Kaka'ako Magazine

kaka‘akomagazine

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A City on the MoveBig changes are everywhere you look as this neighborhood transforms.

A DAy in the Life of KAKA‘AKothings to do and places to go, morning, noon and night

Plus: Where to eat & shop

S p e c i a l p r o m ot i o n a l S e c t i o n

kaka‘ako march 2007 k �www.honolulumagazine.com


cont

ents Kaka‘ako: A City on the Move K4

one of honolulu’s oldest neighborhoods is now one of its newest, with change happening on nearly every street. Why? how? here are some answers.

By Gail Miyasaki

A Day in the Life of Kaka‘ako K13With businesses, services and activities of every kind, kaka‘ako has become a nearly 24-hour neighborhood. here’s how you might spend a day there.

By Gail Miyasaki

Kaka‘ako eats K17 a sample of dining and food-market options in kaka‘ako.

By Gail Miyasaki

Kaka‘ako Shopping K19 Unique, one-of-a-kind shops and boutiques can be found throughout kaka‘ako.

By Sheila Sarhangi

Kaka‘ako flashback K22 a then-and-now reminder of kaka‘ako’s roots.

By Gail Miyasaki

On the Cover: Today’s Kaka‘ako—high rises and green grass at Kaka‘akoWaterfront Park.

Photography: Hesham Foto

kaka‘ako magazinePublisher

Scott [email protected]

534-7541

Advertising directorDonna Kodama-Yee

[email protected]

editorA. Kam Napier

[email protected]

MAnAging editorKathryn Drury [email protected]

534-7524

Art directorKristin Gonzales

[email protected] 534-7560

section Art director Lauren Hara

Project editorGail Miyasaki

Written, designed and published by

HONOLULU Magazine, March 2007. © 2007 by PacificBasin Communications,

1000 Bishop St., Ste. 405, Honolulu, HI 96813.

k � kaka‘ako march 2007 www.honolulumagazine.com


Kaka‘akoA City on the MoveThe neighborhood of Kaka‘ako is changing rapidly. Here’s a look at why and how.

b y G a i l M i y a s a K ip H o T o s b y H e s H a M f o T o

Striking even at night, the Honolulu Design Center at Pi‘ikoi and Kapi‘olani may be Kaka‘ako’s new gathering spot with trendy furniture showrooms, a wine bar, an events center and, coming in April, a fine dining restaurant.





Got stuff to sell or buy? Check out young entrepreneur Tiffany Tanaka’s wesellthings4u or her newest boutique, The Candy Shop, both on Queen Street.

you can still find the Kaka‘ako that kama‘aina know best. in the heart of Kaka‘ako, radiating out from Queen street and Ward avenue, are the auto repair shops, light-industrial buildings and okazuyas, many of them multigenerational, family-run operations dating back to when immigrants

coming off the plantations found cheap land in Honolulu to start their own busi-nesses. That’s the Kaka‘ako we know as Honolulu’s garage, workshop and storeroom.

but there are new sights now, all around the district. along the wide sidewalks fronting Kaka‘ako’s gleaming new high-rises are the big windows of shops and restaurants. even the usually blocky, blank-walled new storage buildings feature commercial space on the street level, required by design to encourage a pedestrian-friendly environment.

other important changes are less visible. for example, there are nearly 1,400 affordable housing units, with more on the way. all new Kaka‘ako residential developments are required to reserve 20 percent of their units for affordable housing. That’s also by design, to attract and create a residential community of varying incomes, ages and family groups.

“Diversity is the most striking thing about Kaka‘ako today—luxury condos, senior housing, mature small businesses and trendy shops—all in one place,” says allen leong, director of operations for KC Rainbow Development, the developer of the Moana pacific project and the new Moana Vista, the 492-residential complex with 10,000 square feet of commercial space on Kapi‘olani.

Wedged between the chic bustle of ala Moana Center and the high-rise com-merce of downtown Honolulu, Kaka‘ako is a community in transition. it features a skyline mushrooming with high-rise, luxury condos; streets once narrow, potholed and quickly flooded now widened with sidewalks; and storefronts featuring starbucks and bMW dealerships near lunch wagons and auto transmission shops. it has a thriving nightlife anchored by the Ward entertainment Center, with its multiplex movie theaters, shops and restaurants, and also encompassing the concerts and exhibits of the blaisdell Center just up the street and the clubs and dining spots of Restaurant Row toward town.

Kaka‘ako today is seeing changes more concentrated in space and compressed in time than any other urban area in the state. The catalyst behind this unfolding transformation was a 1976 legislative mandate to turn an underused state asset into Hawai‘i’s first contemporary live-work-learn-play urban village, where residents could meet the full range of their living needs with easy ways of getting there, particularly walking and mass transit.

“We have a unique charge by the legislature to bring the strengths of private enterprise together with public regulation to create a vibrant, desirable, mixed- used community,” says Dan Dinell, executive director of the Hawai‘i Community Development authority (HCDa), the semiautonomous state agency overseeing the Kaka‘ako Community Development District.

The 670-acre Kaka‘ako district is strategic and significant, bounded by pi‘ikoi toward ala Moana, punchbowl street toward town and King street on the mauka end and down past ala Moana boulevard to the waterfront. This urban experiment is likely unprecedented nationally on this large a scale, according to Jan yokota, vice president of development-Hawai‘i Region for General Growth properties (GGp) and former HCDa executive director.

