It's hot and bright, just before noon on Thursday. Honolulu's Chinatown is lively midday and people are strolling through Kekaulike Mall, where vendors and shops are selling fruits, produce, fish and other goods.
Eddie Flores, Jr., co-founder of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and chairman of A Better Chinatown Association, is excited!
About Chinatown. About a new archway planned for Kekaulike Mall. And about other revitalization efforts in the works.
Aloha State Daily met with Flores in Chinatown Thursday to learn more about the arch and plans for the area.
The project is five years in the making. Flores says that former Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell had reached out to him, noting that Honolulu's Chinatown, one of the oldest in the U.S., didn't have an arch and asked if Flores wanted to build one.
Flores, who was raised nearby, says an arch is "almost like to show a symbol of the Chinese community and coming together. So if you go to every Chinatown in America, you will see a big arch."
In a follow-up email, Flores said he started the nonprofit A Better Chinatown Association to lead fundraising efforts. Aside from some of his office staff, he's largely working by himself on the project.
But the arch is just the beginning.
Phase one of the project — which includes the construction of the traditional Chinatown arch at King and Kekaulike streets, along with the installation of lanterns, banners and murals and other aesthetic improvements — is expected to be finished by June 2026, a recent announcement from Flores says.
Why put the arch at that location? Among other reasons, Flores notes the future Skyline rail Chinatown station — Hōlau — which will be located nearby at Nimitz Highway and Kekaulike Street.
"It will become a destination, not only for the tourists but for the local community," Flores told ASD. "I want them to come here. ... We want people to come here, to have business, activity, development."
Meanwhile the second phase, which includes a planned launch of free daily walking and food tours, cultural activities and craft fairs, as well as the creation of a website and social media to promote Chinatown as a destination, is expected to be complete by December 2026, the announcement noted.
"People know Eddie," he says. "If I do something, it's going to be done. When I said I will do it, I will do it. People know my reputation. I want to develop this to make this [a] really nice Chinatown for the community and for tourists alike. I want people to come in."
According to provided information, the total cost of the project — including design and engineering, materials, fabrication, shipping, site prep, and foundation and civil work for the arch; installation of banners, red lanterns and murals; staff and other costs — is approximately $1.15 million.
Flores says the arch, which will be fabricated, will be ordered in about a month or so.
Kekaulike Mall is city-owned property but this revitalization project is privately funded. Flores noted several donors already. He also expressed his gratitude to Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and his team.
"This is an investment in legacy and investment for all those who live and work and visit Chinatown, and an investment toward the future of this place and all who will experience Chinatown, given its rich history and all the it means to Honolulu," Mayor Rick Blangiardi told Aloha State Daily Thursday.
Learn more about the Chinatown Historic District here.
Visit honoluluchinatown.org for more information on the project.
Interested in supporting the cause? Donations can be mailed to A Better Chinatown Association, 2138 Algaroba St., Honolulu, Hawaii 96826, or emailed to eddie@llhawaii.com.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
