Borthwick Mortuary

Borthwick Mortuary, located at 1330 Maunakea Street in downtown Honolulu's Chinatown area, has been a cornerstone of the Hawaiian community for over a century. Established in 1916 by William Borthwick, an accomplished mortician from Seattle, the mortuary has proudly served families on O'ahu through multiple generations. With a stellar 4.6-star rating and numerous positive reviews, Borthwick Mortuary is recognized for its compassionate service and professional care.

As a member of the Dignity Memorial network, Borthwick Mortuary offers a full range of funeral and cremation services. The facility features four spacious chapels—Makai, Mauka, Maunakea, and Vineyard—each accommodating over 150 guests, with the combined Maunakea/Vineyard chapel seating up to 400. All chapels are equipped with audiovisual equipment for video slideshows and music, and are designed to host both religious and nonreligious ceremonies, including Christian, Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and LDS services. Each chapel has an adjacent lanai area for catered receptions, and the mortuary provides a dedicated beverage station and catering services to ease planning.

Borthwick Mortuary specializes in personalized cremation services. They operate a private, on-site crematory with a rigorous custody-of-care program to ensure proper identification and handling. Their licensed staff, certified by the Cremation Association of North America, guarantees that each cremation is conducted individually with thorough cleaning between services. Options range from direct cremation to cremation followed by a memorial service, scattering, or even celestial memorials via Neptune Memorial Reef or Celestis Memorial Spaceflight.

The mortuary's history is rich with relocations to accommodate growing needs. After starting on Chaplain Lane and Fort Street in 1916, it moved to Nuuanu and School Streets in 1925, then across the street in 1932. In 1960, the Hawaii state government acquired the property for the Lunalilo Freeway, prompting the move to the current location at Maunakea and Kukui Streets. Recent renovations have updated restrooms, lanai areas, and carpeting.

Borthwick Mortuary is deeply embedded in the community. It has been voted Hawaii's Best Funeral Home and was a finalist in KITV's Best of Hawaii viewer poll in 2024. The mortuary partners with veterans organizations, the American Diabetes Association, and CrimeStoppers Honolulu. It also supports local schools and green initiatives. Through the Dignity Memorial network, Borthwick offers the Public Servants Program, providing no-cost tributes for fallen law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency personnel.

Borthwick Mortuary welcomes all cultures and beliefs, offering prepayment plans, a 100% service guarantee, and 24/7 availability. Their dedicated team honors the unique traditions of each family, ensuring meaningful and personalized tributes. With over a century of tradition, Borthwick Mortuary remains a trusted and respected provider in Hawaii.