The state of Hawai‘i, GGp and Kamehameha schools, which own approximately



KAKA‘AKOBy THe NUMBerS

10Number of publicly funded Kaka‘ako

Improvement District Projects

completed as of 2006, out of the

12 originally called for by the Hawai‘i

Community Development Authority

(HCDA).

33.5Percent of owner-occupied housing in

Kaka‘ako in 2000, projected to match

or exceed the state average of 56.5

percent by Census year 2010.

47Number of park acres in Kaka‘ako in

2006, up from 1.7 acres in 1976.

1,388Number of affordable housing units

constructed in Kaka‘ako

by 2006, up from 0 in 1980.

7,416Population of Kaka‘ako in 2000.

32,100Projected population of Kaka‘ako

in 2030.

$217million

The state of Hawai‘i’s financial

investment in Kaka‘ako infrastructure,

public facilities and other

improvements.

$2+ billionPrivate-sector financial investment in

Kaka‘ako as of 2006

Sources: U.S. Census 2000, State Dept. of

Transportation and HCDA.

Continued on K8

380 acres combined, or more than half of the Kaka‘ako district, are the major drivers effecting change in the area. add to that the recent city-approved, fixed-guide-way mass-transit line, which will run through the heart of Kaka‘ako and is expected to boost development and land values along its Kalaeloa to Manoa route. Kaka‘ako’s current residential population of about 7,400 is projected to increase to more than 32,000 by 2030, one of the largest anticipated growth areas along the rail route.

as Kaka‘ako’s largest landowner, mostly along the waterfront, the state has invested more than $217 million to date in infrastructure and public facility improvements. More than half, or $114.3 million, was spent from 1988 to 1993, as part of “setting the stage for private enterprise,” says Dinell.

National retail giant GGp (owner of ala Moana Center and the Ward Cen-ters) has currently under construc-tion its Ward Village shops complex, a commercial/residential mixed-use development on auahi, Kamake‘e and Queen streets. With 165 residential rental units, more than 1,000 parking spaces, and 224,000 square feet of commercial space, the complex will feature Hawai‘i’s first Whole foods Market, the world’s leading natural and organic supermarket.

Just beginning to develop its master plan for the 65 acres it owns in Kaka‘ako, GGp is exploring a phased-in, premier, urban mixed-use plan, with help from its 2004 acquisition of the Rouse Co., a master community developer with strong

expertise in mixed-use planned communities, according to yokota.

With 53 acres along Cooke street and ala Moana boulevard, including Restaurant Row, Kamehameha schools has singled out Cooke street in its strategic plan as the development core of a “dynamic main street concept featuring a variety of commer-cial, residential and work-related enterprises,” says bob oda,

project manager for Ks Commercial assets Division for Kaka‘ako.

Kaka‘ako’s transformation has not been without growing pains. old- timers like Dexter okada, the third-generation president and general manager of U. okada & Co. on Queen street, a seafood import business begun by his fish peddler grandfather in 1913, wonder if those changes will mean customers needing the blue-collar services Kaka‘ako has long provided may no longer find them as convenient and close to town.

paul Kimura, the third-generation head of his family’s 65-year-old City fender, an auto body shop on Queen street, is among the small landowners in Kaka‘ako who worry that their concerns will not be addressed in the “sweep of progress in Kaka‘ako.”

“We, too, want to see a vibrant community in Kaka‘ako, where the past and the future can coexist,” says Kimura, who became a founding member of the Kaka‘ako improvement association to organize the area’s small businesses and serves



“We want to see a vibrant community in Kaka‘ako, where the past and the future can coexist.” –paul Kimura

Continued on K10

Continued from K7

Small businesses, big concerns—(left to right) Dexter Okada of U. Okada & Co., Christine Kaneshiro of Business Letter Services and Paul Kimura of City Fender voice the concerns of Kaka‘ako’s small business and land owners who want to remain a part of Kaka‘ako’s future.

k 10 kaka‘ako march 2007 www.honolulumagazine.com


on the HCDa board to voice their concerns.

live and Workin January, interior designer barbara Hoy moved into her new 41st-floor unit in the 720-residential unit Moana pacific project, whose 6-acre site at pi‘ikoi and Kapi‘olani features the 80,000-square-foot Honolulu Design Center, with its hard-to-miss, shimmering orange façade. looking down the road to retirement, Hoy and her husband, bill osheroff, medical director for HMsa, decided

to downsize from their four-bedroom/four-bath Manoa home to condominium living in Kaka‘ako.

“The fact that bill can walk to work sure helped in our decision,” says Hoy, who works out of her new high-rise home. “We wanted to quit relying on a car and found what we were looking for in Kaka‘ako.”

fifteen years ago, paul labrasca put his name on a lottery list for senior subsi-dized housing in Kaka‘ako. With some exceptions, improvement District guide-lines mandate that a fifth of the units in a new private development in Kaka‘ako must accommodate families earning from 65 percent to 140 percent of median income. affordable rental units in Kaka‘ako range from $500 per month for a studio for seniors to $930 per month for a two-bedroom family apartment.

