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While Honolulu may be the most isolated metropolis on Earth—it's about 2,400 miles from California—the city gained a sudden intimacy with the continental United States with the election of President Barack Obama, who spent much of his childhood in an apartment there. (The gray, 12-story apartment building may soon join the National Register of Historic Places, thanks to its famous former tenant.)

This city may boast the most unusual history of any U.S. metropolis, because of its past royalty. What graduate of the American school system can forget reading about Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaii's last reigning monarch, deposed in 1893?

Honolulu means "sheltered bay" in Hawaiian. While the city's exact founding date is unclear, there's evidence of a settlement around 1100. Hawaii was the last of the 50 states to join the union—and didn't do so until 1959. Honolulu is packed with historic sights, and the most notable among them is the Iolani Palace, the only royal residence in the United States. The palace was completed in 1882 by King Kalakaua but served as a home to royalty for only 11 years before Liliuokalani was overthrown. The queen was, in fact, imprisoned for a time in the palace's second floor.

Honolulu became a crucial port for Hawaii in the early 1800s. Honolulu's bustling trade in sandalwood and whale oil later gave way to pineapples and sugar. These days, the city's economy depends more on tourism. Many cultural events are as much for residents as they are for visitors. Chamber music performances, film festivals, and gallery walks fill the city's social calendar. Honolulu residents spend more of their time engaged in arts and cultural activities than the average American.

Hawaii has been called the "melting pot of the Pacific." The region's isolation has given it a unique culture that sets it apart from mainland America—and pretty much everywhere else. Western missionaries in the early 1800s did impart some of the culture's political, social, and economic values, but Asian immigrants are responsible for much of the island's distinct culture. Hawaiian natives often still speak pidgin, which blurs various Asian languages with English.

While living in Hawaii would seem to be paradise, there are downsides. The city's cost of living is high. Its level of crime is three times the national average—although still less than Miami or Orlando. Honolulu is, after all, a city—it just happens to be part of an exotic island chain. Plus, the "aloha" spirit is strong.

The largest of Honolulu's universities is the University of Hawaii–Manoa, a state school with more than 20,000 students. The city's private universities include Hawaii Pacific University and Chaminade University of Honolulu.

Hawaii is one of the healthiest states in America, with low rates of obesity and adult smoking and a high level of healthcare coverage. Honolulu has 21 hospitals within a 30-mile radius, including the state's largest private hospital, Queen's Medical Center, which was founded in 1859 by Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV. It's the only hospital in the nation that can boast royal founders.

Honolulu saw job growth of about 5 percent between 2000 and 2007. The Bank of Hawaii and Queen's Medical Center are among the city's top employers, but the most in-demand jobs over the next decade are expected to be in retail, postsecondary education, food service, and nursing.

Honolulu is beautiful—but living here isn't cheap. It's one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country, with a $378,250 median home price.

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