Downtown Blessing

Sharing an oli on the steps of the Hawaii State Art Museum

Here in the islands, new ventures often launch with a "blessing". It's the Hawaiian equivalent of breaking champagne across a ship's bow; blessings are both a wish for good luck and an excuse to party.

Last night friends, family and local dignitaries gathered on the lawn of the Hawaii State Art Museum to bless Honolulu's newest restaurant: Downtown. If you've never been to a blessing, they usually follow a basic pattern. We were led in several oli and songs welcoming us and chronicling the ancient history of this specific place. The oli and song give context, grounding the event in this ʻaina and paying respect to those ancestors that have gone before us. A pule was offered to express gratitude and ask for blessings in the future.

After the welcoming, we heard a few words from restaurant co-owners Ed Kenney and Dave Caldiero. They expressed gratitude, and shared their dream to create a space that connects people and gives them a place to feel comfortable.

Downtown is the kind of restaurant where people can feel comfortable. The dining space on the ground floor of the museum, is set apart from the lobby by a burbling wall fountain. On the eating side of the wall, Scandinavian tables and chairs are set in a bright, airy space. Beyond them, French doors open to the museums interior pool courtyard. I want to sit and relax.

After the speeches, the blessing on the lawn was complete. Ed and Dave parted the ti leaf rope across the entrance to Downtown so the party could begin. Inside, we sampled an assortment of the dishes and basked in the celebratory glow.

Where their first restaurant, Town, serves New American cuisine with French and Italian influences, Downtown trends further south with more Mediterranean influences. The menu offers a mix of small plates, salads, sandwiches and entrees as well as several lunch items each day tailored towards office workers on the run. The big hit of the evening was their "signature" dessert, a churro dipped in bittersweet chocolate. They were hot from the oil yet light and delicate, dusted with sugar and served in the Spanish style with a small mug of pudding-thick hot chocolate.

As crazy as this sounds, the most important part of the evening wasn't the food but the people. During the blessing on the lawn, owner Ed Kenney mused, "Food brings people together." Comparing how much larger this crowd was compared to the blessing of Town three years earlier he noted, "I feel like my family has grown." Yes, Downtown wants to serve great food, but partly to create a comfortable space to come together in downtown Honolulu.

Downtown opens to the general public for breakfast and lunch starting Tuesday, May 29^th. Update: check out Nadine Kim's Star-Bulletin review.

Downtown
in the first floor of the Hawaii State Art Museum
250 South Hotel Street
Honolulu, HI 96813