Honolulu is Hawaii's capitol -- both politically and economically. Sometimes referred to as "L.A. West", the tropical metropolis is home to many major and small businesses. Entrepreneurs looking to set up shop in Honolulu will find the city maintains fairly light licensing and permitting, somewhat compensating for the much heavier licensing and taxation imposed by the state. Although Honolulu's economy is heavily driven by tourism, the city's position in a state located in the Pacific makes it a major international trading location. Both the port and the airport are hubs for international shipping and trade. Additionally, military defense, research and development, and manufacturing are all prominent industries.