The open-air shopping oasis is a must-see tourist destination and a source of pride for locals.
A visit to Ala Moana Center is all it takes to understand why it’s consistently ranked among the most valuable shopping centers in the country. In 2018, boutique research firm Boenning & Scattergood named Ala Moana Center the most profitable mall in the U.S., with a total asset value of $5.74 billion. The world’s largest open-air shopping center — enhanced by ocean breezes, lush tropical gardens, and koi ponds— is a major tourist attraction, even offering trolley service for guests staying in Waikiki hotels.
“Ala Moana Center is at the heart of the Pacific,” says Jake Wilson, vice president and senior general manager of Ala Moana Center. “The bustling energy that moves through the center is palpable.”
As part of our Iconic Collection of properties, Ala Moana is a coveted retail destination, boasting such luxury boutiques as Harry Winston, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Prada, CHANEL, Dior, CH Carolina Herrera, Burberry, and more. There’s even a Tesla showroom on site for visitors who want to bring back a souvenir on wheels.
But this Hawaiian shopping center, opened in 1959, serves more than just tourists. The 11th largest shopping center in the world, Ala Moana Center sets itself apart through its ongoing, multifaceted commitment to serving the surrounding Honolulu community. Seamlessly blending upscale shopping with everyday needs, Ala Moana Center houses such community-friendly tenants as a dry cleaner, a U.S. post office, bank, drugstore, supermarket, and even a satellite Honolulu City Hall office.
Ala Moana Center’s only-in-Hawaii stores are yet another draw for kama’āina (local) shoppers as well as visitors. At Martin & MacArthur, shoppers can find heirloom quality koa wood furniture and Hawaiian gift items. Noʻeau Designers is home to over 100 small businesses featuring native Hawaiian-owned, made-in-Hawaii products. And locally owned Hawaiian Island brands T&C Surf Designs and Sera’s Surf ‘N Shore offer the latest wave in surf fashion.
But the cornerstone of this shopping destination is found at its Centerstage, one of the most popular public amphitheaters in Hawaii. From daily hula dance performances to performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band — the oldest municipal band in the U.S. — the 700 square-foot stage built in 2013 is a beloved venue for local performers and a place where families and friends gather to enjoy live music, fashion shows, and year-round events.
Hawaiian culture is embedded throughout Ala Moana Center, which fittingly means “Path to the Ocean” — this shopping center is just steps away from Ala Moana Beach Park. Nowhere is this more apparent than when taking a stroll along Ala Moana Center’s art walk, a multimillion-dollar collection reflecting the beauty and cultural diversity of Hawaii.
Rounding out the delicate balance of promoting tourism while celebrating and embracing local culture is a dedication to protecting the environment, demonstrated through Ala Moana Center’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact on the island. In 2018, Ala Moana Center achieved a 100% diversion from landfill. Its solar photovoltaic system — designed and mobilized in the spring of 2013 — is one of the largest rooftop solar systems in the state of Hawaii, with over 13,000 solar panels covering previously unused roof space. The resulting solar production produces nearly six million kWh annually — enough energy to power 950 Hawaii homes for an entire year.
At Brookfield Properties, sustainability plays a vital role in the way we conduct business every day, and Ala Moana Center is a prime example of how a beloved community center can do its part to conserve its limited resources and protect its fragile island environment. “The perspective on sustainability is incredibly profound when you are located on the most remote island chain in the world,” adds Wilson. “It is a responsibility we take very seriously.”
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