Maunakea Marketplace on Postcard

"A statue of Guanyin, goddess of mercy, at Maunakea Marketplace."

Honolulu's Chinatown Is the Creative Heart of Urban Hawaii

"Maunakea Marketplace Shops, a market, and a truly pan-Asian food court wrap around a busy plaza at this classic Chinatown stop on the corner of Hotel and Maunakea streets. Inside, the tiny Hawaiian-Chinese Multicultural Museum displays memorabilia and historic photos, some detailing the Great Chinatown Fire of 1900 that burned for 17 days, destroying 38 acres of the city, and leaving 4,000 people homeless (amazingly, none were killed). Note: Don't even try to enter the Maunakea Marketplace during Chinese New Year—a 15-day festival that starts on the new moon between January 21 and February 20—unless you're agile and adept at navigating tight-packed crowds."

Best Shopping on Oahu

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"Maunakea Marketplace Shops, a market, and a truly pan-Asian food court wrap around a busy plaza at this classic Chinatown stop on the corner of Hotel and Maunakea streets. Inside, the tiny Hawaiian-Chinese Multicultural Museum displays memorabilia and historic photos, some detailing the Great Chinatown Fire of 1900 that burned for 17 days, destroying 38 acres of the city, and leaving 4,000 people homeless (amazingly, none were killed). Note: Don't even try to enter the Maunakea Marketplace during Chinese New Year—a 15-day festival that starts on the new moon between January 21 and February 20—unless you're agile and adept at navigating tight-packed crowds."

Best Things to do in Hawai‘i

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Yonathan Mickelsen

Google

Nice market that faces a pedestrian street in Chinatown. This Chinatown is bustling and lively, with the local community still there shopping for fresh vegetables, medicine and of course the stores selling Chinatown goodies. Visited weekend before Lunar New Year and was a nice experience 🧧

Ken Kroehler

Google

LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN FOR THE LUNAR NEW YEAR OF THE WOOD SNAKE on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. I LOVE this vibrant, colorful, friendly Chinatown marketplace. Maunakea Marketplace is a small fascinating, tightly compressed market of Mom and Pop Chinese businesses clustered together in central Chinatown. It's a wonderful place to wander through for additional shopping. There are clothing (T-shirt stores), restaurants, and gift vendors all neatly fused together into a small city block. But, it works. It's like entering a very small world of even more Chinese stores. It's a very small marketplace nestled and squeezed within the larger Chinatown complex. It's wonderful. Please check it out. There are four entryways / exits to and from this small vibrant market. But, be vigilant. It's very easy to bypass this remarkable tucked-away market.

Big Fish Dive Club

Google

Last week I had a hard time finding Chinatown on Google Maps, but today I was able to find it because I was hungry for Filipino food and Google Maps took me here. This plaza has became the defecto Chinatown center in Honolulu with other shops and restaurants right outside of the plaza. The food court in the plaza was a 5* with so many choices of authentic Asian food and drinks, but other stores are quite cheesy, maybe a 2*. There are also other shops such as a massage place that charges $10 for 10 minutes and hair salons. Parking on the street at $3 per hour. I would go only for the food, unless you need to bring home cheaply made trinkets from China as souvenirs. The food court is indoor with tables and AC or you can opt for outdoor seating. There were 3 or 4 Filipino places within this small food court, which I was very happy to find. The cold drink place charged $8 plus 38 cents for using a credit card for sugar cane drink, which was fine and the lady told me ahead. The sugar cane was a bit pricier since it was cheaper near the beach. Update: I drove past it this past Saturday and it was packed. No parking spaces on the street or the two small lots nearby. So avoid the weekend if you can.

Brit. L.

Google

Love it. Great fresh fish and even got to see the Chinese new years celebration.

Chris Coleman

Google

Best food on this side of the island. You can get so many different delicious foods from so many amazing cultures here. I highly recommend the adobo and the dim sum place. All of the poke was great and the sashimi was legit. My favorite spot for sure.

Karly DePaz

Google

We visited the hair salon that's inside, and the girls were really nice and did a great job. People are very friendly and helpful. You may find different stores and food places.

Ave Kwok

Google

Really appreciate the food and service. It is so clean and enjoyable to come. Place for locals!

P Naaps

Google

In Chinatown so you can imagine the atmosphere there but food is great and all the fruit and vegetables you need

Yonathan Mickelsen

Google

Nice market that faces a pedestrian street in Chinatown. This Chinatown is bustling and lively, with the local community still there shopping for fresh vegetables, medicine and of course the stores selling Chinatown goodies. Visited weekend before Lunar New Year and was a nice experience 🧧

Ken Kroehler

Google

LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN FOR THE LUNAR NEW YEAR OF THE WOOD SNAKE on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. I LOVE this vibrant, colorful, friendly Chinatown marketplace. Maunakea Marketplace is a small fascinating, tightly compressed market of Mom and Pop Chinese businesses clustered together in central Chinatown. It's a wonderful place to wander through for additional shopping. There are clothing (T-shirt stores), restaurants, and gift vendors all neatly fused together into a small city block. But, it works. It's like entering a very small world of even more Chinese stores. It's a very small marketplace nestled and squeezed within the larger Chinatown complex. It's wonderful. Please check it out. There are four entryways / exits to and from this small vibrant market. But, be vigilant. It's very easy to bypass this remarkable tucked-away market.

Big Fish Dive Club

Google

Last week I had a hard time finding Chinatown on Google Maps, but today I was able to find it because I was hungry for Filipino food and Google Maps took me here. This plaza has became the defecto Chinatown center in Honolulu with other shops and restaurants right outside of the plaza. The food court in the plaza was a 5* with so many choices of authentic Asian food and drinks, but other stores are quite cheesy, maybe a 2*. There are also other shops such as a massage place that charges $10 for 10 minutes and hair salons. Parking on the street at $3 per hour. I would go only for the food, unless you need to bring home cheaply made trinkets from China as souvenirs. The food court is indoor with tables and AC or you can opt for outdoor seating. There were 3 or 4 Filipino places within this small food court, which I was very happy to find. The cold drink place charged $8 plus 38 cents for using a credit card for sugar cane drink, which was fine and the lady told me ahead. The sugar cane was a bit pricier since it was cheaper near the beach. Update: I drove past it this past Saturday and it was packed. No parking spaces on the street or the two small lots nearby. So avoid the weekend if you can.

Brit. L.

Google

Love it. Great fresh fish and even got to see the Chinese new years celebration.

Chris Coleman

Google

Best food on this side of the island. You can get so many different delicious foods from so many amazing cultures here. I highly recommend the adobo and the dim sum place. All of the poke was great and the sashimi was legit. My favorite spot for sure.

Karly DePaz

Google

We visited the hair salon that's inside, and the girls were really nice and did a great job. People are very friendly and helpful. You may find different stores and food places.

Ave Kwok

Google

Really appreciate the food and service. It is so clean and enjoyable to come. Place for locals!

P Naaps

Google

In Chinatown so you can imagine the atmosphere there but food is great and all the fruit and vegetables you need

Maunakea Marketplace

Maunakea Marketplace

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