Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Honolulu, Hawaii
Our Tourist Attractions Expert Says:
Take your senses on the ride of a lifetime when visiting Chinatown in Honolulu.
In the 15 blocks that comprise Chinatown, visitors will experience so much diversity in one place: merchants from Vietnam, Laos, China, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Hawaii and Korea work together, selling their wares in outdoor and indoor markets. You can buy fresh produce, fish, meat, candied fruits and vegetables, noodles, tea, duck eggs, and other Asian delicacies at great prices.
Chinatown is located in downtown Honolulu. As Honolulu is a major entry way into the U.S. for many immigrants from many south Asian countries, visitors to Chinatown will get to experience many different cultures in a variety of ways. Watch how Hawaiian Lei's are made or buy a variety of herbs and spices. You can buy all types of different clothing. You can also try out your Chinese by pronouncing store names and items when shopping for things like Oriental gifts and souvenirs, carved beads, jade, semi-precious gemstones and Chinese porcelain, clothes, and even the specialty Hula bread.
Visit Chinatown's theater and art galleries and see places rich in architecture, culture and the arts. There are several walking tours of Chinatown offered, including a two-and-a-half-hour stroll presented by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. Offered every Tuesday, the tour includes stops at numerous eateries, gift shops, temples and more. Join in on the First Friday evening festival, where on the first Friday of each month Chinatown and downtown galleries, museums and studios are open to the public, giving visitors and locals the opportunity to experience the artistic and cultural resources of Honolulu. Festivities include live music, street entertainment, open cafes, bistros and antique stores - and even a tattoo parlor. A free walking map of the galleries is available at all participating sites.
Indulge in Chinatown's most popular foods. You can mix with locals from the downtown business community, who flock to the area for dim sum, or lunch at one of the delicious and inexpensive specialty restaurants and cafés. Or, for a quick stop, dine at a food court. Wherever you chose, you will enjoy Asian food at it's finest with Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese and Hawaiin dishes. Be aware that restaurants may only have menus available in their native language. If you can't stomach Asian food, there is Hank's Cafe, an American-style café. Enjoy traditional afternoon tea at 1024 Nuuanu Avenue. Set in a decorative tearoom; select your own special cup and saucer from a collection of English china, where lunch and tea service are available Tuesday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For a little entertainment after dark, when Chinatown is known to get a little livelier, you can stop at one of several late-night restaurant/bars that offer live entertainment; or hit a popular nightclub.
Take part in the famous Chinese New Year festivities in Chinatown. It promises to be a fun time for all. The week's preceding the Chinese New Year have always been filled with cultural festivals, parades and lion dances. The New Year festivities are a must see if you are in Chinatown, but keep in mind that the Chinese New Year falls on a different date every year, so check a calendar before your visit.