Aloha and Xin Nian Kuai Le

Military? Just moved to Hawaii? Well, here’s one good reason to come to Honolulu.

This is one of the reasons why we’re known as ‘The Melting Pot of the Pacific’:

Come the beginning of the year people of all ethnic backgrounds come to Honolulu’s ChinaTown to celebrate the Chinese New Year.   The Portuguese, Vietnamese, Laotian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Filipino, Hawaiian, Korean and Caucasian merchants work harmoniously together, selling their goods and perpetuating respective cultural traditions.

Every day,  kama’aina (local residents) and tourists gather in Chinatown to buy fresh produce, fish, meat, manapua, candied fruits and vegetables, noodles, tea, duck eggs, whole roasted duck, char siu and other Asian delicacies.  Each day at noon, people in the downtown business community scurry to the nearby area for dim sum, or lunch, at one of the delicious and inexpensive specialty restaurants.

Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to catch up with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-yearcycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.

Chinatown is Hawaii's most exciting and mysterious neighborhood. The historic district is located in downtown Honolulu, and has long been a popular gathering place for kama`aina and visitors. As a gateway to Hawaii for many immigrants, Chinatown is a colorful and eclectic blend of Southeast Asian cultures.

Variety best describes the visitor’s Chinatown experience. All within a fifteen-block area, one may consult an herbalist, view an art exhibit, and see a dragon procession, make an offering at a Buddhist temple, or buy precious jade and a cheong sam gown. Chinatown’s history is a rich part of Hawaii’s story.

So after your daily visit to Honolulu’ s China Town be sure to check out other areas like Kahala Shopping Center, Windward Mall in Kaneohe, the pristine beaches of Kailua, the wicked waves on the North Shore in Haleiwa,  the incredible coastline of the Waianae area and the spectacular nightlife in Waikiki or Downtown Honolulu.  Make sure to take the time to visit the other areas of the island so you can enjoy some of the spectacular mountain ranges and ocean sights as you drive along Waimanalo, Lanikai, Kaaawa, Laie, Hawaii Kai and many others.