Aerial Pictures of Honolulu, Hawaii

Narrative

I have flown in and out of Honolulu more times than I can remember.  However, during recent flights on Mokulele Airlines I was able to get some great photos of my current hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii.  This is because Mokulele Airlines flies small single engine planes that give passengers a bird’s eye view of the islands.  Below is a picture taken as the plane first takes off from the runway at Honolulu International Airport:

The Honolulu International Airport sits adjacent to Hickam Air Force Base:

When flying into or out of Honolulu International Airport, military aircraft can always be seen parked down below:

Pearl Harbor

Something else that can be seen shortly after take off is the famous Pearl Harbor:

This next picture centered on Ford Island is where most of the US Navy ships destroyed that day to include the USS Arizona were located:

Here is a picture of Ford Island during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941:

This next picture shows the H1 Freeway as well as the Pearl Harbor Naval Exchange visible in the center of the photograph.  IN the distance neighborhoods that are part of the suburb of Aiea can be seen extending up the side of the Koolau Mountains:

After Pearl Harbor the next area of Honolulu I could see from the plane were the homes around the Aliamanu Crater near the Salt Lake neighborhood:

This next picture shows the heart of the Salt Lake neighborhood which features multiple high rise apartment buildings:

Besides the Air Force and the Navy, the US Army also calls Honolulu home with Ft. Shafter located just outside of downtown Honolulu:

In this next picture the H1 Freeway can be seen on the far left with the various warehouses near Sand Island visible on the far right:

Ko’olau Mountains

Here is a view from the plane where the Likelike Highway can be seen running east into the Ko’olau Range:

This next picture shows the massive campus of the Kamehameha Schools which is the organization that holds much of the land left over from the last Hawaiian monarch and is the largest land owner in Hawaii:

Next I could see the large Mt. Tantalus which is home to many wealth estates.  The drive up and around this mountain I consider one of the best drives in Hawaii:

The next picture shows the beautiful Manoa Valley located just to the east of downtown Honolulu:

Manoa Valley is where many scenes from the movie, “The Descendants” was shot as well as being the location of many great hikes such as the ones listed below:

• Best Hikes On Oahu: The Manoa Falls Trail
• Best Hikes On Oahu: The Pu’u Pia Trail

This next picture shows this major industrial district and marina to the southwest of downtown Honolulu:

Here is another view of this industrial area to include Sand Island in the upper left of the picture which is a major port for Honolulu:

Downtown Honolulu

This next picture is looking right into downtown Honolulu:

In this next picture the famous Aloha Tower in downtown Honolulu is visible at the very center of the image and the state capital is visible in the middle right of the picture:

Here is another view of downtown Honolulu where the state capital is visible in the center of the image:

Here is a picture of the area to the east of the state capital:

Waikiki

From the air the world famous Waikiki is easily noticeable due to its beautiful beach:

Here are two more pictures of Waikiki from the air looking in the opposite direction towards the ocean:

Next I was able to get an awesome picture of Diamond Head Crater from the airplane:

At the below link you can read about what is probably the most popular hike in Hawaii:

• Best Hikes In Hawaii: The Diamond Head Crater Trail, Oahu

As the plane travels east across Oahu the various neighborhoods that extend up the rugged Koolau Mountains can be seen:

Towards the southeastern end of the island I was able to glimpse a few views of the Windward Coast of Oahu located on the opposite side of the Koolau Mountains:

I was also able to get a picture of Makapu’u Point on the far southeast side of Oahu.  The Makapu’u Lighthouse is visible on the far right of the picture:

You can read about another one of the most popular trails in Hawaii which is the hike to the Makapu’u Lighthouse at the below link:

• Best Hikes In Hawaii: Makpu’u Point Trail, Oahu

Conclusion

Makapu’u Point is really the last area of greater Honolulu that can be seen when traveling off of Oahu.  I never get tired seeing Hawaii from the air and that includes Honolulu.  For anyone that would like to see more pictures of Oahu from the air I highly recommend the below book, “From the Skies of Paradise: Aerial Images of Oahu“: