Kaimuki

Conveniently located on the mountain side of Diamond Head Crater, the Kaimuki neighborhood is characterized by gently rolling hills and historic architecture. Despite being one of the oldest neighborhoods in Honolulu, Kaimuki is characterized by a mix of new trendy shops and restaurants sitting alongside established businesses. This eclectic mix gives the neighborhood its unique character that combines historical charm with new and exciting business growth. During the 19th century, the area that now forms the Kaimuki neighborhood served as the farm of King Kalakaua. At that time, ostriches roamed wild over the mountainside. The land later served as a carnation farm specializing in funeral flowers. In the early 1900s, the land was developed into a high-class residential neighborhood after the Chinatown fire of 1900. Finding themselves homeless following the fire, many Chinese moved to the area for a new start. The result was Honolulu’s first major subdivision. The extension of the streetcars to the area in the 1920s helped to further fuel development of the area. Today, much of the neighborhood’s history can still be seen in its historic buildings. Among these are the Kaimuki Fire Station, which was built in 1924 according to the Spanish Mission Style designed by G.R. Miller, and the Queen Theater. The Queen Theater, which was designed by Lyman Bigelow, opened in 1936 and was closed in 1985. The Kaimuki fire station, however, is still used as a fire station to this day.