Wo Fat Restaurant Building

103 N Hotel Street
Opened: 1938
Architect: Y.T. Char
Style: Art Deco with Asian influences

The Wo Fat Restaurant was established in 1882, but the building was rebuilt twice in the same spot after the fires of 1886 and 1900. In 1938, the building was updated by Y. T. Char with common Art Deco elements of the era mixed with Asian characteristics.

Wo Fat was the oldest operating restaurant in Hawaii before its closure in 2009. After the restaurant’s closure, the ground floor was converted into a supermarket, and the upper floor was used as a showroom for concerts. Recently, the upper level of the Wo Fat Building was home to a gallery and nightclub called The Loft, which is now closed.

Oahu Market

145 N King Street
Opened: 1904
Architect: unknown
Style: 20th Century Commercial

Oahu Market is a large open-air market founded by businessman Anin "Tuck" Young. The market is recognized by the red sign on its roof, red roof lining, and red shades hanging from the ceiling. The building stands as it was originally built with a stone foundation, bricks, coral blocks, and a wooden roof.

When it was first built, the Oahu Market rivaled a government-owned public market located on Alakea Street. The Oahu Market provided an alternative place to buy fresh meat and vegetables closer to Chinatown. The public market was primarily occupied by Caucasian storeowners, whereas the Oahu Market was made up of various Asian storeowners.

In 1984, the Oahu Market Corporation, made up of market tenants, purchased the building from the Young family.

Mendonca Block Building

1109 Maunakea Street
Opened: 1901
Architect: Oliver G. Traphagen
Style: Italianate

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Businessman Joseph Mendonca commissioned Oliver G. Traphagen to build the two-story building that covers nearly the entire block. Many of Mendonca's properties featured red-trimmed windows as his signature.

Lum Yip Kee Building

80 King Street
Opened: 1910
Architect: unknown
Style: 20th Century Commercial

The Lum Yip Kee Building was built in 1903, but opened in 1910. This building is noted as the location where Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the founding father and first president of the Republic of China, planned a revolution for China.

The building's facade was updated in the 1970s.

L. Ah Leong Block

140 N King Street
Opened: 1909
Architect: unknown
Style: 20th Century Commercial

Not much is known about the red-brick building located at the forefront of Kekaulike Mall, but what holds a lot of historical value is name printed at the top of the building.

Lau Ah Leong was a prominent businessman and one of the founders of Chinatown. There was some scandal and drama surrounding his name, so stories of Lau Ah Leong were kept hidden away until great-granddaughter Pam Chun noticed his name on the building. She then researched the legacy of her great-grandfather and wrote a novel about him in 2002 called The Money Dragon.

Hawaii Times Building

928 Nuuanu Avenue
Opened: 1897
Architect: Charles William Dickey, Office of C.B. Ripley
Style: Richardsonian Romanesque

The Irwin Block, now known as the Hawaii Times Building, is recognized by its rough volcanic stone and brick facade. The office of C. B. Ripley was commissioned for the design of the building; it’s speculated that the building was designed by partner Charles William Dickey. Like many other buildings in Chinatown, the Hawaii Times Building sports a metal awning extending over the sidewalk.

The first occupant was Yoichi Takakuwa, activist and leader of the local Reform Association. He used the space as a wholesale store and headquarters for his organization.

In 1923, the Nippu Jiiji, a Japanese newspaper founded in 1895, purchased the Irwin Block. Upon purchasing the property, the newspaper’s name was embossed at the top of the building. In 1942, the Nippu Jiji changed its name to Hawaii Times. In 1982, architect Norman Licayo renovated the building, adding a mezzanine on the main floor, and an extension in the back with five stories. The building is mixed usage with offices and residential units.

Club Hubba Hubba Building

25 N Hotel Street
Opened: 1899
Architect: Original Unknown, Upgraded by Lincoln L. McCandless
Style: Italianate

In 1899, Lincoln L. McCandless purchased lots 21 and 25 at North Hotel Street. He built a two-story brick building upon the existing brick building. The new building survived the 1900 fire and served as home to various offices such as dentists and barbers.

Since 1934, the bottom floor has been used as a restaurant by various tenants. There was Green Front Cafe from 1936; Aloha Cafe, known for live nude shows and swing music, from 1940; and Cafe Hubba Hubba which opened in 1947. The name changed to Club Hubba Hubba in 1953 and became a popular jazz and burlesque club.

The club eventually closed in 1997 because of the poor reputation it had gained over the years. Recently, the club was renovated and restored for restaurant usage on the first floor with office spaces above.

Hawaii Theatre

1130 Bethel Street
Opened: 1922
Architect: Emory & Webb
Style: Beaux Arts, Art Deco, Classical Revival

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The Hawaii Theatre was designed in 1920 by Emory & Webb for Consolidated Amusement Company. The building is primarily Beaux Arts with its ornate moldings and classical pillars. Some elements of Art Deco were added later.

The theater opened in 1922 and was the first of its kind in Hawaii, and one of the most modern theaters in America. The theater had air conditioning, crown molding with indirect lighting, a fire and emergency exit system, and could seat 1,726 people. The original design accommodated both plays and movies.

Eventually, the Hawaii Theatre was converted to a movies-only theater, and the upstairs retiring rooms were renovated into offices for Consolidated Amusement Co. A marquee was added to the facade, and the wicker chairs in the theater were replaced with vinyl seats.

In 1970, the theater saw another renovation that included new paint, carpet, a reduction of seating to 1,200, and renovated restrooms. The theater became abandoned shortly after, and closed in 1984. The same year, a non-profit organization called the Hawaii Theatre Center formed to raise funds to purchase and restore the building exclusively for live performances. Surrounding properties were also purchased for stage expansion. The organization commissioned Malcolm Holzman from New York to draw the restoration plans.

Restoration for the new live performance theater began in 1992. The theater re-opened in 1996, following the completion of the interior renovation. The exterior renovation was ongoing until 2005. Some of the updates included an increased seating capacity to 1,350, a digital marquee, and an electronic lighting and sound system.