Every great city with an ancient heritage has its story—and some dark secrets. Honolulu is no different. The ancient Hawaiians didn’t think much of what is now known as Honolulu and Honolulu Harbor. The water was too deep. They preferred the confines of what is now Waikiki—sunshine, less rain, mo bettah surfing.

Honolulu wouldn’t exist without the deep, calm waters of Honolulu Harbor. Ships sailed into the harbor. Sailors spilled out into the downtown area in search of, well, um, whatever sailors search for if they’ve been at sea for six months.

Hawaiians are a practical people. The Waikiki area has greater access to food, fresh water, space to grow vegetables, sunshine, and long, smooth waves for surfing.

Downtown Honolulu had it’s moments, even to Hawaiians. Not far from where Aloha Tower stands today was a temple of healing dedicated to Lono. The priests who served the temple lived nearby.

Honolulu was originally named Fair Haven back in the 1790s by Captain William Brown. He found it to be the best harbor in the islands and the name stuck for decades.

In Hawaiian, “hono” means bay. “Lulu” means calm. Honolulu was anything but a calm location. Sailors and ships dotted the shoreline. In earlier years, it was the explorers. Then came the merchants, stores, shops—drinking, prostitution.

The bay was not calm.

The missionaries came in the early 1820s. Drunkards, rogues, sailors, and villainy ruled the streets of early Honolulu. That kept the missionaries busy.

All that’s left of those days are a handful of notorious bars in the Chinatown district. Today, cruise ships disgorge thousands of smiling tourists upon the shops and merchants. The missionaries? Well, they take vacations, too.

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