Book excerpt: Named the sheltering place by native Hawaiians, Honolulu is situated on a beautiful bay surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and white sandy beaches. See how this gem has evolved since King Kamehameha moved his royal court here in 1845 from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbour. As the center of commerce for the Hawaiian Islands, Honolulu boasts a unique skyline: its skyscrapers are surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. Tourism brought rapid growth to Honolulu and brought surfing to the rest of the world.