Chinatown: Hawaii Theatre and Indigo team up

Chinatown is buzzing with new cultural developments: restoration of Hawai`i Theatre and Chinatown Gateway Park, and the opening of Indigo - recently voted best new restaurant in Honolulu. All three encourage other restoration projects and are themselves a major reason for the increase in visitors to Chinatown.

Jane Alexander, Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, described the Hawai`i Theatre as "one of American's most gracious theatres."

The restoration is nearing completed and its well wishers held their first gala fund-raising ball, catered by Indigo, in September. When fully restored, Hawaii Theatre will offer premiere performance space for the performing arts. Concerning the revitalization of the Chinatown area, owner and Chef Glen Chu says: People are looking beyond the sun and the beach for a cultural experience. Chu, himself, grew up on O`ahu and has seen the ups and downs of Chinatown as it has endured as an integral theme of Hawai`i's history. Both the Indigo and Hawai`i Theatre buildings stood during a time when Hawaiian kings, whalers and sailors drank side-by-side in the bars, when the Chinese community arrived on ships to build their herb shops, restaurants and fish markets, and during the more recent renaissance and establishment of fine eateries and galleries.

Hawai`i Theatre is the only historic theatre in the islands with the size, configuration and intimacy of a Broadway House. With its capacity of 1,400 seats, Hawai`i Theatre will be the second largest performance facility in the state and ideal for a wide variety of events and activities. With a seating capacity of more than 125, both indoors and in the garden, Indigo is expected to be its natural partner. Indigo has the size, the historic setting and the ambiance of New York restaurants where Broadway playgoers dine before and after the shows.

Timed with the opening of the Theatre next year, is a refurbishment of Chinatown Gateway Park initiated by Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris. With the three restorations complete, Indigo, the Park and Hawai`i Theatre will work together to host more cultural events, from intimate concerts to plays and garden art shows. Indigo itself has become an Oasis in downtown Honolulu. Its dining area pours out onto a terrace adjacent to Chinatown Gateway Park and the Hawai`i Theatre.

In celebration of the theatre's opening and Indigo's first year in business, a new menu has been produced to include all the tastes of mutli ethnic theatre goers: Woked Mussels with Blackbean and Cilantro Oil, Tempeh Jicama Spring Rolls with Balsamic Pepper Sauce, Almond Chicken Spring Rolls, and Zing Zin Zizzaling Shrimp Rolls are among the offerings.

Fennel and Lamb Ba Bao Buns with Peppered Ginger Plum Sauce and Curried Pumpkin and Pecan Bao Buns, Gin Doi with Roasted Duck and Apricots and Jade Speckled Salmon Dumplings expand the Dim Sum Menu.

In the Pizzettas department, you'll find Peking Duck with Imperial Plum Sauce and Green Onions, Singapore Eggplant and Goat Cheese with Chinese Sausage and much more.

Large Platters include Many Threads Shredded Chicken Cakes with Fresh Plum Sauce, Peppered Mongolian Beef Loin with Green Peppercorn Blackbean Sauce and Woked Chinatown Vegetables with Butter Blackbean Sauce.

In addition, Indigo has created its own Internet presence: