Attractions in Chinatown Honolulu

Information about visitor attractions in Chinatown Honolulu, Hawaii

Chinatown Gateway Plaza (2) Corner Bethel and Hotel streets. The City’s Chinatown Gateway Plaza and park project includes a 26-story apartment building, and a large open plaza and park. In celebration of the 1989 bicentennial of the arrival of the Chinese in Hawaii, Kaohsiung, Honolulu’s sister city in the Republic of China, gave a gift of the two traditional Chinese lion marble statues, facing each other from opposite sides of Hotel Street. This comprises the entrance to Chinatown from the adjacent downtown business district. Wo Fat Restaurant (8) Corner of Hotel and Maunakea streets. Dates back to 1882, making it the oldest restaurant in Honolulu. The first building was destroyed in the 1886 Chinatown fire, then rebuilt; only to be destroyed again in the 1900 fire. Once Honolulu’s most popular restaurant (no longer in business). Alger Foundation Building (8) 110 N. Hotel. Across the street from the Wo Fat building. Exquisite green tile and ornamentation. A fine example of enhanced Asian design in context with the historic district. Hotel Street (9) Take a walk on the wild side, and be sure to look above street level (on both sides of the street) to catch a glimpse of Chinatown’s historic ambience. It’s still there, from the WWII Club Hubba Hubba neon sign to the iron fire shutters on the windows. Mr. C’s Chinatown Garage Fill Up & Go Bar (14) 10 N. Hotel Street between Nuuanu and Smith streets. Chinatown’s answer to Cheers with an added local twist, complete with neighborhood characters and karaoke. Clean. You might be served by John-John; regulars claim he’s the best bartender in town. Maunakea Street (9) Stand at the corner of Maunakea and Hotel streets and check out the action on one of Chinatown’s oldest and busiest streets. Maunakea Market Place (12) 1120 Maunakea Street. May enter on either Hotel or Maunakea streets. Excellent example of new development in context with the historic district. A gathering place for Chinatown residents. Watch mah jongg players in the center courtyard, shop for souvenirs, stop in for tea at the Tea Hut or have a meal or snack at food stalls inside the main building. Walk through the open market behind the food court – crowds of people buying fresh vegetables, exotic herbs and tropical fruits, pig’s heads, chicken feet, live eel and fish. Lai Fong Department Store (15) 1118 Nuuanu Avenue across the street from Indigo Restaurant. A fascinating store filled with oriental antiques, silk brocade, cheong sams, Ming dynasty porcelain, curios, ivory and jade jewelry, antique teakwood and rosewood furniture, and numerous treasures. Lai Fong was a picture bride from Canton who came to Hawaii and quickly established herself as a skillful dress designer. She sold bolts of fabric door to door and was soon able to open the store in the heart of Chinatown, which is still operating fifty years later. The stone sidewalk in front of the store is made from the granite blocks from China, which were used aboard ships as ballast. These blocks are scattered throughout Chinatown, and were used in the construction of a few buildings that are still standing. Cecil’s Beauty Salon (15) 1110 Nuuanu Street across from the police station. A colorful slice of Chinatown life and full of the aloha spirit. The salon’s front door usually stands open, so take a quiet peek inside to see Madonna statues, messages of good will, and plants stacked from floor to ceiling. The small shop is located in one of Chinatown’s historic buildings. Hawaii Theatre Center (17) 1130 Bethel Street. Proclaimed as the "Pride of the Pacific", the theatre opened in 1922 as a showplace for vaudeville, plays, musicals and silent films. In May 1996, the theatre reopened as a multi-purpose performance center, following years of disuse and a complete restoration. It is listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Sun Yat-sen Statue (19) 65 Beretania Street at the end of River Street, next to the Chinese Cultural Plaza. Statue of Sun Yat-Sen, considered by some to be the liberator of China and Father of the Chinese Republic. Nuuanu Stream Walk (19) After viewing the statue, continue walking towards the mountains: local ambience, Mah Jongg tournaments, and some of the best manapua in Chinatown at the Royal Kitchen (30) (stall #175). Chinese Cultural Plaza (20) 100 Beretania Street. The original developers of the plaza had high hopes for this complex, but for various reasons they never fully materialized. Today the Cultural Plaza consists mainly of small shops (see Chinese herbal medicine) and restaurants (see restaurant guide). It is still worth a visit, and does offer some good bargains. In the center of the complex is the Moon Gate Stage where ceremonies and entertainment are held from time to time and, early in the morning, Chinese exercise classes work out. Ramsay Courtyard (22) 1109 Maunakea Street, across the street from Maunakea Market Place and next to Kim’s. Enter courtyard and walk toward open garden area in back. A fine example of bygone Chinatown lifestyle where Chinese families once lived in small rooms connected to similar courtyards throughout the neighborhood. The outdoors areas were used for cooking and dining, laundry. Kuan Yin Temple (23) At end of the river walk and across Vineyard Street at entrance to Foster Gardens. Lovely temple dedicated to the Chinese deity of compassion, Goddess Kuan Yin. Visitors are welcome.

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About the Chinatown District of Honolulu

City of Honolulu Visitor's Guidee

Oahu Island Travel Guide

Hawaii for Visitors

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