“i got lucky. i wanted to stay in town and got my place just after i turned 62, the minimum age to get in,” says labrasca, now a 78-year-old retired laborer who lives in one of 75 furnished affordable senior rental studios (top rental $575 per month) in Na lei Hulu Kupuna on Cooke street. He rises at 4 a.m. for his morning walk and by 5 a.m. often hops the No. 6 bus to Wal-Mart or ala Moana Center. surrounded by good restaurants and friends within walking distance, labrasca says he loves the convenience and coziness of Kaka‘ako.

on the other end of the spectrum, with “off-the-charts” rentals ranging from $3,500 to $7,000 a month, is the luxury condo Hokua on ala Moana boulevard. its 243 condo units were sold out two years before it opened in January 2006, with an average price of $1.1 million. some of the units have since doubled in value and changed hands up to three

Continued from K8

Barbara Hoy is one of Kaka‘ako’s newest residents. “We wanted to quit relying on a car.”

kaka‘ako march 2007 k 11www.honolulumagazine.com


½ VWard

Centers

times, according to general manager Duane Komine.

Drawn by new residents are new kinds of small businesses, such as 26-year-old Tiffany Tanaka’s wesellthings4u, a four-year-old company that sells items on ebay for clients on consignment. Work-ing at first from home, Tanaka turned a part-time hobby into a $2-million enterprise. Tanaka, who sees her Queen street location as a gateway to downtown clientele, has recently opened a retail outlet featuring a clothing boutique and the latest in electronic equipment.

learn and playWhen the University of Hawai‘i decided to locate its medical school in Kaka‘ako, a key motivator was the anticipated role of the $150-million John a. burns school of Medicine (JabsoM) complex as an economic engine to spur new high-tech/science-based industries for the state, attract national and international investment, and stimulate research and growth of a biotechnology industry in Hawai‘i. one of the first to respond was Kamehameha schools, which will begin first-phase development early this year on a life sciences complex. The goal is to attract leading-edge research companies to its property adjacent to JabsoM as a complement to the medical school’s new bioscience research lab and the planned Cancer Research Center.

“We have compelling reasons, in keep-ing with our educational mission, to advance health and wellness capacities, especially of Native Hawaiians, through education. We also want to develop advanced industries to provide oppor- tunities for our local young adults to come back here to work and compete for high-paying professional jobs,” explains oda.

private industry has also begun to respond, with companies such as Tissue Genesis, an advanced tissue-engineering and cell-therapy company in the emerg-ing field of regenerative medicine, which began operations in 2002 in the former Gold bond building. in late December 2006, it licensed its first agreement for its tissue-growth technology for use in treating heart damage.

Kaka‘ako is also home to places that round out the human needs to play, learn, relax and enjoy, such as the Children’s Discov-ery Center, the Mission Houses Museum,

two New Century Charter schools (Voy-ager and Myron b. Thompson academy), 47 acres of new parklands, Honolulu’s last undeveloped waterfront and even a historic preservation project in the cen-tury-old ala Moana pumping station.

as a community in transition and moving toward a new kind of revitalized urban living, Kaka‘ako’s amazing diversi-ty today, whether by fortune or foresight, captures the old and the new, defining a tomorrow that many hope will remain authentic to its past and committed to a thriving future.

Owned and Managed by General Growth Properties, Inc.

Big City DinerBrew Moon Restaurant & MicrobreweryBuca di BeppoBuffet 100California Beach Rock ‘N SushiCattle Company SteakhouseChowder HouseCompadres Bar & GrillDave & Buster’sDixie Grill Bar-B-Que & Crab ShackE & O Trading Company Restaurant

125 shops. 22 restaurants. 16 screen megaplex.

wardcenters.com | Phone: 591- 8411

More flavors. More choices. More fun.

w

All my favorites.

Goma Tei RamenKakaako KitchenKincaid’s Fish, Chop & Steak HouseKua ‘Aina SandwichMocha Java CaféOld Spaghetti FactoryRyan’s GrillSushi MasaTropic’s DinerWahoo’s Fish TacoWolfgang Puck Express

Owned and Managed by General Growth Properties, Inc.

Big City DinerBrew Moon Restaurant & MicrobreweryBuca di BeppoBuffet 100California Beach Rock ‘N SushiCattle Company SteakhouseChowder HouseCompadres Bar & GrillDave & Buster’sDixie Grill Bar-B-Que & Crab ShackE & O Trading Company Restaurant

125 shops. 22 restaurants. 16 screen megaplex.

wardcenters.com | Phone: 591- 8411

More flavors. More choices. More fun.

From the latest to our favorites,we always come back to Ward.

All my favorites.

Goma Tei RamenKakaako KitchenKincaid’s Fish, Chop & Steak HouseKua ‘Aina SandwichMocha Java CaféOld Spaghetti FactoryRyan’s GrillSushi MasaTropic’s DinerWahoo’s Fish TacoWolfgang Puck Express



kaka‘ako march 2007 k 1�www.honolulumagazine.com


A Day in the Life of Kaka‘ako b y G a i l M i y a s a K i

p H o T o s b y H e s H a M f o T o

it may not rival New york as “the city that never sleeps,” but Kaka‘ako comes pretty close to being a 24-hour community, with an amazing array of things to see,

activities to try and places to dine, Here is a sampling, suggested by people who live and work in Kaka‘ako:

5 A.M. stArbucks

Ward Gateway • 940 Auahi St. • 589-2012

Monday through Thursday 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday 5 a.m. to 12 mid-night, Saturday 5:30 a.m. to midnight, Sunday 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

early risers or night owls can find their favorite frappuccino or a steaming cup of sumatra coffee at this starbucks near Ward avenue. Just down the block, starbucks at the Ward entertainment Center opens at 5:30 a.m. and the one at Hokua at 1288 ala Moana blvd. starts the day at 6 a.m.

