Hawaii‘s Historic Kingdom: A Walking Tour of Downtown Honolulu and Chinatown

Some of the most famous places to stop for food & drinks along the way are mostly the whole-in-the-wall spots in Chinatown. The Mauna Kea Marketplace is great for fresh fruits and vegetables. But the Pig and the Lady is a fan favorite. All of which have their own operating hours and reservations are highly recommended. If you happen to be doing the tour on a Wednesday, the Honolulu Farmers Market is excellent.

Arts fans will also love Chinatown and we walk right across the street from the Honolulu Museum of Arts. They even have a movie theatre that showcases local artists and the Hawai'i Theatre Downtown is a must-see. The Neal S. Blaisdell Center has expoʻs, plays, concerts, and more so make sure to check their schedule.

History buffs can add a free Judiciary Tour at Ali'iolani Hale where we begin our day, and of course you should tour 'Iolani Palace where we end our walk. Between the two you can also visit the Mission Houses and Museums for more history. Throughout the walk you will see a variety of Churches and Cathedrals and learn about two Hawai'i Saints.

Parking can be found near the start of the tour in Downtown Honolulu by the Kamehameha Statue. There are a variety of paid parking spaces nearby but most on the street have a two-hour limit, so you may want to use a garage.

Restrooms can be found along the route at restaurants, museums, a few other businesses, and public parks. Most of these restrooms are open during the day but closed after sunset so please plan accordingly.

Enjoy this tour anytime you feel comfortable. No places of the walk have closed access and are primarily public property or throughways. Sunset is about 6 pm in the winter and 7 pm in the summertime so you may want to start about 3 hours before it sets, but you may want to start in the morning when it is cooler and you have the day to explore.

Hawai'i in general has relatively low crime and if it does occur it is generally petty. However, Downtown Honolulu and especially the Chinatown area does see itʻs fair share. Use common sense, be friendly, and make sure to put your phone down and pay attention near intersections and streets. If you are doing this walking tour at odd hours of the night, please utilize extra caution. for those taking the tour during the daytime, refillable water bottles and sun protection are always a good idea. Restrooms, bus stops, and rest stops are pointed out where you can get food and drinks, and other points of interest along the way to try to keep you as comfortable as possible. This island is famous for its traffic so good thing youʻre on foot. Of course, the tour does not include admission costs, reservations to attractions, or any food and drinks.