U.S. Census figures place Honolulu as one of the most racially diverse cities in the United States. Its human geography is unique, in that the Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders make up a significant part of the population. Census figures from 2000 estimated Asians made up 55.9 percent of Honolulu's population, while whites were 19.7 percent of the total. The next largest group, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, made up 6.8 percent. Blacks accounted for 1.6 percent.
Honolulu is located at 158 degrees longitude west and 21.5 degrees latitude north, making it the southernmost state capital in the United States. The city is not connected to any other state by road -- its remote location means you must take a boat or plane to reach it.
In 2006, Honolulu's population was 377,357 --- up from 371,657 in 2000, according to the U.S. Census. U.S. News & World Report says the city "may be the most isolated metropolis on Earth." Honolulu is geographically isolated from the rest of the country, located in the Pacific Ocean about 2,200 miles from the North American continent.
Diamond Head Volcano is a unique, defining characteristic of Honolulu's geography. The crater is a state monument and park. It was fortified by the U.S. Army in 1908 due its strategic location on the southeast coast of Oahu, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, according to Oahu.com. Diamond Head has remained dormant since it was formed 150,000 years ago.