5:30 A.M. Fish Auction, united Fishing Agency

1131 N. Nimitz Highway Pier 38 • 536-2148

Monday through Saturday 5:30 a.m. until supplies last

for the freshest fish on the island, call ahead to see if the (almost) daily (closed sunday) fish auction is on at pier 38, where fishing boats unload their catches of the day. sales are made to the public, while supplies last, on a cash-only basis. Wear rubber-soled shoes, bring your own cooler and, yes, cameras are welcome.

7 A.M. hArry’s cAFé

1101 Waimanu St. at Kamake‘e Street • 593-7798

Monday through Friday 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

start the weekday with the breakfast special of two eggs, two scoops rice and ham or luncheon meat, served from 5 to 8 a.m., for just 99 cents. The lunchtime crowd can find local favorites, such as oxtail soup and saimin. The TV is often tuned to KbfD for the regulars hooked on Korean dramas.

Continued on K14

“Get yer fresh fish” early just off the boat at United Fishing Agency’s (almost) daily fish auction.

k 1� kaka‘ako march 2007 www.honolulumagazine.com


10:15 A.M. PeoPle’s oPen MArket, in Mother WAldron PArk

525 Coral St.

Mondays 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m.

if it’s Monday, come and buy low-cost, fresh local produce and aquacultural products at this weekly market, held in a 1.76-acre park built in the 1930s and named after Margaret Waldron, a teacher and playground director known for her pioneering work with the poor and the youth gangs of Kaka‘ako. free.

11:30 A.M. kAren’s kitchen

614 Cooke near Coral Street • 597-8195

Monday through Friday 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

There are bMWs parked next to 30-year-old pickups at own-er-chef Karen yamaoka’s popular dining spot, specializing in “gourmet-style local food.” Comedian Mel Cabang and KTa head barry Taniguchi come for the nishime, pulehu ribs and occasional prime ribs. Japanese tour buses stop for lunch every saturday. The sellout dish? “baked spaghetti. it reminds local folks of public school lunch,” says Honoka‘a native yamaoka. Catering and private parties also available.

9 A.M. sAlon rêve

Imperial Plaza • 725 Kapi‘olani Blvd. C-115 • 593-7737

Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays and Mondays by appointment

“We see the growth potential in Kaka‘ako,” says co-owner Gail arita Chong of the chic, one-year-old hair salon’s Cooke and Kapi‘olani location, which caters to local professionals and international clientele. a staff of seven offers specialized color, highlights, haircuts, plus waxing, special-occasion makeup, and the new digital perms from asia. partners stacie yamauchi and arita Chong train aspiring local talent in cutting-edge hair fashion.

10 A.M. hAWAi‘i children’s discovery center

111 ‘Ohe St., across from Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park • 524-5437

www.discoverycenterhawaii.org

Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Drop the kids off or stay for the fun at Hawai‘i’s museum dedicated to children. featuring an interactive, participatory learning environment, the center, established in 1998, rose from the renovated and expanded shell of the former Kaka‘ako incinerator and now provides kids with hands-on learning activities. school tours, parties and facility rentals are also available. admission.

Continued from K13

Gail Arita Chong and Stacie yamauchi’s Salon rêve at the Imperial Plaza is on the cutting edge of hair fashion.

Treat yourself to some TLC at licensed

aesthetician and massage therapist

Susan Snyder’s relaxing Waimanu

studio.



1 P.M. hoPAkA Auto rePAir

1156 Kona off Pensacola Street • 597-8128

Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Don’t let the name fool you, this popular auto repair shop relocated to Kona street in 2001. it’s just a block away from ala Moana Center, so shop while you wait. With 25 years of experience, owner and senior mechanic paul Maemori (aided by two mechanics) takes all cars for general maintenance and repairs, ranging from oil changes to rebuilt engines. by appointment.

2 P.M. MAgnuM FireArMs And rAnge

940 Queen St. • 597-1911

Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

from outside this quiet, unassuming building, you’d never know it housed a firing range. emphasizing safety and protec-tion, owner arthur ong provides firearms instruction; practice ranges and qualifying tests to federal homeland security and antiterrorist agencies; and equipment to police officers in Hawai‘i and the pacific. it’s open to the public for NRa-certified training classes and for firearms rental and practice.

2:45 P.M. MuseuM tour At the Mission houses MuseuM

553 S. King St. • 531-0481

www.missionhouses.org

Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., guided tours: Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 2:45 p.m.

step back in time to 19th-century Hawai‘i on guided tours through three restored houses and a research library, offer-ing glimpses into Hawai‘i’s missionary period, from 1820 to 1863 and beyond. featuring some of the earliest wooden structures built in Honolulu, the museum was established in 1920. admission.

