Chinatown Markets and Temples

This self-guided walk leads you through the sensory-rich streets of Honolulu's historic Chinatown. You will visit lively open-air food markets, traditional lei stands, and historic temples that reflect the area's rich immigrant history.

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1. Cindy's Lei & Flower Shoppe

The exterior of Cindy's Lei and Flower Shoppe features a curved, corrugated metal roof that mimics the simple quonset hut style once common across Honolulu. Cindy Lau opened this storefront in nineteen seventy-eight to provide fresh lei to…

2. Oahu Market

Oahu Market sits on the corner of Kekaulike and King Streets, defined by its aging, open-air structure and the steady hum of commerce that has occupied this spot since nineteen oh four. It began as a cooperative for local farmers and…

3. Kekaulike Market

Kekaulike Market occupies a corrugated metal building on the edge of Chinatown, identifiable by the crowded open-air stalls spilling onto the sidewalk. Since nineteen seventy-four, this space has functioned as a central hub for fresh…

4. Maunakea Marketplace

Maunakea Marketplace sits behind a wide, tiled courtyard where the roofline dips into a traditional Chinese-style pagoda peak. It occupies the site of the former Mendonca Building, a structure that survived the great Chinatown fire of…

5. Chinatown Cultural Plaza

The Chinatown Cultural Plaza features a prominent, circular pagoda-style roof that sits above an open-air courtyard. Built in nineteen seventy-three, this complex was designed to anchor the Chinese community in Honolulu, offering a central…

6. Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii

The Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii features a distinct, octagonal wooden sanctuary topped with a sweeping, dark green tile roof that curls upward at the corners. Built in nineteen twenty-three, this structure serves as a branch of the…

7. Lum Sai Ho Tong

The building features a decorative green tile roof and ornate woodwork that distinguishes it from the surrounding concrete structures in Chinatown. This hall served as a meeting place and social hub for the Lum clan, members of a family…

8. Kuan Yin Temple 觀音廟

The Kuan Yin Temple on Vineyard Boulevard is identifiable by its bright orange tiled roof and the ornate, swirling dragons that decorate its entrance. Established in the late nineteenth century, the temple serves the Buddhist community of…

The audio tour continues in the Mira app →