If you're looking for something cultural and artistic to do while exploring Chinatown, there is…read morealways something interesting going on at The Arts at Mark's Garage. As the name implies, this is a parking garage that happens to have ground level storefronts including The Arts. During open hours, you can go inside. Typically there is an art installation in the lobby area, which is bigger than it looks. These change frequently, so there may be something new to see and explore. There is often a gift shop part that goes with the exhibit. There are parts that are always there including a shelf of books, movies, and other media for sale by donation (put the money in the karma jar in the front). The front area as a welcome desk and a bar, which is mostly used during live shows. They have a full theatre area as well that can maybe fit 50 people. We came to a few shows over the years including an interactive Rocky Horror Picture Show and a Star Wars trivia night. Drinks are mostly used for your enjoyment and as a fundraiser. Be sure to check their website and social media for upcoming events and to buy tickets if needed. The back area also has office space for Honolulu art installations and festivals. It's definitely a hub for fun things in the city and worth your time to stop in and support.

A Hidden Gem in Downtown! This art installation is a…read morefantastic gem in the heart of downtown. So many different artists showcasing their unique styles and creativity. The atmosphere was inspiring--I even had a great conversation with a houseless man who was simply enjoying the beauty and emotion that art brings. Truly a space where everyone feels welcome and connected through art.

The Capitol Modern Art Museum on Richards Street in Honolulu is an amazing experience! Best of all,…read moreit's free to attend and offers a wonderful mix of art, music, dancing, and community. I enjoyed exploring the art exhibits and seeing the creativity of local artists. There were also vendors selling local products, jewelry, hats, clothing, and other unique items. If you'd like, you can also grab a drink or food while enjoying the event. The museum hosts special First Friday events every month, creating a fun and vibrant atmosphere where people can gather, socialize, and appreciate art and culture. For convenient parking, I recommend the Aliʻi Place parking garage, where parking is very affordable. It's a great way to spend an evening in downtown Honolulu, whether you're a local or a visitor.

Capital Modern, Hawaii State Art Museum is a beautiful museum located downtown Honolulu surrounded…read moreby historical and modern buildings. Old and new Honolulu come together in this location. The grounds are scenic and lovely, really nice area to stroll and enjoy some of Hawaiian history and art. Lots of street parking and free parking after 6pm. I usually go on First Friday which is always a blast, they always have different local entertainment throughout the evening and sometimes the place really gets rocking from the music. The nice thing, kids are welcome as well so the whole family can attend. On the second floor there is two galleries that house the different art and artists. The wood floors are beautiful. Every month there is a different theme and the art work is rotated so it never gets old. Also on the second floor are different vendors that are selling food products or locally made products for sale. They also have beer and wine available for sale. The staff are great and very helpful. If you have a bag, the security outside the gallery will check it for you as well as any waterbottles. Admission is free but donations are accepted and really appreciated. Come check this place out, you won't be disappointed.

I was blessed enough to experience various shows at the Hawaii Theatre Center, the most recent…read morebeing a showing of Nosferatu (2024) for Halloween, which was a special experience with some friends who are also into horror flicks. The theater supports both movies as well as live shows, which makes it a unique cultural space. You're not supposed to eat in the theater itself, and if you want to drink you would need to buy a sippy cup-like container from the bar. I suppose it is meant to protect the theater from decay, all these protective measures. The bartender who served us wine was friendly enough. I loved seeing the art around the theater.

