Chinatown Historic District

The Chinatown Historic District centers on North Hotel Street and Maunakea Street in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, and is among the oldest Chinatowns in the United States. The district grew in the 19th century as Chinese immigrants, many of them workers on sugar plantations, opened shops and markets here. It is a compact area of historic low-rise buildings, with a mix of herb shops, open-air markets, noodle houses, lei stands, art galleries and antique dealers. Visitors walk the grid of streets, with highlights including the Oahu Market on Kekaulike Street, where vendors sell fresh produce, fish and meat, lei makers on Maunakea Street, and the arts-oriented stretches of Nuuanu Avenue and Hotel Street, which have galleries and restaurants. The area is also known for its dim sum, pho, Chinese bakeries and cocktail bars. The best photo angles are the market stalls, the colorful signs and the historic facades along Hotel Street and Maunakea Street. A typical visit takes one and a half to three hours. Morning markets between 7:00 and 10:00 AM are the best time, when vendors are busy and the streets are lively. Markets and shops generally operate from about 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and the streets are open at all hours. Visitors should avoid isolated side streets after dark. Admission is free. TheBus routes serve Hotel Street and King Street, the district is about a twenty-minute walk from Iolani Palace, and Biki bike-share stations operate in the district. Foster Botanical Garden is a short walk away, so the two make a natural pairing.