103 N Hotel Street
Opened: 1938
Architect: Y.T. Char
Style: Art Deco with Asian influences
The Wo Fat Restaurant was established in 1882, but the building was rebuilt twice in the same spot after the fires of 1886 and 1900. In 1938, the building was updated by Y. T. Char with common Art Deco elements of the era mixed with Asian characteristics.
Wo Fat was the oldest operating restaurant in Hawaii before its closure in 2009. After the restaurant’s closure, the ground floor was converted into a supermarket, and the upper floor was used as a showroom for concerts. Recently, the upper level of the Wo Fat Building was home to a gallery and nightclub called The Loft, which is now closed.