Walking into the Hawai'i Theatre, you're instantly transported into another era. An era of soft…read moreelegance and timeless artistry. From the moment you pass through the doors, you're surrounded by a blend of old-world elegance and Hawaiian warmth. Built in 1922, the theatre has hosted everything from silent films and Broadway plays to concerts and Hula performances. Today it seats about 1,400 guests, offering an intimate experience where every seat feels close to the stage. The acoustics are excellent, the seats are comfortable, and the staff and volunteers are friendly, welcoming, and genuinely helpful. There's also a small bar and lounge with high-tops, perfect for enjoying a drink and conversation before the show. Inside the theater, you see tall, fluted Corinthian-style columns that are richly detailed. The curved arch overhead is decorated with mosaic-style tiles in warm tones,and I absolutely LOVE the lush deep red velvet curtains that frame the stage. They add so much warmth and elegance. Having attended many shows throughout the years, I've always been mesmerized by the mural above the stage and decided to do some Googling while waiting for the show to begin. I learned it's Lionel Walden's Glorification of the Drama. The painting depicts a grand procession of mythic figures -- a golden-robed muse in her chariot, attendants, musicians, a lion handler -- all celebrating the power of theater. The central figure, often interpreted as the Personification of Drama, leads the way. Knowing that part of the mural was once lost to water damage and later painstakingly restored makes it even more meaningful. Parking is easy at the municipal garage on Bethel Street, just a block away. The short walk is now well-lit, a welcome improvement from years past when it was dark and sketchy. Entertaining audiences for over 100 years, the Hawaii Theater is a recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Attending a show here, you're not just watching a performance, you're also living and breathing a beautiful piece of Hawaii's historic culture.

We did a three hour UTV tour on June 21. Had the BEST time with our awesome tour guide Mike! He…read moremade our experience super enjoyable and made sure everyone had a great time!

Would absolutely recommend, our two tour guides, David and Eden(sorry if I spelled her name wrong)…read more Made our UTV tour so wonderful, had all the information you need, answered all of our questions with no hesitation. Very family friendly, and brought out the most of our tour. 10/10 would recommend.

The front of this building is on Beretania. It is currently undergoing a little bit of construction…read moreon the entry/doors, but otherwise it's pretty cool. There are multiple floors and they are mostly state department offices that are using them. There, supposedly, according to John N, is a parking lot somewhere around there for this, but I've never been able to find it. I generally just park near the State Capitol, and Walk. Parking in downtown stinks, but that's just the way it is. Everyone I've talked to who works at this location has been extremely friendly. The first time that I went up to this building, I was, in my normal fashion, looking confused and taking pictures. I was asked multiple times if I needed help or knew where I was going. That's pretty cool. I've been going here recently to visit the satellite elections office, which the state or city or someone graciously opens so that we don't have to drive out to the middle of nowhere. Staff have been friendly and super helpful, including making me extra copies of things when they didn't have to. On the second floor, the handicap stall is out of order in the women's bathroom, but other than that it's pretty nice. My favorite thing is the beautiful mural inside. Step through the doors and you'll see it. Enjoy!

I walked out of the State Capitol, and there she was... Her Majesty Queen Lili'uokalani. She is a…read moregift of the people and a reminder to the State legislators of Hawaiis traditions, history and values. Lili'oukalani was the last monarch of Hawaii prior to the takeover by the US government of the islands. Lili'oukalani served time imprisoned for a resistance attempt to save Hawaii from the takeover. Marianna Packard, an artist from Boston, sculpted the image of the a queen in 1980. The image of the Queen stands draped in spectacular locally handwoven grass leis. There is a small plaque with her name and information. An interactive bar code will create an interactive moment on your phone with the Queen. The marble base of the statue is engraved with her name and says she reigned from 1891 - until her death in 1917. "The plaque says "The Queen lives forever with steadfast devotion in the hearts of her royal people." Worth a visit and can couple with a visit to the State Capitol building and the Iolani Palace. There is limited parking at the palace.

