Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

District · Honiara

Kukum and ChinatownKukum, Chinatown

East of the centre along the highway; the area was damaged in 2006 and 2021, and takes care after dark.

sleepfood

Key facts

Suits
Cheaper guesthouses and noodle shops
Room prices
$$
price band of 5
Eats here
2

What it's like

Feels:
Shops, noodle counters and highway traffic
Suits:
Cheaper guesthouses and noodle shops
Best time:
Daytime
Watch out for:
After dark and around crowds.
In short:
East of the centre along the highway; the area was damaged in 2006 and 2021, and takes care after dark.

About these names

Addresses are informal: landmarks, suburb names and hotel names are what taxi drivers know; house numbers are rare.

Honiara is a linear town along the coast road (Mendana Avenue), 10 to 15 km long; the harbour and market are at the centre, the ridge and the museum are just above, and the airport and Bonegi wrecks are at either end.

Where exactly

This district is highlighted. Shapes follow this guide's walking areas and places, not official boundaries.

Kukum and Chinatown on the Honiara mapTap an area for what it is like and who it suits. Shapes follow this guide’s walking areas and places, not official boundaries.
Chinatown and Kukum: Cheaper guesthouses and noodle shopsPoint Cruz: First visit, 1–3 nights

Kukum and ChinatownKukum, Chinatown

sleepfoodPrice $$

East of the centre along the highway; the area was damaged in 2006 and 2021, and takes care after dark.

Suits: Cheaper guesthouses and noodle shops

District guideWalk: Chinatown & Kukum roadSleep: Chinatown and KukumIn the districts table

Off the map: Honiara International Airport (HIR), Henderson Field (25–50 min by the usual route).

Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Airport and Henderson Field, Outer islands. See the table above.

Where’s what, as a list:

  • Point Cruz and the centre (Point Cruz): The harbour, market, banks and most hotels are here; walk by day, use a car at night. Suits: First visit, 1–3 nights. Price band $$.
  • Kukum and Chinatown (Kukum, Chinatown): East of the centre along the highway; the area was damaged in 2006 and 2021, and takes care after dark. Suits: Cheaper guesthouses and noodle shops. Price band $$.
  • The ridge and museum area (National Museum and ridge): Above the town; go by car in the morning. Suits: War memorial and views.
  • Bonegi coast (Bonegi): About 15 to 20 km west; a car is required. Suits: Snorkelling and the wrecks.
  • Airport and Henderson Field (Henderson): About 10 km east of the centre. Suits: Arrivals and departures.
  • Outer islands (Western Province and Malaita): Flights are few and can be delayed; keep a flexible plan. Suits: Onward trips by air.
  • Sleep area Chinatown and Kukum: suits Cheaper guesthouses and noodle shops, price band $$.
  • Sleep area Point Cruz: suits First visit, 1–3 nights, price band $$.
  • Honiara International Airport (HIR), Henderson Field, 25–50 min by the usual route.

Stay here?

How this district's sleep area scores for five kinds of traveler, ranked against the other Honiara districts that have scores. Scores are this guide's 1–5 judgements.

Eat

What to order and what locals pay, from each eat page. Prices are estimates; check the menu.

  • Chinatown waterside food stalls

    Walk-in fish, rice and noodles at waterside stalls and cafés; go at dusk, take a car home, carry small notes.

  • Kukum Highway noodle and rice shops

    A row of small Chinese-style noodle, fried rice and takeaway shops along the Kukum Highway, cheap and filling: a lunch or an early dinner by car, best before dark.

    Price: A plate of fried rice costs about SI$40 to 70 (2026 estimate).

Sleep

  • Chinatown and Kukum$$

    A car ride from the market and the ridge, with cafés and food stalls at the door; a good second base or a quieter night.

    Rooms: SI$400–700 (check)

    Skip this if: Thin pavements; a car for everything.

    5–9 min walk to Chinatown & Kukum road

Getting there and around

Where to get off

  • Car to the Chinatown strip · 3 min walk to Chinatown waterside food stalls
  • By taxi or hired car along Kukum Highway, about 10 minutes east of the centre · 3 min walk to Kukum Highway noodle and rice shops

On to the next area

Minutes are this guide’s typical walking and ride times (p50–p90); traffic and heat stretch them.

Safety at night and noise

  • Chinatown and Kukumday: oknight: caution

    Damaged in unrest in 2006 and 2021; avoid crowds and demonstrations.

  • Quiet nights

    Busy highway and nearby shops.

  • Nightlife

    Very limited; take a car.

  • Late arrival

    Confirm check-in and the gate before a late arrival.

Nearby districts

Built from this guide’s Honiara districts table, place, eat and sleep pages, route graph and city notes. Hours, prices and rules change: anything marked (check) is typical, not verified. checked: 2026-09.