Bishop Square

Am I the only person who feels weird here?
Like it’s a forgotten area of the city…
I wish more security guards strolled around.
It’s got cheap parking and a few cute restaurants but the hours are very sporadic.
Convenient museum parking.
Needs more security.

Sometimes life’s a bowl of cherries, others lemons… what you do with them is up to you. I like cherries and lemons.
Ask me why I was here? I don’t recall.
Ask me what day it was? I don’t remember.
Ask me why it’s called Bishop Square? I don’t know. Something to do with power and money, I could look it up, but I’m not political. I won’t bore you with that history.
Ask me what would make you want to visit here? Well, there are several small eateries and businesses that you might check out if you are in the area, but only before 3pm… and nothing fancy.
1. This Is It… Too: Small sandwich shop where you can score a decent breakfast sandwich.
2. San Francisco Salad: I love salad and I Love San Francisco… but the owner tried to charge me fifty cents for extra dressing when I had already paid with a credit card and not one thin dime on me… won’t be going back there again. Oh, I’ll still eat salad and can’t wait to go back to San Francisco.
4. Jack-in-the-Box…not my thing.
5. Chit-​Chat: I look in the window late at night… wondering what you see. Never been inside.
5. Harpo’s Pizza… if you know anything about me… you understand my Homeresk love of pizza… in all it’s many varieties and forms. Plus, it’s considered a dying franchise by some. I have a soft spot for these (hey, Shao! I called it about Sizzler!)
6. American Savings Bank… ahhh…now there’s a story.
Bishop Square is a small cluster of soil, fescue, artwork, and businesses nestled in the heart of downtown Honolulu. I had been on Unilocal a couple of months, when I checked in there abouts, and got what was my first comment from a Friend (Do you remember your first? Think about that).
«I think I just walked right past you.»
You never know how special it might be just to say a few simple words. You might brighten someone’s day, you might make an acquaintance that amuses you, or you might make a Friend.
You know the places you go, the places that make you feel good. Not that warm fuzzy feeling, but where you have fond memories that come alive before your eyes. Like watching a really good movie, knowing it will stir up emotions that make you feel comfortable. I get that each time I go here. It’s a happiness that makes me smile.
I walk past admiring the plumerias, waterfalls (they have a soothing sound when there is little traffic and no one else around), Christmas time decorations, or the grass! I love the grass here… sometimes I just wanna «Pretty Woman» the grass!
What makes this place so special to me (other than I consider myself the Duke, oh, there is a Duchess, but that makes me the Duke by default) is it’s where I met Shao.
Shao Kong Que, that’s a patchwork nickname I created for my first Unilocal Friend. It came about in the most peculiar fashion. I remember, I wrote a review and included her, before or shortly after I posted, I asked her approval (I always get approval).
«…strutting around like a proud peacock…»
Was her reply. I think she was being facetious, and with my limited understanding of the Chinese language, I came up with the moniker. It wasn’t right, but it stuck, and now she is simply Shao to me.
Friends are friends, but to find a truly trusted Friend is a rare thing, I think. Someone who knows when you need a word of kindness or when you need to work things out for yourself. Someone who listens, doesn’t judge, but speaks their mind (she has talked me off the metaphorical ledge, and knows when to prick my ballon to keep me grounded).
When I go by American Savings Bank, I see the apparition of her as she walks away from me and through the sliding glass door.
Happy second anniversary Shao. «You’re my best good friend, and even I know that’s something you don’t find every day.» Thanks for being there… putting up with me… and being you.
I guess I do remember the day, or the approximate day.

Great place to post up and Chill. maybe bring a flask whilst you chow

Lots of stuff here to browse but more focused on trying to fulfill that hunger craving. People watching is fun here, too. With the array of sharply dressed business professionals, college students trying to become the aforementioned to homeless characters that live a different life, this place has it all.

