Chinatown Cultural Plaza to be redeveloped, forcing tenants to vacate

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Chinatown Cultural Plaza property owner has announced plans to move forward with a complete redevelopment of the longtime Chinatown property.

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The announcement follows five years of efforts by Mayor Rick Blangiardi and his administration for Chinatown’s revitalization, voicing concerns over public safety, sanitation and infrastructure.

“This has been five years of persistence, difficult conversations, and a very clear message from our administration that Chinatown Cultural Plaza needed meaningful change,” Mayor Blangiardi said. “We believed from the beginning that you cannot fully revitalize Chinatown without addressing one of its largest and most important properties. The decision to redevelop the Plaza represents a major step forward, and I am very pleased we have reached this point.”

The Taiwan government acquired the property in 1979.

Under management by the Longevity International Enterprises Corporation (LIEC), the plaza has played an important cultural and commercial role in Chinatown for more than half a century.

The administration’s goal is to create a safer, more vibrant property to support cultural and economic development of the entire district.

“This is about much more than redeveloping a single property,” Mayor Blangiardi said. “It is about what Chinatown can become. This community has extraordinary history, culture and character, and we want to see that reflected in its future. A revitalized Cultural Plaza can help bring new energy and economic activity into Chinatown while remaining a place that celebrates the cultures and traditions that have made this community so special.”

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According to LIEC, tenants are being given at least six months’ advance notice of lease termination, with lease terminations and vacating the premises scheduled to be completed by March 31 next year.

The company has also announced that preliminary work is expected to include environmental impact and archaeological surveys.

Existing structures will be demolished and qualified developers will be invited to submit redevelopment proposals.

The city said it will continue its work to improve Chinatown and will perform its appropriate applicable planning, permitting and regulatory governmental functions.

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