Kaimukī is a residential neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. Kaimuki is the area located just mauka (on the mountainside) of Diamond Head. King Kamehameha III gave the land of Kaimuki to future King William Lunalilo in 1848. The land was then sold for $2,325 in 1884 and again for $20,000 in 1898. In the early 1900s, Kaimuki developed into a high-class residential neighborhood. First came the families and then came the businesses. The neighborhood of Kaimuki has seen many changes in its 100 plus years of history.
In the 19th century, the area was a farm of King Kalākaua, where ostriches roamed wild over the mountainside. It later became the site of a carnation farm for funeral flowers. Now a mix of a residential area with a small business district (mainly restaurants and service industries), it is located in the urbanized Honolulu region near Kahala and Diamond Head. Kaimukī is an ancient Hawaiian name. Its name comes from Ka imu kī meaning “The ti root oven” in the Hawaiian language. The area was known for the many ovens used to bake kī Cordyline fruticosa, or ti roots, into a sweet food similar to candy. Kaimukī’s main street is Waialae Avenue, pronounced /waɪəlaɪ/. Several restaurants and stores are located on this street, as well as Kaimukī District Park.
Pu‘u o Kaimukī aka “Kaimuki Hill” is the predominant feature of the area and has been a reservoir, a telegraph station, an observatory, and now a park.
What to Do
Kaimuki is filled with niche shops, specialty boutiques, and unique eateries dotted along its main thoroughfare of Waialae Avenue. So, grab a parking spot at either of the area’s two main self-pay lots (Kaimuki Plaza or Kaimuki Municipal), or see if you can nab that rare spot on the street, and join us in discovering this exciting Oahu enclave. A1 Bed Bug Exterminator Honolulu
Shop Hop
Kaimuki’s Crack Seed Store has been serving up Li Hing Mui, Icees, and other special goodies for over 70 years. Okata Bento, an unassuming, hole-in-the-wall eatery has been around for over 30 years and is still cooking their food to order. Okata Bento tops their “cheap eats” list offering a cheeseburger complete with lettuce, tomato, and onions for only $2.50.
Dine
- 12th Ave Grill & DeliCafe is located at 1120 12th Ave, Honolulu, HI
- Oahu Grill is located at 1137 11th Ave #104, Honolulu, HI
- Brew’d craft pub is located at 3441 Waialae Ave Unit A, Honolulu, HI
- Honolulu Tavern is located at 417 Nohonani St, Honolulu, HI
Check out other neighborhoods like Kapalama