3:30 P.M. FAciAl And MAssAge At susAn snyder FAciAls & MAssAge

1019 Waimanu St. No. 210 • 429-1222

www.susansnyder.biz

Tuesday 2 to 8 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Relax with a soothing facial and therapeutic massage by owner susan snyder. “i love the location and so do my clients,” says snyder of her quiet Waimanu street studio, off of Ward and Kapi‘olani. a licensed aesthetician and massage therapist, snyder does all the facials, peels and massages herself, using sothys paris skincare products, a professional spa line of products based on plants, flowers, essential oils, vitamins and aromatherapy. by appointment.

4:30 P.M. hAPPy hour At side street inn

1225 Hopaka St. • 591-0253

Monday through Friday lunch 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sunday through Saturday dinner 4 p.m. to midnight; Sunday through Saturday bar 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Come early, as the after-work crowd quickly fills owner-chef Colin Nishida’s popular dining spot, where some of Hawai‘i’s best pacific Regional Cuisine chefs come for Nishida’s special pork chops. lunch features plate-lunch favorites served cafeteria-style on weekdays only.

Continued on K16

Magnum Firearms’ owner Art Ong aims for safety and instruction at his Kaka‘ako firing range and guns and ammo retail outlet.



5:30 P.M. kAkA‘Ako WAterFront PArk

Makai end of Cooke and Coral Streets

Free parking

Walk up the hill at this 30-acre, ocean-side park for a breath-taking view of the Hawaiian sunset over the pacific ocean that visitors come from all over the world to see. Work up a dinner appetite with a stroll along the spectacular shoreline pedestrian promenade, which features works of public art, including the Ehime Maru Memorial.

6:30 P.M. onjin’s cAFé

401 Kamake‘e St. • 589-1666

Lunch daily 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., dinner Sunday through Thursday 4 to 9 p.m., dinner Friday and Saturday 4 to 10 p.m.

Trained at le Cordon bleu in paris and New york’s Culinary institute of america, popular restaurateur onjin Kim displays her gourmet chops at her cozy restaurant, established in 1999 and featuring fine dining with asian flourishes. signature dishes include bouillabaisse and rack of lamb, plus sea bass with ponzu sauce and misoyaki salmon. lunch also served. Reservations.

8 P.M. tuesdAy oPen Mic jAzz At studio 6 At the MusiciAns’ AssociAtion oF hAWAi‘i

949 Kapi‘olani Blvd. • 596-2121

Open Mike Jazz on Tuesdays: Studio 6, 8 to 10 p.m.

Catch two hours of live jazz performances open to the public every Tuesday evening, sponsored by the Musicians’ associa-tion and organized by jazz pianist Rich Crandall. a new 45-foot-by-60-foot music studio is under construction and scheduled to open in september 2007, says association president Michael lagarticha. Honolulu symphony musicians use the six practice rooms that are available for association members from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and sometimes later. admission for open Mic Jazz.

10 P.M. PiPeline cAFé

805 Pohukaina St. • 589-1999

www.pipelinecafe.net

Monday through Friday 4 p.m. to 4 a.m., Satur-day 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Tucked away on a side street, this lively venue has become a hot spot for alternative concerts (four a month), featuring such artists as 3 Doors Down, Doors of the 21st Century, los lobos, hip-hop artist Mos Def, pop star Rhianna and Hawai‘i’s own Jack Johnson and local bands ekolu and Natural Vibrations. Happy-hour patrons can check out the dart boards and four pool tables. admission for concerts.

till 4 A.M. oceAn club

restaurant row • 500 Ala Moana Blvd.

531-8444 • www.oceanclubonline.com

Tuesday through Friday 4:30 p.m. to 4 a.m., Saturday 7 p.m. to 4 a.m., Monday through Sundays

Come dance the night away on one of Honolulu’s most popular dance floors for the Gen X and Gen y crowd, where the DJ spins music until 4 a.m. located on Restaurant Row and only 10 minutes from Waikıkı, this trendy nightspot offers an exten-sive pupu and drink selection for the after-work and late-night crowds, and special events for the over-21 crowd.

Continued from K15

Only in Hawai‘i—a shimmering sunset from Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park.

Saxophonist Tim Tsukiyama riffs on Tuesday Open Mic Jazz at the Musicians’ Association of Hawai‘i.

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B u r G e r S

Café Kulia Grill

John A. burns school of Medicine Cafeteria

651 Ilalo st. • 692-0800

the Grill’s yummy cheeseburger is part

of a diverse menu featuring fresh, is-

land-grown produce and products. hot

entrées change daily and hearty sal-

ads emphasize healthy dining creations

(no trans fat!) by the talented, aspiring

chefs at kapi‘olani community college’s

culinary arts program.

Kua ‘Aina Sandwich Ward Centre • 591-9133part of a 30-year local tradition origi-

nating on the north Shore (and now

with 12 locations in Japan), this award-

winning sandwich shop attracts visitors

and residents alike for its popular

avocado burger and homemade shoe-

string fries. it’s moved across auahi

Street to Ward centre, with expanded

seating both inside and out.

S W e e t S t u f f

Panya Bakery express & Catering

711 Queen st. • 597-8880 • www.panyagroup.comWith this kaka‘ako outlet as the central production house for the panya Bakery line, you can be sure the sweet and savory pastries here, including the sig-nature hokkaido Sweet Bread, are fresh out of the oven. owner annie Yeung offers soups, salads (with homemade dressings) and sandwiches for lunch.

