Despite the fires and what was clearly a desire by many non-Chinese businessmen to see the Chinese move out (so that they could take over this prime real estate on the edge of downtown Honolulu), the Chinese stayed and Chinatown was rebuilt.
In the 1930's Chinatown was a popular destination for many of the tourists who arrived on ships which docked a short distance away at the foot of Nuʻuanu Street.
In the 1940's, when prostitution was legal on the island, Chinatown was a popular spot where soldiers, who were being shipped overseas, spent their last hours in the many pool halls, tattoo parlors or honky-tonks which had sprung up as the number of troops arrived.
In recent years, Chinatown has been the subject of urban renewal in an effort to make it more attractive to the all-important tourist trade.
Although still primarily Chinese, you will see many shops and restaurants run by Vietnamese, Japanese, Filipinos, Laotians, and Koreans.
Chinatown remains a small area which can easily be explored on foot. It's really the only way to experience the sights, smells and sounds of this historic district of Honolulu.