While it does have the hustle-​and-​bustle of downtown Honolulu (which at times can be unattractive), there is just something very charming about Bishop Square.
When I found out I would be working not only in downtown Honolulu, but in one of the Bishop Square buildings, I was very excited! My inner MBA graduate was fist pumping to know that I get to live the dream of working in the financial district.
Bishop Square has two buildings — Pauahi Tower and the American Savings Bank building. It also has an adjacent parking structure that can be interesting to drive through. It does offer a fantastic deal on early-​bird parking (park between 6 – 7 am and leave by 10 pm for only $ 12 — compared to a max of $ 68 without early bird parking, this is a deal).
If you hang out at Bishop Square, you will see business people, students, and others come and go, but it is interesting to see who will pass you by. This place gets packed during lunch hour (usually between 12 — 1 pm).
My favorite time of the year to be at Bishop Square is during the holiday season at night. Management will get the area decorated with lights. It looks very festive and peaceful. It is gorgeous. Highly recommend to visit Bishop Square before heading over to see City Lights.

I was actually going to rate this place three stars because I had only seen this place during the morning, afternoon, and early evening. In the light, this park is very mediocre.
There are birds running amok and smokers around every corner. There are quite a few trees though so you don’t have to worry about baking in the sun.
There’s a small waterfall and some chairs with tables. It’s a nice change of scenery if you don’t want to eat in the office. However, it really isn’t anything too special.
I happened to stay late today and when I stepped into Bishop Square, my opinions about this place took a complete turn around. There were lights that lit up the park just enough to produce a very romantic effect.
There aren’t too many places like this in Hawaii. It reminded me of Korea! This would be a really cute place to take your significant other for a picnic dinner under the stars. I know I will be doing this when I find that someone!
The lights, the waterfall, and the peaceful serenity literally made me stop and took my breath away. What was once an okay place for lunch was now a tranquil oasis. I can’t believe I didn’t discover this sooner!
31 Unilocal Reviews Challenge: #14 of 31

Nice urban park. Waterfall, places to sit in the sun or shade, tables and chairs for eating lunch, plenty of trash cans so no excuse to liter. All the best things in city life :-)
tiny tip — some people call this Tamarind Park.
Oct 31 Unilocal Challenge: #1/​31

This is a nice place to eat lunch especially if your office doesn’t have a dining room/​cafeteria. The best table are the ones next to the fountains. I don’t recommend sitting on the granite things during the summer at noon. It’s hot and you will get burned.
One thing to beware of are the pigeons. If you walk through the path that’s between Jack in the Box and the ASB Tower, you’re just asking to be nailed by a pigeon. For some reason they love flying low around that area. I’ve had one to many close encounters.

As a woman, walking down Bishop Square during lunch time (11:30AM-1:30PM) is like strutting down the run way of a fashion show. Strutting down the walkways of Bishop Square are business women fashionably dressed in suits and business attire with very fit bodies on their way to lunch, probably just grabbing a salad, every weekday. Their competitors, are the 18 and 19 year old HPU college girls with crazy teenage metabolisms. What a show!!!
This competition can be quite fierce as there are many lookers and unofficial judges sitting and hanging out by the water fountain along the square. I suggest avoiding this area by all means (unless you’re a guy and you want a half time show) or be part of the competition and become a member of the 24 Hour Fitness gym at the corner of Bishop Street and King Street. It is the battle of the fittest! As if your work stress isn’t enough!
Bishop square is located between Pauahi Tower, American Savings Bank Tower, Executive Center tower, Cades Shuttle and First Hawaiian Bank Tower.

Located in downtown Honolulu, convenience gives it this location a definate 5 star rating. With most major banks located within a block, it is one of the easiest places to do a financial transaction. No excuses for not being able to find an ATM!
Eateries are abundant, but we all have our tried-​and-​true favorites. There are alway ample benches to sit at, people watching, take a breather, or just do nothing. If you want an indoor hideaway, venture over to the Pauahi Tower art gallery, where you can avoid the weather but still enjoy the view, and perhaps take in a little local art.
BUT My biggest complaint is the parking. If I wasnt working in the building, I would not be parking here. At $ 8 an hour, without validation, it is one of the most expensive lots downtown. Thankfully, there is a municipal parking lot located at Alii Place. Rate there is approx $ 1.50/hour but only for the first 3 hours. After that, I’m not too sure. Metered parking is an option, but at an hour maximum. So the ongoing search for reasonable parking lowers this location’s rating.
There was (keyword: was) a website link that informed you of their events in the Square, like weekly music events, which have seem to have tapered to an occassional. Still, the drone of downtown traffic is music to me, except when that traffic is caused by multiple road «improvements» or people trying to cross 5 lanes during peak hours.