Honolulu Mayor Urges Taiwan to Fix Crumbling, Crime-Plagued Chinatown Plaza

Blangiardi says the 4-acre complex has become a 'haven for illegal activity' and poses a threat to residents and visitors.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is pressing Taiwan to fix the deteriorating Chinatown Cultural Plaza, which he says has become a magnet for crime and a public safety threat. Blangiardi has sent multiple letters to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, urging the Taiwanese government to address decades of neglect at the 4-acre complex. The plaza, which was built in 1974 by Chinese community groups and taken over by Taiwan in 1979, has fallen into disrepair, with issues ranging from darkened stairwells and broken infrastructure to widespread vacancies and criminal activity.

Why it matters

The Chinatown Cultural Plaza sits at the heart of Honolulu's historic Chinatown district, and its decline is undermining the city's broader efforts to revitalize the area through new housing, transit-oriented development, and public-private partnerships. Blangiardi sees the plaza as a key piece of the puzzle, with its 4 acres of 'unrealized potential' holding back the entire urban core.

The details

The plaza has become a haven for illegal activity, including arson, violent assaults, drug abuse, gambling, robberies, and thefts. Businesses and visitors have struggled to navigate the unsafe conditions, with some businesses closing or moving out. The city says it has limited ability to address the issues since the plaza is private property.

  • In March 2025, Blangiardi informed Taiwan's President Lai about an arson attack, a violent assault, vandalized elevators, and a surge in thefts and burglaries at the plaza.
  • On January 6, 2026, Blangiardi sent a sharply worded letter blasting Taiwan's proposal to hire a 'professional development team' to assess the property, calling it 'meaningless and insulting'.
  • On January 23, 2026, Blangiardi took the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on a walk-through of the plaza, pointing out homeless individuals loitering and the overall decline of the complex.

The players

Rick Blangiardi

The mayor of Honolulu who is pressing Taiwan to fix the Chinatown Cultural Plaza, which he says has become a magnet for crime and a public safety threat.

Lai Ching-te

The president of Taiwan, whom Blangiardi has directly appealed to in multiple letters about the deteriorating condition of the Chinatown Cultural Plaza.

Jerry S. Chang

The director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), Taiwan's representatives in Hawaii, who proposed hiring a 'professional development team' to assess the plaza, a step Blangiardi criticized as 'meaningless and insulting'.

Cookie Silva

The owner of Cookie's Fine Jewelry, a business in the Chinatown Cultural Plaza, who no longer keeps fine jewelry in stock after multiple thefts.

John Ho

The owner of Legend Seafood Restaurant, a business in the Chinatown Cultural Plaza, who says conditions have deteriorated sharply during his decade at the plaza, with customers no longer feeling safe at night.

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What they’re saying

“This blight on our city needs to be addressed immediately. We aren't going to have slum landlords.”

— Rick Blangiardi, Mayor of Honolulu (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

“We've tried being nice. We're beyond frustrated.”

— Rick Blangiardi, Mayor of Honolulu (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

“Somebody really needs to pay attention to this. My customers don't feel safe at night. The night before I only got two customers. How can I survive?”

— John Ho, Owner of Legend Seafood Restaurant (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.