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You might say Honolulu is fit for a king.
Reminders of the city's royal past abound in Hawaii's bustling metropolitan capital: from the statue of King Kamehameha I — honoring the warrior king who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 — to Iolani Palace, the only official royal residence in the United States. And maybe it's no coincidence that two of the characters who helped put Waikiki Beach on the map were a duke and a king. Olympic gold medalist Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing, brought a sense of effortless cool to the world-famous resort strip.
And who can deny the impact of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock 'n' Roll, and his hip-swinging beachside roles? Nowadays, with upscale shops at Ala Moana Center, a thriving gallery scene in Chinatown, and a major local culinary movement at the hand of visionaries like Roy Yamaguchi, Sam Choy, and Alan Wong, it's easy for any average Joe to feel like Kamehameha.
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Hawaii is the melting pot of the Pacific, with people from all over the world calling the islands home. Each March, the Honolulu Festival celebrates the peaceful harmony of these cultures with a grand parade down Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki, showcasing Japanese Mikoshi shrines, a Chinese lion and dragon dance, the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet Marching Band, and costumed groups representing the cultures of Samoa, Australia, Korea, and the Philippines.
Surf's up! Celebrate Hawaii's favorite water sport by honoring Duke Kahanamoku, the Olympic gold medal swimmer, professional surfer, and one-time sheriff of Honolulu who put Hawaii's surfing tradition on the map. The nine-day Duke's OceanFest begins with a lei draping ceremony at Duke's statue on Waikiki Beach and continues with beachside sports events, including longboard surfing, swimming, paddleboard racing, surf polo, and volleyball.
Watch as more than 1,000 athletes from around the world compete in Moloka'i Hoe, Hawaii's most impressive outrigger canoe race. Since 1952, this annual event has honored the ancient Hawaiians who paddled thousands of miles to reach the islands from Polynesia. Launching from the nearby island of Molokai, participants paddle 38 miles across the treacherous Kaiwi Channel, landing on Waikiki Beach nearly nine hours later.
"December 7th, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy." Each year, the U.S. Navy and National Park Service host a memorial ceremony with wreath-laying presentations, tributes to survivors, and a rifle salute in honor of those who lost their lives in the historic attack on Pearl Harbor.