Field Guide: Fort Street
Take a break from work to explore what the heart of downtown Honolulu has to offer.
Photo by David Croxford |
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Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace
Built during Hawaii’s missionary era in 1843, Our Lady of Peace served as the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of the Hawaiian Islands. Today, the church stands as one of the oldest buildings in the downtown area and is actually the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the nation. The cathedral was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. 1184 Bishop St., 536-7036.
Photo by David Croxford Flower Flair co-owner May Chen inspects her work. |
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Flower Flair
It’s a family flower affair at this florist shop located on the mauka end of the mall. Owners and siblings Rachel Chen, May Chen and Pake Tubal work together to offer customers tropical plants, floral arrangements and handmade lei utilizing local growers whenever possible. Flower Fair also features two prominent store mascots, a pair of pet birds named Suzy and Pumpkin. “They’re more popular than us,” May says. 1188 Fort St. Mall, 531-3248.
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King Fort Magazine Shop
Photo by David Croxford |
Although Duane Hong has owned this Fort Street institution for 12 years, the shop has actually been around for at least 20, “before there was even a mall out there,” says Hong. Over the years, the shop’s couple thousand magazine titles have attracted a variety of regular customers. “Everyone from students to CEOs, we get people from all walks of life.” 1122 Fort St. Mall, 538-0266.
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Photo by David Croxford |
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Govindaji’s Organic Vegetarian Cuisine
The work crowd has a healthy lunchtime option in Govindaji’s. Pick up a menu at the beginning of each month to stay in the loop on the restaurant’s fresh, daily offerings. There are always two yummy vegetarian entrées—one of them vegan—such as eggplant parmesan or sweet-and-sour walnut dumplings. The balanced meals are always “made with love,” says owner Tim Walsh. Be sure to wash them down with a fresh squeezed lemon-mint-ginger drink. 1118 Fort St. Mall, 585-0960.
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Yummy Ice Garden
When you need sugar at 3 p.m., think Yummy. This hole in the wall offers up the best shave ice downtown in a myriad of classic and exotic flavors, toppings and combinations. Loyal customers love to add ice cream, mochi balls, fresh fruit and condensed milk to the mix—often all at once. 79 S. Pauahi St., 533-3142.
