Ala Moana Center

Security and policy at this mall is not good.
I’ve had several issues with paler Asians attacking me. Yesterday however, I filed a police report. A random tourist? pale Asian man assaulted me. I filed a police report this time.
Has happened previously, however in stores like Sephora where I’ve been attacked/​kicked by pale Chinese women. I’m Japanese enough.
They also include too many Shellfish restaurants, so going out here is tedious due to air contaminants from the Shrimp/​Crab/​Shellfish dishes.

I like ala moana but I hate it when it gets really busy because there will be lines and people bumping into each other. I only ala moana if I have to meet with friends that’s it. I would only go shopping if it’s a day where there’s less people in the mall.
Ala moana had gotten really expensive since they opened the Bloomingdales section. It’s super expensive and I can’t even afford it as a local. If they made some of the stores cheaper I think the store would get more customers.
But ala moana is everywhere I would go shopping for gifts if your from the mainland or country side.

It is VERY touristy. No doubt about it. Yet. it is very convenient having everything there. It could be overcrowded at times.
Nordstrom is my personal favorite. I find the staff there so helpful. I have shopped at different stores housed inside Ala Moana Center; generally speaking, in any store, they are very good at catering to their customers’ needs.

Another day in the life of me.
I wasn’t sure if I should rate this mall lower for the fact that someone locked a U lock on the back tire of my bicycle on purpose (I guess to troll me), or to rate it higher because the security were chill and pretty quick to get someone with a grinder to cut the other person’s lock off my bike. I jokingly told the security I would have probably been more impressed if they’d just stolen my bike rather than wasting a couple hours of my time having to file a stupid report.
The help desk got a laugh out of the situation.
Me: «So…I have a problem with my bicycle.»
Help desk: «Oh no… it was stolen?»
Me: «No, not stolen. Someone just locked up my back tire.»
Help desk: «…What?»
Me: «Yeah. I already locked up my bike. But someone came along and put an additional bike lock on my back tire and left, so I can’t use my bike.»
Help desk: «Uh…lol. We’ll let security help you out.»
So I guess like most other parts of Honolulu there is a crime thing going on here.
But the mall itself is cool. Lots of stores, restaurants, and most of it is outside shopping which is great on nice days (but probably sucks when it’s raining). The food court has a lot of different options (albeit a lot of Japanese places). There’s plenty of upscale designer shopping but there’s also plenty of regular stores as well, so there’s a mix for everyone.
And for me, well between us I have a secret thing for LUSH products. And they have a LUSH. So you can take my man card and keep it because IDGAF. It smells toooo good.
All this talking just made me give it a 5.

Okay three main reasons for the 3 stars… 1. Parking here is almost always a challenge. 2. There should be mother’s rooms and a playground. 3. There should be healthier food options in the food court, like an Aloha Salads or something.
Recently I made the mistake of heading to the mall on a Saturday. Parking is like this awkward game of stalking people walking through the parking lot that you think are leaving only to find that they aren’t actually leaving or that their spot is suddenly claimed by someone who barely got there before you and didn’t have to do the work of stalking like you did. Leaving the parking lot is just as difficult too as it gets backed up and is as slow as the traffic at peak hour. But maybe this was just because it was Saturday.
Nordstrom has a mother’s room which is a safe and comfortable place to breastfeed in. Since they moved to their new location I am assuming they still have a mother’s room. But it’s crazy how there are no other mother’s rooms in the mall. And there should be a playground because kids need a place to run around safely and get rid of some energy so that they will fall asleep in their strollers and let their parents get some shopping done in peace.
Lastly I wish there were healthier choices in the food court. Grylt is like crazy expensive. Where is the Aloha Salads???
Otherwise this mall is very pretty especially with all of the renovations and is a fun place to shop if you don’t have toddlers and babies with you!

An open air mall that is located on the end of the Waikiki strip (by the park), this 3 tiered mall has your typical Macy, Bloomies, Neimans anchoring it with all the other typical mall stores in it, with a few twists (Hello Kitty store!)
There is a food court on the lower level and several restaurants on the upper level so you can shop, eat, then shop some more! It’s a very clean, with fountains, greenery around the mall.
I usually either walk here or take the bus — lots of busses or maybe even shuttles (check with your hotel) stop here.
Currently under construction as they are building condos above the mall (doesn’t impede your shopping abilities) will make this mall an even more high trafficked mall in the future.

