Field Guide: Nuuanu Ave.
Sneak away to this downtown stretch and discover art galleries and more.
Photo: David Croxford |
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Chinatown Boardroom
“The point of Chinatown Boardroom was to mix surfboards and art, because surfboards are art, too,” says Jackie Walden. This shop features one-of-a-kind surfboards as well as gift items, such as tote bags made from recycled materials and bracelets fashioned from old dominos. Walden co-owns the business with her husband, Eric, who shapes the boards, while she manages the art. www.chinatownboardroom.com. 1160 Nuuanu Ave., 585-7200.
Photo: David Croxford |
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The Art Treasures Gallery
The Art Treasures Gallery has been a fixture in the Chinatown scene for more than 25 years. Owner Phuong Tran’s gallery is filled from floor to ceiling with eye-catching antiques and art he’s collected during his travels in Southeast Asia, including handbeaded pots from Bali and pendant maple leaves dipped in gold. Tran (in photo right) also features his own art, impressionistic paintings of Hawaiian landscapes, as well as pieces by other local artists. 1136 Nuuanu Ave., 536-7789.
Photo: David Croxford |
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If this place doesn’t remind you of The Odyssey it’s probably because Epic is in fact an acronym for “Euro-Asian Pacific International Cuisine.” Every Sunday, this downtown hotspot has a special brunch menu, serving traditional items with a local twist, such as eggs Benedict layered with king crab or kalua pig, and pancakes topped with fresh bananas, macadamia nuts and vanilla brown butter. 1131 Nuuanu Ave., 587-7877.
Photo: David Croxford |
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Anna Li Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture
The waiting room walls are lined with jars filled with Chinese herbs that acupuncturist Anna Li (in photo left) mixes and then boils for remedies for ailments such as migraines and back pains. “They are very bitter,” Li says of her hot drinks, which she’s brewed at her Nuuanu office since 1988. On any given day her place is filled with loyal customers who swear by Li and acupuncture, and tell us, “The needles don’t hurt quite as much as they look like they will.” 1121 Nuuanu Ave., 537-1133.
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Photo: David Croxford |
Passing by Jasmine, you’ll inevitably be tempted to stop in for a snack or a meal as you catch sight of all the ono delights in the window. Jasmine’s okazuya features all the classics, such as edamame, musubi and chicken katsu. Manager Brian Uehara says, “the shrimp tempura is a favorite.” 1339 Nuuanu Ave., 536-4939.
