Honolulu, is the capital an most populous census-designated place (CDP) in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Although Honolulu refers to the city itself along the south shore of the island, it is commonly designated as the entire island of Oahu. In the Hawaiian language, Honolulu means "sheltered bay" or "place of shelter." It lies along the southeast coast of the island of Oahu and of the City & County of Honolulu. The population was 371,657 at the 2000 census.