Ala Moana Center — Attraction in Honolulu

This is touted as the world's largest outdoor mall. I call it the "Winchester Mystery Mansion of Malls," as its ever-expanding buildings are a mishmash of different architecture and design. It's a money-making machine, and always at high occupancy. The stores and restaurants WANT to be here, as foot traffic is insane. I'm sure the price per square foot for rent is crazy, and the landlord will let you know who is boss! They seem to move businesses from one space or floor to another at the snap of their finger, and they'd better obey dammit!

OOH, AHH, OH WOW - THE UNOFFICIAL HISTORY: Built on former swamp land and filled in with dredged coral, Ala Moana has grown from a simple, two level mall that once sported a Sears & Woolworth back in 1959, into a behemoth of 3 levels with a loft-like 4th level now, with 300+ almost all new tenants.

My earliest memories of this place are from the mid 1980's. The mall was already a full 2 levels by then, with Liberty House anchoring the east end, JC Penney kind of in the middle, and Sears on the west end.

Slowly, European designers began opening up shop. Soon after, a small third level was added just over the middle section (presently where Aveda & Clark's are located on the south side, and ended where Levi's & Anthropologie is now) known back in the day as "Palm Boulevard." This is when Ala Moana went crazy high-end, bringing in both domestic & international designers, and went a bit snobby in their advertising campaigns, with slogans like "My, how things have changed." This ruffled the feathers of some locals, but change does that sometimes. Soon after that, JC Penney closed all of their stores in Hawaii, including the one here, and their space was quickly gobbled up by smaller stores, with Barnes & Noble currently taking the big street level space.

1999 brought in Hawaii's only Neiman Marcus store, ruffling the feathers of old Hawaii faithful, Liberty House, crying foul about losing business. They eventually calmed down and got bought out by Macy's.

A small, loft-like 4th level was added in the early 2000's, named Hookipa Terrace, and brought a nice list of restaurants to the mall.

The third level expanded fully west & east over the entire mall from, though with an odd elevation design that is slightly higher than the center of the mall, and requires you to take the shortest and slowest escalators in the world (currently in the area above Gucci & Chanel.) The advertising seemed to have come back to a more "local flavor" and less snooty. You'd better recognize who your bread & butter is!

Unable to sit still, the mall then expanded the central second & third levels north, taking away parking and creeping all the way up to Kapiolani Boulevard, bringing in more new stores, and Hawaii's only Nordstrom, in 2008. The dumbest and most inconvenient thing with this expansion is that vehicular traffic on the second level is still allowed to drive through, in between the existing building and the new extension. The area required mall security to direct traffic in the beginning. Nowadays, it's controlled by normal road manners. 2 new parking structures were added to make up for the parking loss, one near Nordstrom and one by Longs Drug.

Sears was bought out by the mall owners, General Growth Properties in 2013 then closed. The store was torn down, making room for more small shops. The new "Ewa Wing," which opened in 2015, now touches Piikoi Street, with a brand-spanking new building for Nordstrom who is to move from their current location in March 2016. We can only speculate as to what will take over the old Nordstrom space. Also brought in was Hawaii's only Bloomingdale's. Some existing tenants are shuffling around, wanting to be in the new wing.

PARKING: It's totally free, and totally confusing to master. But, that new, 9-level parking garage along Kona Street has to be one of the best designed structures I've driven in!

FOOD COURTS: The Makai Market is huge. The Lanai is smaller but sports a bar.

OVERALL: Crazy busy, bustling, something for everyone. Retro...

Opened in 1959, Ala Moana Center started as a small retail plaza developed by Hawaiian Dredging & Construction. Expansions in 1966, 1987, 1998, and 2015 transformed it into the world’s largest open-air shopping center, covering 2.4 million square feet. Located between downtown Honolulu and Waikiki, it attracts 48 million visitors annually with its mix of luxury, department, and local stores.

Ownership: Owned by General Growth Properties (GGP), a subsidiary of Brookfield Properties, a global real estate firm managing over 650 properties. Brookfield acquired GGP in 2018, providing financial stability for ongoing operations.

