Abstract Submitted for the Young Scholars Workshop on Creativity in Cultural and Business Practices – Hong Kong

Abstract Submitted for the Young Scholars Workshop on Creativity in Cultural and Business Practices – Hong Kong, 27 – 28 March, 2013

Art for Transformation: Revitalization of the Historic Chinatown Honolulu 

This research examines how creativity policy and development stimulated community revitalization through the case study of Chinatown Honolulu in order to provide a more comprehensive economic and social understanding of the redevelopment. Honolulu’s Chinatown, the historic gateway for many immigrants to Hawaii and once red light district, has undergone a dramatic transformation as a cultural and artistic hub, attracting visitors to its galleries, restaurants and boutiques. Business and community leaders tout the economic rewards of Hawaii’s creative sector exemplified in the Chinatown district. Through a policy perspective, this research explores how business creativity is encouraged by zoning, governmental regulations and stimulus through community development block grants and urban renewal funds. Yet, the social impact has received much less attention. Participant observation and in-depth interviews of residents, artists, business leaders, and policy-makers affords an examination not only the economic revitalization but also the balance of promoting institutional business and maintaining the core values of Chinatown Honolulu as a tolerant and diverse community. The research further explores the role social capital plays in the revitalization process by analyzing measures of the improvement of the quality of life in the neighborhood. These considerations are applied to the case study of Honolulu’s Chinatown to critically analyze how the emerging arts scene affects the local community economically and socially, offering insight on Hawaii’s overall developing creative industry economy.