Her majesty Queen Lydia Liliuokalani stands outside looking at the Hawaii State Capitol, facing…read moreaway Iolani palace. Not one to guess as to why it is the case, but she stands here in between old Hawaii and modern times. The Statue of the queen helps preserve the legacy of Hawaii's royal history before it became a state of the United States in 1959. It is a visual reminder of her legacy to the people of Hawaii and the lasting contributions she has made during her lifetime. Her reign from 1891-1893 tried to help revitalize and strengthen the Hawaiian monarchy by drafting a new constitution to counter the Bayonet constitution, but that ultimately failed and the coup d'etat by US interests in Honolulu with the help of US military formally ended the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. The queen ultimately was under house arrest in Iolani Palace after that and lived out her final years in Washington Place till 1917. My time here visiting Iolani Palace and Queen Liliuokalani statue has given me prospective on the history of the Hawaiian monarchy. The fact that to live somewhere is to know the history and culture in the area where you are. The statue of Queen Liliuokalani stands around 6 feet tall and dedicated on April 10, 1982 by Marianna Pineda. She is the author of Aloha Oe among 160 songs she wrote in her lifetime. She stands here overlooking the Hawaii State Capitol, keeping watch over her people. The overall experience here at the Queen Lydia Liliuokalani statue is a casual and sobering one. It reminds me of a monarch that got her kingdom stolen from her, when American interests wanted it for their own selfish interests. If the United States of American didn't annex Hawaii in 1898, the world would look different these days. The statue is made of copper and bronze, which looks nice at any time of the day. These days, when I am in the area, I would come to visit her majesty and say hello. Her story is a tragedy and wished that history wasn't that way, but it just is this way. Her story reminded me of the last emperor of China, Pu Yi, who had to force abdicate his throne in Beijing, due to a new politics entering the area in the 1920's - a couple decades after Queen Lililuokalani formally abdicated in 1893. I would usually spend about 15 minutes with her and admiring the Hawaii State Capitol, along with Iolani Palace too. The time I spent here makes me sad how Hawaii became a state. How the Americans use their strength to overpower a nation's monarch into taking control of her territory. It is tragic for sure and know that there are avenues to air such grievances in the 21st century. Hawaii's monarchy ended with Queen Liliuokalani, but her legacy lives on. If you are in the area and would like to visit her, she is most likely would welcome you with open arms. The Queen Liliuokalani statue is physically located on a walkway in between the Hawaii State Capitol and Iolani Palace. The exact physical address is 415 S Beretania Street. Like many community parks and memorials, there is no admission fee charged. Yes! Free is always awesome! As far as parking options go, best bet would be the parking lot that's for Iolani Palace. You can do a combo and visit Iolani Palace for an afternoon and visit the Queen statue on your way out. I'm sure she'll be glad you stopped by. There's also other street parking options to choose from, but that involves walking a couple of blocks or more after securing parking. If you are like me, many bus routes come through the area. Eastbound routes usually stop at either Hotel and Richards Streets or North King Street and Alakea Streets, depending on the route. Westbound routes usually on South Beretania and Punchbowl streets, and Hotel and Alakea Street, depending on the route. Whichever bus you decide on doing, Queen Lililuokalani will be looking forward to seeing you any time of the day (or night). 5.0 stats for the overall experience. Support local! A+

For State of Hawaii employees…read more.. This is your Retirement System! Most of my working career was with The State Government. I started out as a Student Helper with the Employees Retirement System (in the file room), Department of Transportation (at the airport), and Department of Health (at Leahi Hospital). I also worked at the State Capitol in the Legislative Reference Bureau Library. After I got my first college degree, I worked full time with the Department of Human Services as an Income Maintenance Worker, and then, with the Prosecutor's Office as a Legal Clerk. I'm now ending my stint with the State of Hawaii as a Professional Registered Nurse at the Hawaii State Hospital. Yes - I've had a variety of jobs as a Civil Servant and I couldn't be any happier. I feel like I've served my State well and now... I'm ready to leave and enjoy my life! Note: my parents, paternal grandparents, and baby sister are all State Employees The first step was to obtain the forms. I called and asked for a packet because I'm old school like that. Other people might want to get their forms online. Next, I called several times to make an appointment to turn in my forms. No answer... I left several messages and decided to walk in because the deadline was soon approaching. Employees may retire on the first of every month and on December 31st. The forms are due at the end of the month, two months before retirement. Later, I should be getting a phone call to verify my information. Phew! I'm all set to start my retirement life... Vacation every day!!! Woot woot! So excited!!!

Another joke state agency/department. They rarely answer their phone. They gave me the wrong and…read moreincomplete information on what forms need to be completed. They have not sent ANY letter confirming application for retiree medical, but sent information on Cobra. The most expensive plan they offer.