Sweet Nothings

1218 Waimanu st., suite 102 • 593-1234opening in october 2006, hawai‘i’s first and only bakery offering sugar-free goodies features a full line of cakes, pies, cookies, muffins and even imported candies (from high-end chocolates to Gummi bears)—all made without sugar. While diabetics can indulge in the shop’s signature napoleon pastry or its popu-lar coffee cake muffin, about half of its clientele are non-diabetic, says partner Darin Yokoyama.

L u N C H WA G o N S

New eagle Café Lunch Wagon

parked on Queen street at Ward Avenue ‘ewa of American savings bank Café at 1130 nimitz Highway • 545-2233chicken karaage and the prime rib sand-wich may be its most popular items, but with selections like baked ono, fresh corned beef, chinese chicken salad, tofu salad and even escargots, this lunch wagon adds a contemporary twist to the traditional plate lunch.

tsukenjo Lunch Wagon

parked on Queen street at Ward Avenue • 597-8151 next to dezign Home • Lunch House at 705 Cooke st.You can get the popular roast pork plate lunch as early as 10 a.m. (and it sells out fast) at this longtime kaka‘ako lunch wagon, operating since 1959. man-ager and cook Doris nabarro says their popular “local grinds” include barbecue oxtail, pork adobo and sweet-and-sour spare ribs.

Kaka‘ako Eats

Continued on K18

b y G a i l M i y a s a K i


hono lu lu rea l tyeric n hill, realtor 808 533 2100

Nauru Tower, Lobby1330 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814

honolulurealty.com

Serving Kaka‘ako, Downtown and Waikiki

Sales • Rentals • Property Management

nauru tower • hokua • ko‘olani • hawaiki • urakuroyal kai lani • moana pacific • 1350 ala moana

waikiki landmark • honolulu park place...

03-07 HonoluluRealty 1-3h HM 2/11/07 6:57 PM Page 1

Ward Centre 591-9023

Gourmet foods, great salads,breakfast all day, espresso bar,

milk shakes and smoothies.

01-07 Mocha Java 1-6v HM 12/8/06 1:57 PM Page 1

Continued from K17

H o t S P o t S

e&o trading Company restaurant

Ward Centre • 591-9555enter an asian marketplace and savor the kiawe-grilled Southeast asian dishes influenced by the cuisines of thailand, Singapore, india, indonesia and more. a popular after-work spot with food and drink specials, e&o also serves lunch and dinner on small plates or big plates—ideal for sharing family-style.

P.f. Chang’s China Bistro

Ground floor of Hokua • 1288 Ala Moana blvd. • 596-4710combining the international appeal of chinese cuisine with the elegance of fine

american dining, p.F. chang’s features

hot-off-the-wok specialties from five

different chinese regional cuisines, a full

bar with 50 wine selections by the glass,

and a sumptuous décor of chinese

murals and art. honolulu’s new hot spot

is open for lunch and dinner; reserva-

tions are recommended for parties of

two or more.

tA K e H o M e

WArD fArMerS MArKet 1020 Auahi st.

Haili’s Hawaiian food 593-8019Featuring eat-in plate lunches, pau hana

takeout, and all kinds of poke for pupu,

this 56-year-old family-run business, an

original tenant of kaka‘ako’s old-time

farmers’ market, offers popular and tra-

ditional hawaiian foods. its laulau-kalua

pig combo plate lunch, squid lua‘u and

homemade haupia are big favorites, says

second-generation owner rachel haili.

Lin’s Market 593-8611Got the munchies for ‘ono cracked seed?

hard to beat lin’s fresh taste and large

selection of that popular island snack.

the specialty shop offers an eclectic

mix of candy and snacks, including local

favorites (pickled mango, salty lemon),

healthy snacks (dried fruits, nuts) and

asian delights (dried cuttlefish or fish).

Marukai Market Place 593-9888For those who love to cook and eat

Japanese and other asian foods, the

recently expanded Ward outlet of this

membership store now offers more

selections in fresh produce, grocery

items (both asian and american),

seafood (including fresh sashimi and

poke) and more. Daily fresh-rolled sushi

and a variety of bento takeouts make it

easy to dine Japanese.

Stanley’s Chicken Market 593-9989Fresh chicken and eggs may be the

main products of this 50-year-old

family-run business, but it’s the old-

fashioned shave ice in a variety of flavors

that brings in the biggest crowds. Boiled

peanuts, snacks and soft drinks are also

offered. and for a no-need-cook dinner,

don’t miss the barbecue chicken on

Saturdays only.

tropic fish & Vegetable Center 591-2963Begun as a mom-and-pop store in 1955,

this three-generation family business still

retains the atmosphere of a neighbor-

hood corner market. Shoppers can pick

up fresh island fish and locally grown

produce. tailgaters stop by for the poke,

tsukemono, boiled peanuts, musubi,

roast pork, dried ‘ahi and smoked marlin

before a Uh home game.

Ph

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: H

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Ward Centre Next to Borders(808) 593-2733

www.redpineapple.net

gift basketscorporate giving

hand delivery and shipping

Creating beautiful gifts and deliciousindulgence with award winning

and nationally recognized goods andthe finest made-in-Hawaii treats.

