Chinatown's Oahu Market market is where many local eateries wrangle for the best fruit
and vegetables to be featured on that day's menu. The colors and aromas - and the bargains - also entice visitors...
Although
most visitors think of sun, surf and beautiful beaches when planning a trip to Honolulu,
there is also the excitement of city life in downtown Honolulu, the business center
of Oahu.
Central
is the state's government center including the state capitol building, Honolulu
Hale (city hall), judiciary buildings and Washington Place (the Governor's
official residence).
The Hawaii State Library also is located here, as well as Iolani
Palace, the only palace on U.S. soil, and Mission Houses Museum,
which contains the oldest existing house in Hawaii.
Eating
venues are in abundance with countless plate lunch locations. Inland of downtown
Honolulu, visitors will find the 20-acre Foster
Botanical Garden, a popular place to enjoy a picnic while surrounded by exotic flora and fauna.
Filled
with color, excitement and the hustle and bustle of vendors and shoppers, Oahu's Chinatown is a place of history, mystery and fun. Amidst the lei stands, noodle and dim sum factories; hole-in-the-wall Thai, Vietnamese
and Chinese restaurants; and acupuncture and herbal medicine shops, there is a
place called the Oahu
Market. The market is famous for having the best “sashimi” (raw
fish), fresh meats and produce.
Chefs
from many local eateries and fine dining restaurants often visit the Oahu Market
early in the morning to wrangle for choice cuts for their exotic island dishes.
In the maze of vendors, local produce can be found -- including bok choy (Chinese
cabbage), mustard cabbage, Manoa lettuce, mango, soy beans, papaya, avocado, Japanese
cucumbers and lemon grass.
The
best part is most of these items are bargains compared to major grocery store
prices. If you keep walking mauka (toward the mountains), you'll come across
the Kuan Yin Temple. This is the oldest Chinese temple in Honolulu and worshipers
still come here to light candles, burn incense and offer prayers.
Another “oldest”
is Wo Fat restaurant, around since 1882 and still a favorite among locals demanding
good, authentic Chinese food.
