927, originally as a Spanish mission. We were surprised to learn from the Civil War display in the lobby, that 200 sons of mostly abolitionist missionaries traveled from where they were born in Hawaii to the mainland to fight in the Civil War. One of them successfully deflected the Confederate Pickett's charge at the Battle of Gettysburg, leading to a turning point in the war. City Hall is a short walk from the Mission House Museum and directly across the street from Kawaiaha'o Church. There is free wifi and it is a good place to recharge your tired feet for a well deserved rest.
Written February 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phil B
Honolulu, HI21 contributions
Other than the outdoor Christmas displays, not musch to see.
Written June 17, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA17,748 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
We roamed by this important building downtown and appreciated its grandeur. Not the most important site, but pleasant enough.
Written June 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BGR
Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, FL189 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
Parking and crowds can be an issue during the Holidays, but Honolulu Hale should not be missed if you are in Honolulu during December. Early December, the city has a Christmas Tree-lighting Ceremony outside City Hall and an electric-light parade. Throughout the Christmas Season, the grounds are decorated for the Holidays and it becomes a Christmas wonderland at night. If you want to avoid the crowds, try visiting early on a Sunday morning. You may not avoid parking difficulties because of the nearby churches, but you may avoid the crowds. Of course, if you want to see it at night your best bet may be to take a trolley ride past it -- or simply brave the crowds and enjoy.
Written December 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
QuickWhitTravel
Washington DC, DC3,776 contributions
Dec 2015 • Couples
This is a lovely building in the middle of downtown Honolulu. Worth walking by, even if you don't have time to go in. The architecture is a little different from the rest of the architecture in the rest of the city.
Written December 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
johnfjohnston
The Villages, FL5,582 contributions
Dec 2015 • Couples
Each year the Christmas tree lighting is a gala event with a spectacular parade, carnival-like food booths, and entertainment. The ceremony itself is fashioned in a manner that each mayor, since Mayor Frank Fasi first established this event, personalizes. Just one night, once a year. It is delightful.
Written December 6, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John S
Kapolei, HI137 contributions
Sep 2015
Honolulu Hale is the political seat of the City and County of Honolulu. "Hale" meaning "home" also implies a meeting place. The mayor and City Council have offices here and public meeting rooms are open. Don't forget to go to the basement. The photos of all of Honolulu's mayors line the wall. Art exhibits are usually featured in the main lobby entrance. If you're there at Christmas time, there are some nice decorations. Feel free to walk about all the floors of this public building.
If you are in the area, why not do a "walk-about" to include Iolani Palace, the State Capitol Building, Honolulu's main library, and across King Street: The Judiciary Bldg.(just behind the King Kamehameha statue), the Kawai'hao Church and graveyards(great history!), and end with the Mission House Museum.
If you are in the area, why not do a "walk-about" to include Iolani Palace, the State Capitol Building, Honolulu's main library, and across King Street: The Judiciary Bldg.(just behind the King Kamehameha statue), the Kawai'hao Church and graveyards(great history!), and end with the Mission House Museum.
Written September 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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