Honolulu International Airport located in Western Honolulu is one of the busiest airports in the United States. Its proximity to both Downtown Honolulu and the museums and memorials of Pearl Harbour makes it a popular location for many visitors to the island of Oahu.
There is much to see and do in the airport terminal with a variety of restaurants, shopping malls and even business centres on hand. However, the most interesting areas are located outside the building. The USS Arizona Memorial and the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument can be reached in 10 minutes by car from the airport. The Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbour is also available to visit, showcasing a variety of American and Japanese aircrafts from World War II. Military historians will enjoy trip onto the decks of the Battleship Missouri. Tours allow visitors below deck where gun turrets, engine rooms and the surrender deck can all be explored. While in the area, don’t miss the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, with an impressive museum, fascinating exhibits and gift shops on site, it’s an experience for all the family to enjoy. Heading into Downtown Honolulu, Bishops Museum is a superb place to gain insight into the heritage of the Hawaiian Islands. Explore the collections of biological specimens and artefacts from many Pacific Islands, or try to decode the secrets of the Universe in the Planetarium. Downtown Honolulu has many shopping malls, dining establishments and plenty of parks and waterfront locations ripe for discovery.
There are three main airport terminals at Honolulu International Airport. Buses operate a fast and frequent inter-terminal transportation service for visitors. There are several ways to travel to and from the airport. Cars, buses, shuttles and taxi services can transport visitors from the airport to Downtown Honolulu, Waikiki and Pearl Harbour.
Honolulu International Airport was originally named John Rodgers Airport after a World War I naval officer of the same name. It was renamed in 1947 and became a prime stopover for Trans-Pacific flights. Due to the sheer volume of passengers arriving at the airport each year, there have been many expansions. The airport is home to four runways, the "Reef Runway" located offshore was also designated as one of the landing sites for the Space Shuttle. The airport services over 21 million passengers each year.