Have Fun in Honolulu Chinatown
Formerly shabby Honolulu Chinatown is now a hip and happening alternative to Waikiki after its recent renovation. If you’ll be going to Honolulu for the first time, you may enjoy a walking tour of this historic 140-year old district, covering an area of about 20 blocks. The tour provides a quick overview of diverse, multicultural Hawaiian society.
Heaven for Foodies
Honolulu Chinatown is a busy and bustling place, especially in the morning time as vendors set up their wares to sell in the open air market. Meanwhile, old timers play mahjong, and the sound of the tiles clanging against the tables can be heard in the market.
If you shop in Honolulu Chinatown, take a look at the lively Oahu market, a popular destination and historic landmark. There you can buy fresh produce like lychees, watermelons, pineapples, and host of other locally grown produce from overflowing stands.
Make your way through the veteran fish vendors peddling their catch fresh from the ocean, including such rare delicacies as octopus, jellyfish, and eels, along with more well known seafood like fresh fish, crabs, poke, and lomi salmon. Then head over to the pork vendors who will serve up roast duck and char siu almost faster than your eyes can follow.
Got a hankering for noodles? Choose from one of the dozens of fresh noodle makers. Try the Yat Tung Chow Noodle Factory and watch in wonder as they produce nine different noodle sizes, ranging from thin, delicate strands to robust and hearty udon noodles.
Other fun stops to look out for include:-
o Shun Chung Yein, with local customers who clear the shelves day after day as they grab almond cookies, mooncakes, and a dazzling array of other delectable pastries. If you’d like to try them, come early, or you’ll be left out in the cold! You can also indulge your desire for sweets with some delightful candied ginger, lotus root, and pineapple.
o Popular dim sum restaurants, like Mei Sum, Good Luck Cafe, and Legends. Not sure of the names of various dim-sum dishes? Not to worry, just watch as the carts roll by, point at what you want, and eat!
o Huong Lan and Tuo Chou, for the most incredible Vietnamese pho noodle soup, and the family owned shops at the Maunakea Marketplace for all kinds of Asian homestyle cooking, including Filipino, Korean, Thai, and Chinese dishes.
Your Shopping Options
Follow your nose to the leimakers in Honolulu Chinatown who string thousands of fresh flowers ? pikake, plumeria, tuberose, orchids and maile leaves – into unique Hawaiian leis. In Cindy?s Leis, the art of leimaking has been passed down through three generations.
In Lai Fong Department Store, browse around antiques and teak and rosewood furniture, relish the feel of silk brocade garments and cheong sums or enjoy the scents of sandalwood soap.
Sightseeing in Honolulu Chinatown
The intricate Kuan Yin Temple can easily be recognized by its hallmark ceramic-tiled green roof, and the billowing clouds of incense that waft through the temple doors. The temple gets particularly crowded during festivals as Buddhist worshippers seek blessings through the burning of incense and paper money.
Step into the beautifully restored art-deco Hawaii Theatre on the edge of Honolulu Chinatown. First opened in 1922, it is now the venue for modern dance, film festivals and contemporary and traditional Hawaiian performances.
When the Sun Goes Down
On the first Friday of each month, over 50 art galleries open their doors to the crowds to provide a taste of the local art scene. People peruse the art studios while enjoying the music and live entertainment, as cafes and bistros set up shop on the sidewalk.
Club goers gather at Bar 35, or enjoy the rooftop lounge at the Thirtynine Hotel, while the theatre crowd spends its evenings at the trendy Indigo Restaurant.
With the festive streets, bustling activity, and historic sights of Honolulu Chinatown, there is something to suit everybody’s interests. It’s a must see for every Honolulu visitor.
Tags: honolulu chinatown, oahu attractions, oahu sightseeing, things to do in honolulu, vacation, vacation in hawaii, Vacations
May 05 2009 05:01 am | Vacations