I booked the tufting class as a birthday surprise for my friend on Airbnb experiences. I saw some…read moreTiktoks a few years ago of tufting class and was sad that we didn't have anything like that here. So when I was looking for activities, I was so excited to see this class show up! We had to reschedule one time but they were super understanding and I was easily able to reschedule on the Airbnb app! The owner Chiara, was super friendly and welcoming when we arrived! She went through all the steps and safety to ensure our experience was seamless. We brought our own designs and got them approved by her but she also has examples you can use as inspiration too. If you bring your own design, for first timers I recommend something simple with simple lines and colors so you don't feel too rushed. You also have to draw your own design on the canvas but done worry too much if you're not confident in your drawing skills. The process is very forgiving so it'll still turn out good even if you don't draw your design perfectly! We had so much fun and loved how our pieces turned out! I highly recommend booking a tufting class here to anyone!

This place rocks! An awesome 5 star experience to enjoy!…read more I booked the Turkish mosaic lamp workshop experience with Kraft Stories (KS)! All Star Yelp Elite Friend Irene M. joined me in this crafty DIY adventure. It's easy to book a workshop on the KS website. I received an email confirmation of my class and payment. A reminder is also emailed to you. Website: https://kraftstories.com/pages/honolulu There are a variety of art workshops available each week. Currently the Rug Tufting Workshop is in hot demand! The Turkish Lamp workshop is scheduled for two hours. We went a bit overtime. Oops. Our instructor was Kardi. She is so helpful and priceless, as she guided us on each step of the process. Her patience with me gained her five stars! ; ) Refreshments are offered to you during the workshop and bathrooms are available in a separate upstairs location nearby. Thank you Kraft Stories Nur and Chiara, and Instructor Kardi for a wonderful experience. Time to take another KS workshop! Enjoy the pictures!

This past weekend, I went out with my co-workers to your neighboring club. After a few drinks and…read morestepping away a couple of times for restroom and smoke breaks, I unfortunately misplaced my phone. At the end of the night, while I was clearly distressed searching for it, a gentleman introduced himself as the janitor and kindly offered to help by arranging an Uber for us to get home safely. Thankfully, my phone was found by the time the ride arrived, but his kindness and willingness to help left a lasting impression on me. If anyone knows who this kind person is, I would truly appreciate the chance to personally thank him. His thoughtful gesture spoke volumes about the care your staff shows toward your patrons. Because of this experience, my company would be honored to consider using your facility for an upcoming event. Thank you again for fostering such a caring and professional environment

Great music and had a great time dancing at Latin night with classic reggaeton, a bit of salsa,…read morebachata and merengue, there were some splash of hip hop and pop as well. The venue is definitely small and unfortunately the a/c was nonexistent. My friends and I had to step out couple of times to take a refresher outside. The bartender was great, the girl that made the drinks for me was super nice and enjoyed my drinks! The rest of the staffs were a little rude and not too friendly. Also the area is in Chinatown and didn't feel too safe. Make sure you have Uber ready to go cause they were kicking people out from the streets.

Review #1,800 "Some…read morepeople unpack when they first arrive in a city. Me, I look for Chinatown." ― Bonnie Tsui, from American Chinatown I wasn't originally going to review Chinatown but I saw my review count and I couldn't resist. I want the milestone 1,800th to be about Chinatown, Honolulu edition. Did you know that Honolulu's Chinatown is one of the oldest in the United States, having been established in the 1840s to accommodate whaling ships docking at Honolulu Harbor? Today, it spans 25 acres and is renowned as a vibrant, multicultural hub featuring fresh markets, eclectic Pan-Asian eateries, and a thriving arts district. From hidden gems to delicious eateries, stopping by Chinatown is an adventure. Clothing boutiques, lei shops, and bakeries with freshly baked goods, you can find a little bit of everything here. Come with your paycheck and leave with a lighter wallet. "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." ― Walsh, from the 1974 film Chinatown

I went to Chinatown in the afternoon, it was so quiet and many stores were closed. I saw lots of…read morehomeless lay down on the sidewalk. It was nice to visit anyway to see how the culture and the town look like even I didn't have a chance to buy some fresh food and vegetables over there.