Honolulu Mayor Calls on Taiwan to Repair Chinatown Plaza

Crumbling infrastructure and rising crime rates prompt plea for assistance.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is urging Taiwan to help repair and revitalize the Chinatown Cultural Plaza, which has fallen into disrepair and seen an increase in criminal activity. The plaza, owned by Taiwan, has become an eyesore and public safety concern for the local community.

Why it matters

The Chinatown Cultural Plaza is an important cultural landmark in Honolulu, but its current state of neglect and crime has become a growing issue for the city. Mayor Blangiardi is hoping Taiwan, as the plaza's owner, will step in to address the problems and restore the site to its former vibrancy.

The details

Mayor Blangiardi described himself as "beyond frustrated" with the condition of the Chinatown Cultural Plaza, which is owned by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu. The plaza has fallen into disrepair, with crumbling infrastructure and increasing criminal activity, including drug use and vandalism. Blangiardi is pressing Taiwan to take action and provide the necessary funding to fix the plaza and improve security.

  • Mayor Blangiardi made his plea for Taiwan's assistance on February 8, 2026.

The players

Rick Blangiardi

The mayor of Honolulu who is calling on Taiwan to repair the Chinatown Cultural Plaza.

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu

The Taiwanese government agency that owns the Chinatown Cultural Plaza in Honolulu.

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What they’re saying

“We're beyond frustrated with the condition of the Chinatown Cultural Plaza. It's an eyesore and a public safety concern, and we need Taiwan to step up and fix it.”

— Rick Blangiardi, Mayor of Honolulu (Star Advertiser)

What’s next

Mayor Blangiardi has indicated he will continue to press Taiwan to take action on the Chinatown Cultural Plaza, and may seek other avenues to secure funding and support for the repairs if Taiwan does not respond.

The takeaway

The deterioration of the Chinatown Cultural Plaza, a significant cultural landmark in Honolulu, highlights the challenges cities can face when dealing with infrastructure and public safety issues on properties owned by foreign governments. Mayor Blangiardi's plea for Taiwan's assistance underscores the need for collaborative solutions to address these types of complex, cross-border issues.