Bo Wah Trading

Last weekend we decided to beat the Chinese New Year crowds and headed to Chinatown to pick up supplies for gau making. It’s been a few years since I’ve helped Auntie make gau, so I need a refresher, and never did learn where she goes to buy the ingredients: Bo Wah is the place!
As in most typical Chinatown stores, Bo Wah is stuffed to the gills with tons of different things! Many of them have no labels, and or only Chinese labels with very little English translation. What’s different about Bo Wah is that when Auntie wasn’t sure which brand of glutenous flour to buy, she asked the store employees (3 men), who were all very friendly. When we needed to find some non-​gau ingredients that my Mom requested (north and south peeled almonds), we asked and they quickly found them for us. Warning, it helps if you can read the Chinese characters sometimes since the English labels said «Peeled Almonds» on both bags, and who knew the difference? Of course the shop guys did! I’ve gotten scoldings from shop owners for not speaking or reading Chinese. Not these guys, they were really nice!
I’m not an expert on prices since I only get to Chinatown about once a year, but the throat lozenges I bought last year at a different store were over $ 1 less at Bo Wah!
Tip: If you’re stocking up for Chinese New Year, go as as soon as possible to avoid the crowds.
HUGE Tip: You know how it’s crowded and parking is a pain in Chinatown on weekend mornings? Try around 3:00 on a Saturday afternoon. Easy parking is right across the street in the municipal lot next to Cindy’s Lei Stand. We were parked, in and out in 30 minutes. I’m guessing that even the Bo Wah guys are more patient, relaxed & friendly when it’s less crowded!

One of my favorite to-​go Chinese stores to find instant coffee, dried salted fish, nylon twince, dried fruits and veggies, and just about anything traditional Chinese. Prices are somewhat fair, but there were some items that were on the expensive side.
Don’t be afraid to come here, becasue the smells of preserved fish, and they somewhat unclean grounds make the shopping experience a fun one!

After eating lunch in Downtown and mentioning to my friend that I was looking for a wok he brought me here.
This store is filled with cookware, dishware and a big variety of different products. I did find the size that I was looking for and inquired with the owner/​gentleman about the price. At first he said $ 16 then paused and said no $ 17, Whaaaat??? I don’t look Chinesey enuff? That’s because I’m not and a dollar wasn’t going to stop me from buying it.
I left happy because I found a wok for my burner, but they really could use a sprinkle of Happy Dust in here. I said Hi when I came in. No response, I said Thank you after my purchase. Barely a response!
*If you smile on my next visit I’ll give you that 4^th Star for sure. :-)

I buy almost all of my Chinese teas here — best prices in all of Chinatown! They have a fairly good selection, but sometimes out of stock so you have to check in again. I had purchased a straw, «Chinaman’s hat» here a few years ago but don’t see that type anymore. I have a neighbor who was interested. Unfortunately, they only have a smaller version, and the Vietnamese straw hat — much too small for yard work in the hot Hawaiian sun. Typical Chinese level of service, but at least they are efficient at the register to make the line move quickly.

I lived in Chinatown for a good 17 plus years on Maunakea Street so I know my stores quite well.
Bo Wah has been in business for over 30 years now. They used to be located on the corner of Maunakea Street and Pauahi Street. This store pretty much is your Chinese general store that carries your all-​purpose Chinese goods. You can get your soy sauce, dried vegetables, canned goods and preserved foods, too. I primarily come here to purchase Chinese paper and incense that I use to offer my ancestors.
They also carry seasonal items, such as Chinese moon cake and you can pick-​up your firecrackers during the holidays. Price-​wise they are very reasonable and most of the staff at the register here are bilingual.
This is a good place to pick-​up your ingredients if you plan to cook a meal.
The only setback is that the customer service here is typical of a Chinese establishment. They are not friendly and don’t smile. They also don’t carry fresh produce or meats but that you can get if you walk down a couple of blocks to Oahu Market or Maunakea Marketplace.
NOTE:
(1) This place is pretty legit to me but it doesn’t hurt to check the expiration date before you purchase your goods.
(2) Credit cards are accepted here.

When I first came here, this is where I bought my first mahjong table. Pretty good price for a good decent table! Now I just go for my sunflower seeds and dried shredded pork

Not easy to find but finally did and they have my Vietnamese coffee. I’m happy camper. AND it was only $ 3.00 :)

I stumbled upon this place when I was in desperate need of Chinese fireworks (that required a permit) for Chinese New Year. I find less and less stores carrying firecrackers as the years pass by but Bo Wah is one of the only stores left that sell it for the Chinese New Year season. I bought 4 of them at $ 35 each (20,000 crack) which I personally thought was a little over-​priced (¹²⁄₃₁ DQ was selling them for around $ 30) but I guess that’s my fault for procrastinating the purchase. When I lit them, they definitely delivered as far as noise goes.
I was also pleasantly surprised that they honored the line system at the cashier. Normally, places in Chinatown will take the first customer that throws money to the cashier to pay for their goods but Bo-​Wah frowned upon line-​cutters and told them to stand back and wait their turn. ~(^o^)~. They have a lot of other goodies including ginormous incense sticks which at first I didn’t understand the purpose for until the guy working their explained it was for lighting firecrackers.
Hehehehehe, goes to show I’m a newbie at this Chinese New Year thing.