Honolulu's Chinatown at a Glance
You don’t have to love anything Oriental to get drawn to
Honolulu's Chinatown. There are scores of other reasons why
this place could become your favorite haunt. Mostly described
as one of Oahu's most exciting and mysterious neighborhoods,
Honolulu’s Chinatown showcases a unique and colorful
part of local history that makes it an interesting stop
on anyone’s itinerary.
The 25-acre marketplace has been home to Chinese
families dating back to the 1800s. The place grew with
waves of contract workers coming to Hawaii to work as laborers in
the sugar
plantations. With their earnings, some started putting up
businesses, which grew to become what Honolulu’s Chinatown
is today.
Honolulu’s Chinatown is quite unlike many other mainland
cities in the sense that many of the buildings are
relatively new. The whole place completely burned several times,
and at one time after several restorations, it became a
red-light district with a high crime rate, drug dealers
and punks. Back then local residents and visitors practically avoided this area, especially
after dark.
Today, the neighborhood has been cleaned up and is alive
with a new generation of market-goers, diners and tourists.
Home to many Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese,
Hawaiians and people from other Southeast Asian
countries, Honolulu's Chinatown is now one of the most vibrant cultural and economic
centers of Hawaii. Many local residents come here to
shop for fruits, vegetables and other groceries because
the prices in Chinatown are lower than in other Oahu
supermarkets.
You can have your hands full just by gazing at cutting-edge
art, rummaging through piles of herbal concoctions or ginseng
tonic, gawk at live eels, hanging pigs’ heads, chicken feet
and other exotic animals offered as delicacies. You may
want to get a tattoo, or offer some prayers in a nearby
Buddhist temple. And yes, you might end up loving anything
Oriental after this visit.
Honolulu's Chinatown in Bullet Points
- Chinatown is just a few blocks away from downtown
Honolulu
- Its 15-block large neighborhood is the home to many
Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Hawaiians, Koreans, Vietnamese
and people from other parts of Asia
- Here you'll find many stores that sell all kinds
of foods, including fresh fruits, vegetables, meats
and souvenirs
- You'll also find Chinese herbalists, acupuncturists
and art galleries in this area
Driving Directions to Honolulu's Chinatown / Location
Honolulu's Chinatown is just a few blocks away from downtown,
between Nuuanu, Beretania and River Street.
Address: 43 N Hotel St., Honolulu, HI 96813
Chinatown Map (top)
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Honolulu Weather (top)
Now
84°F
Windchill:
84°F
Mostly Cloudy
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Location: Honolulu, HI, US
Wind: 16 mph NE
Humidity: 56%
Visibility: 0.1 mi
Pressure: 29.94 in falling
Sunrise: 6:37 am
Sunset: 5:52 pm
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Sat
Hi: 84°F
Low: 71°F
Partly Cloudy
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Sun
Hi: 85°F
Low: 72°F
Mostly Cloudy
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Honolulu's Chinatown Photos (click to enlarge)
(top)
Honolulu's Chinatown Reviews and Comments
(top)
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