Favorite gift to give: a set of four vibrant silk cosmetic bags. $40

Award-winning sauces from Bella Cucina.Our favorite yellow and red pepper sauce.

Dinner for four! $14

Sigg Bottles from Switzerland.Super cool and functional! $19

03-07 RedPineapple 1-3v HM.qxd 2/11/07 7:17 PM Page 1

While Kaka‘ako may still seem largely industrial, with ga-

rages galore, there are plenty of quirky places to shop. one-of-a-kind retailers and easy-to-miss warehouses make this district a serious shopping destination.

the Candy Shop��1 Queen St. • ��9-1102

evoking a funky, New york City lower east side vibe, The Candy shop made its debut in february, spotlighting popular Mainland D.i.y. handmade clothing lines such as spicy Toast and pretty Trashy. Twenty-six-year-old Tiffany Tanaka, who is also the Ceo and president of the ad-jacent wesellthings4u online ebay store, successfully converted the warehouse space into a hip boutique stocked with Montana Knox graffiti-inspired T-shirts, hard-to-find lacoste handbags and one-of-a-kind items by local designer Michele lau. also on hand, plasma TVs, digital cameras and other electronic items.

the Bookmobile�90 Pohukaina St. (next to Mother

Waldron Park) • ��-�1��

The bookmobile isn’t your typical RV. There’s no kitchen, no foldout bed, and any thoughts of a road trip are out, since the vehicle lacks a drive shaft. yet it does offer a refreshing take on the arche-typal used bookstore. air-conditioned, organized and well lit, the retrofitted 12-by-26-foot RV opened its doors in

January carrying what bryde Cestare, executive director of the friends of the library of Hawai‘i, refers to as “gently used books at great prices.” all of the bookmobile’s items—from steamy ro-mance novels to 1,000-piece puzzles and children’s hardcover classics—are donat-ed, and all of the profits support the 51 public libraries throughout the state.

Garakuta-Do�� Koula St. • ��9-22�2

Walk into Garakuta-Do and you’ll feel as though you’ve discovered a well-kept Honolulu secret. The dimly lit, 6,000-square-foot warehouse is chock-a-block with unique Japanese antiques, includ-ing 1920s obis and vintage kimonos, clay octopus traps, bronze hibachis and over-size hand-painted sake bottles. its main emphasis is on early 1900s wood tansu chests (with 500 in stock) and old Nori-take china made between the 1890s and 1940s. To top it off, its owner, Wataru Harada, is not only welcoming, but ready and willing to give you the history and usage behind each piece.

Baby emporium�1� Cooke St. • �9�-��

Three years ago, Tom Kim noted a lack of baby stores on the island and decided to fill the niche with the baby empori-um. The one-stop shopping mecca was a parent’s dream, carrying everything from blankets and breast pumps to cribs and car seats. “We pride ourselves in having everything in stock, so if you want one of our strollers, we’ve got it—and in a few different colors,” says Kim. Need a baby-shower gift? Check out the Urban smalls

Kaka‘ako Shoppingb y s H e i l a s a R H a N G i

Continued on K20

The AriaTM Spa: The 30th Anniversary SpecialThe AriaTM Spa: The 30th Anniversary Special

• Pool & Spa repairs• Free in-store water testing• Full line of Pool & Spa

Supplies

307 Keawe St. (next door to CompUSA)

538-3665Mon-Sat 9am-5pmwww.hotspring.com

03-07 Blue Champ 1-6h HM.qxd 2/8/07 3:34 PM Page 1


onesies with jaunty sayings such as, “i party Naked” and “Chicks Dig Me.”

Bali Aga�0� D Kamani St. • �9�-90�0

Throughout the year, bali aga founder luis Gamarra makes several trips to both indonesia and China in search of eclec-tic asian furnishings. His handpicked treasures, ranging from contemporary crafted teak bookshelves to antique Chi-na cabinets, are showcased in an 8,000-square-foot Kamani street warehouse (with an additional outpost on the big island). “i try to bring things in with a unique, fresh look, offering my clientele something different,” says Gamarra. The evolving collection also includes colorful silk throw pillows, red leather bar stools, decorative bird cages and hand-carved balinese table lamps.

Native Books/Na Mea Hawai‘i10�0 Ala Moana Blvd.

(Ward Warehouse) • �9�-��

situated in Ward Warehouse since 2002, Native books/Na Mea Hawai‘i special-izes in locally made goods, from bath and body products to food items and art prints. Hawaiian cultural pieces such as Ni‘ihau shell lei, lua objects and lau-hala works are big draws, while its main staple is the wide selection of books about Hawai‘i. “The store is just a vehicle for us,” says partner Maile Meyer. “We have an endless amount of classes and lectures and live music on sundays. We want the store to be a resource to the community, not just a retail outlet.”

