Ala Moana Center

Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawai'i was once the largest shopping center in America. Today, it is the largest open air shopping center in the world.

Ala Moana Center was once the largest shopping center in the United States and currently holds the distinction of being the largest open air shopping center in the world. Located at 1450 Ala Moana Boulevard in Honolulu, Hawai'i, Ala Moana Center is located in the commercial, retail and residential district of Ala Moana, west of Waikīkī and across from Ala Moana Beach Park.

Ala Moana Center is renowned throughout Asia and Western Europe as a major international shopping destination. There are over 240 shops and restaurants including boutique stores of major international fashion designers. Its current anchor tenants are Macy's, Neiman Marcus and Sears. It boasts one of the world's largest food courts featuring cuisines from across the globe. Over 56 million people visit Ala Moana Center annually. Chicago-based General Growth Properties, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange as GGP, owns and operates Ala Moana Center.

Architecture

Ala Moana Center features Hawaiian architecture inspired by natural phenomena found in Hawai'i.

Ala Moana Center is known for its acclaimed architecture. Originally constructed in August 1959, Ala Moana Center was situated on reclaimed swamp lands filled with coral. Costing USD $25 Million, it had eighty-seven stores and four thousand parking spaces making it the largest shopping center in the United States, a distinction it held until the construction of the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Ala Moana Center was remodeled extensively in the late 1990s. New designs reflected modern Hawaiian architectural principles reflecting the importance of the symbolism of various natural phenomena found in Hawai'i. Asian Pacific Rim motifs have been adopted reflecting the large Asian population of residents in Hawai'i. For decades, a centerpiece of Ala Moana Center were its koi ponds. In the Japanese culture, koi represents happiness and tranquility. Ala Moana Center architecture and layouts inspired owners General Growth Properties in 2004 to invest over USD $1 Billion in remodeling various other shopping centers across Canada and the United States using Ala Moana Center as a template.

Centerstage

Ala Moana Centerstage is one of the most popular public amphitheaters in Hawai'i. Located in the center of the shopping complex, local talents are showcased for visitors to enjoy. Hula dances are a staple for Ala Moana Centerstage as well as performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band, the oldest municipal band in the United States. Schools throughout the country, as well as the world, travel to Honolulu just to be able to perform at Ala Moana Centerstage.

Recreation

Unlike most other communities in the United States, Honolulu residents frequent Ala Moana Center as a regular social gathering place and not so much for shopping. Senior citizens from Honolulu participate in mall walking every morning or practice tai chi. Youth descend on Ala Moana Center from the suburbs every weekend to people-watch and hang out with friends or even meet new people. Ala Moana Center has been outfitted with wi-fi wireless networking to allow visitors to log onto the internet from anywhere on the premises with a laptop. The social gathering place phenomenon inspired former Mayor of Honolulu Frank Fasi to open a satellite city hall to provide major city services from Ala Moana Center. The phenomenon also inspired sociologists from around the country to study the habits of local residents at Ala Moana Center.

Ala Moana Center hosts several major Hawai'i events including the Aloha Festivals and the largest fireworks display in Hawai'i each Independence Day.

Transit Hub

Ala Moana Center is a major public transportation hub for The Bus, Honolulu's nationally recognized mass transit system which was twice honored as America's Best Transit System by the American Public Transportation Association. Ala Moana Center is the center of Honolulu's public transportation system and can be accessed by routes from all points on O'ahu. On an average day, Ala Moana Center is accessed by 2,100 city buses and forty-five tour buses.

Resources

• Ala Moana Center Official Site (http://www.alamoanacenter.com)
• Ala Moana Center Virtual Tour (http://www.vthawaii.com/OAHU/alamoana/alamoana.html)
• General Growth Properties (http://www.generalgrowth.com/index.asp)