Management: Operated by Brookfield Properties, with an on-site team managing tenant relations, operations, marketing, and events. The team oversees 350+ stores, daily cultural programs like hula shows, and sustainability initiatives, ensuring high tenant occupancy and visitor engagement.

Address: 1450 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96814 Phone Number: (808) 955-9517 Website: alamoanacenter.com

Economic Impact Contributes significantly to Honolulu’s economy, generating hundreds of millions in retail sales, tourism revenue, and taxes annually.

Attracts ~48 million visitors yearly, including high-spending tourists from Japan, Asia-Pacific, and mainland U.S.

Supports 350+ tenants, from luxury brands (Chanel, Gucci) to local retailers (Hilo Hattie), fostering economic diversity.

High rental costs may limit smaller local businesses’ participation.

Reliance on tourism creates vulnerability to global travel disruptions. Assessment: A major economic driver for Honolulu, though local business inclusion and tourism dependence pose challenges.

NAICS Code: 531120 – Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings (except Miniwarehouses) • Rationale: The center’s primary business is leasing retail space to tenants, aligning with this NAICS code for shopping center property management.

Employment Findings: -Employs ~5,000 workers (estimated, including tenant staff, management, and support services) in retail, hospitality, and maintenance roles. -Provides diverse positions, from entry-level sales to professional roles in marketing and property management. -Cultural events like hula performances create part-time jobs for local artists. -High retail job turnover occurs due to seasonal work and Honolulu’s competitive labor market. -Limited public data exists on employee benefits or training programs. Assessment: A significant employer, with retention challenges in retail roles.

Compliance Findings: -Complies with local, state, and federal regulations, including ADA accessibility (ramps, elevators) and safety standards (fire codes, emergency protocols). -Sustainability initiatives (energy-efficient lighting, recycling) align with Hawaii’s environmental regulations. -No major legal or regulatory violations reported in public records. Transparency on labor law compliance or tenant lease agreements is limited. Minor safety concerns during peak crowding (e.g., parking, events) are possible, though unconfirmed. Assessment: Strong compliance record, with gaps in transparency.

Reputation

-Globally recognized as Hawaii’s premier shopping destination, praised for its 350+ stores, cultural events (daily hula shows), and open-air design with koi ponds. -Positive online reviews (e.g., TripAdvisor, Yelp) highlight variety, cleanliness, and tourist appeal. -Active social media presence (Instagram, Facebook) promotes events and new stores. -Some reviews note parking congestion and crowded dining areas (e.g., Makai Market). -Navigation difficulties affect first-time visitors, particularly non-English speakers. Assessment: Outstanding reputation, with operational challenges in parking and navigation.

Social Responsibility Participation and...

We haven't been to the center in a long time. I told my husband that maybe we should park downstairs where the escalators that normally works where the center stage is? He replied " what makes you think that path or the stage is still there"? It has to be it's the rules! " Things are Not the same mother"! Up I went and all the time that we were making sure that our granddaughter is having a good time. I thought of that walk down the stairs and the service where we were at? Poor, wasn't busy 12 minutes went by and I had get our waiter's attention for we had no drinks. Made the family to go ahead to the car, for I have a cane and not in a good 😤mood! Started to go down and then it happened 😯! Can I help you get down the stairs 😀? I was so surprised🤓! I thank her so much and her friend too. We laughed at the fact that why didn't the center get on the escalators and maybe a few more signs of " heads up". Allowing us to go another way? I said thank you for You have proven that the Aloha Spirit is still alive. So they went on their way and I'm in a good mood BUT! 🤓 This nice man wanted so much to help with his friend willing to help me also 🤓! I shouted out the Aloha Spirit is still alive 😢. I felt better about my injury and told them thank you for you folks reminded me of the person I need to be. Things are changing around us and I don't recognize the island anymore, I'm hurt. These 4 people have allowed me to feel... home. Hope you...