Continued from K19S p e c i a l p r o m ot i o n a l S e c t i o n



B U S I N E S S D I R E C T O R Y

AutomotiveCity Fender 859QueenSt. Honolulu,HI96813 % 591-2204

Chuck’s Corvette Clinic 505KamaniSt. Honolulu,HI96813 % 597-8147 www.chuckscorvetteclinic.com

DentAl ServiceSJon Yoshimura, D.D.S. 1441KapiolaniBlvd.,Ste.1510 Honolulu,HI96814 % 944-1155 www.jonyoshimuradds.com

eDucAtionWord of Life Academy 550QueenSt. Honolulu,HI96817 % 528-4044 www.wordoflifehawaii.com

FooD & DiningAku Bone Lounge & Grill 1201KonaSt. Honolulu,HI96814 % 589-2020

Beard Papa’s WardCentre 1200AlaMoanaBlvd. Honolulu,HI96814 % 593-0107 www.beardpapahawaii.com

Buca di Beppo WardEntertainmentCenter 1030AuahiSt. Honolulu,HI96814 % 591-0800 www.bucadibeppo.com

Mocha Java Café 1200AlaMoanaBlvd. Honolulu,HI96814 % 597-8121

HeAltH & BeAutyHawaii Skin Cancer & Photodamage Center, Inc. FourWaterfrontPlaza,Ste.470 500AlaMoanaBlvd. Honolulu,HI96813

Susan Snyder Facials & Massage Therapy 1019WaimanuSt.,#210 Honolulu,HI96814 % 429-1222 www.susansnyder.biz

Heaven on Earth Spa Club & Café 1077QueenSt. Honolulu,HI96814 % 599-5501 www.heavenonearthhawaii.com

Home FurniSHingSHonolulu Design Center 1250KapiolaniBlvd. Honolulu,HI96814 % 956-1250 www.honoluludesigncenter.com

Home ServiceSBlue Champagne Pool & Spa 307KeaweSt. Honolulu,HI96813 www.hotspring.com

nAtive HAwAiiAnOffice of Hawaiian Affairs 711KapiolaniBlvd.,Ste.500 Honolulu,HI96813 % 594-1865 www.oha.org

ProFeSSionAl orgAniZAtionSHawaii Community Development Authority 677AlaMoanaBlvd.,Ste.1001 Honolulu,HI96813 www.hcdaweb.org

Kaka’ako Improvement Association P.O.Box3776 Honolulu,HI96812 722-8487 [email protected]

ProFeSSionAl ServiceS A-OK Business Services - Honolulu 350WardAve.,Ste.106 Honolulu,HI96814 % 591-2983 www.aokbizsvc.com

Nancy Evans Tudor & Assoc., CPA, Inc. 1150S.KingSt.,Ste.203 Honolulu,HI96814 % 592-2000 www.nancyevanstudorcpa.com

reAl eStAteHonolulu Realty 1330AlaMoanaBlvd.,Lobby Honolulu,HI96814 % 597-1330 www.honolulurealty.com

Keola Lai - Sales Center 676QueenSt. Honolulu,HI96813 % 528-4044 www.keolalai.com

recreAtionBIKEFACTORY HAWAII, INC. 740AlaMoanaBlvd. Honolulu,HI96813 % 596-8844

Tactical Strength & Conditioning 770KapiolaniBlvd.,#105 Honolulu,HI96813 % 589-2115 www.tacticalstrength.com

religionWord of Life Christian Center 550QueenSt. Honolulu,HI96817 % 528-4044 www.wordoflifehawaii.com

SHoPSMy Little Secret WardWarehouse 1050AlaMoanaBlvd. Honolulu,HI96814 % 596-2990

SHoPS (continueD)

Red Pineapple WardCentre 1200AlaMoanaBlvd. Honolulu,HI96814 % 593-2733 www.redpineapple.net

Roxy WardCentre 1060AuahiSt. Honolulu,HI96814 % 596-ROXY

The Wedding Ring Shop 1181KapiolaniBlvd. Honolulu,HI96814 % 945-7766 www.weddingringshop.com

Ward Centers 1200AlaMoanaBlvd. Honolulu,HI96814 % 591-8411 www.wardcenters.com

SPeciAlty ServiceSAloha Scroggin Violins 505WardAvenue,Ste.205 Honolulu,HI96814 % 741-6363 [email protected]

Engineers Surveyors Hawaii, Inc. 900HalekauwilaSt. Honolulu,HI96814 % 591-8116 www.esh-inc.com

Gebco Hawaii Inc. 415CookeSt. Honolulu,HI96813 % 591-0889 [email protected]

Stacy Leong Design 401Kamake’eSt.,Ste.400 Honolulu,HI96814 % 596-4777 www.stacyleong.com

K a k a ‘ a k oS p e c i a l p r o m ot i o n a l S e c t i o n



Queen and Ward (19�� and 200�)Oh, what a difference 60 years can

make. Heading mauka in 1946 on Ward

Avenue at the intersection of Queen

Street (considered by many to be the

“heart” of Kaka‘ako), one traveled on

dirt roads and saw a handful of one

and two-story buildings. These housed

the small businesses—with the families

that ran them living upstairs—drawn

to Kaka‘ako after World War II. Today,

banks, a furniture store and a service

station anchor this busy intersection,

with 909 Kapi‘olani, the upcoming

33-story high-rise condominium makai

of the Blaisdell Arena, offering just a

glimpse of the Ko‘olau Mountains.

Photos: (Top left and middle) 1946 photo

from the Bishop Museum. (Top right and

bottom) 2007, by Hesham Foto.

Kaka‘ako Flashback1946

2007

Documents

Kaka'ako Magazine