Lots of buses that run by here. Huge shopping center with 4 floors. There are daily shows at the center stage located on the first floor. Make sure you try …
island vintage coffee! Get the island latte and try the acai bowl.
Bangga bangga in the middle of the food court for poke bowls.
Restrooms are a bit of a walk and kind of hard to find but people working at the information desk are super helpful.

ALOHA !!
This sort of «open mall» is one of my favorite place in Honolulu to shop.
Too many stores, too many choices and it’s super convenient to find something to eat too. We can find everything.
Lively shopping center, it’s really pleasant to shop, to walk or just to do window shopping here.
Aloha:)

First, Hawaiians, then
Dillingham, the West Coast, the
East Coast and Aussies.
—
Is no one else bothered by the new parking structure level names being random, cheesy, and ENGLISH??? Paint in a parking garage may seem manini, but this is a major deviation from standard practice, and thus kind of a passive-​aggressive «BLEEP you» to Hawaiian culture.
Here’s a suggestion (that should be researched before using because it is based on a two second web search):
Nine major parts of an ahupua’a, nine parking levels…
Level 1: Moana (ocean), color: blue (duh)
2: Loko’ia (fish ponds), black (like lava)
3: Kahakai (shore), orange (like Niihau sunrise shell)
4: Kahawai (stream), white (like waterfall) or brown (like runoff)
5: Lo’i kalo (taro field), purple (like kalo)
6: Kula (plain), yellow (like that invasive grass under kiawe trees)
7: Wao (forest), red (like Ohi’a flowers)
8: Mala (gardens), green (like most plants)
9: Lewa (sky), pink (like sunset)
#100

Move aside Disneyland, this is my new happiest place on earth! :)
Before coming to Hawaii, I had been told to visit the Ala Moana Center, but no one ever told me how AMAZING it is. I would have to say it is 3x the size of South Coast Plaza. IT IS HEAVEN. If the Ala Moana Center was in SoCal, you would find me here every single chance I had.
This is an indoor/​outdoor mall. with EVERY store you can imagine possible and all of the major department stores like Nordstrom, Macys, Bloomingdales, etc. They even have multiples of some stores. They had 3 Lids stores and my boyfriend made an effort to find and visit every single one of them. It ranges every well from low-​end, middle-​end, and high-​end stores. Perfect for every ones budget!
The first time I came here, I was in awe of how huge it was. The parking structure is HUGE and has 9 floors, so make sure you remember exactly where you parked. It also has 2 food courts, which have a lot of good reviews on Unilocal!You could definitely spend an entire day here, but it would make a huge dent on your credit card. Especially since the sales tax rate is 4%. What a great excuse to shop till you drop!

This is the largest outdoor mall in the United States? This is what I heard constantly from people that work here. This mall is SO huge that it has 3 Lids… (Fitted cap retailer)
On top of that the areas sales tax is 4.5−4.9% which is half of California so why not shop more?
They have literally all the retail store locations you can think of.
If you love shopping you will definitely love this place.

Ala Moana is literally as good as it gets when you’re talking about malls and shopping. While this mall can be a bit of a zoo, I’d argue that there is adequate parking (if you aren’t lazy and don’t mind walking more than ten steps to the entrance) and reasonable traffic flow.
One of the biggest highlights of this mall for me is that it’s home to the only Barnes and Nobles store on the Island. Even if you aren’t a bookstore fan, there is just about any and every store you could want at this mall. From affordable stores such as Forever 21 and Old Navy, to high-​end shopping such as Tiffany and Co. and Prada, this mall is a one stop shop of sorts. There is a huge foodcourt with reasonably priced food options, as well as a host of restaurants up on the Ho’okipa Terrace (California Pizza Kitchen, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, etc.). There are also a few major department stores-​Nordstrom, Macy’s, Nieman Marcus, etc.
They recently expanded the mall and it looks awesome. If you are visiting, stop by and take a look around. Tons of great stores and overall, a very beautifully decorated mall.

My family and I come here all the time and we never get bored. There are over 300 shops in this outdoor mall, so it’ll take at least two shopping days if you’re on vacation and really want to check everything out (plan accordingly). There are five stores that anchor this mall down: Macy’s, Shirokiya, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.
Ala Moana Center opened its doors in 1959 and it has been said that it is the largest open-​air mall in the world. I can remember when this mall only had two levels of shopping. Now, there’s four! They’ve expanded quite a bit since its opening day debut.
The most recent additions to the mall that I can remember are of:
1) the Makai Market food court in 1987,
2) the Makai Wing (ocean side) in 1999 (anchored by Neiman Marcus),
3) the Mauka Wing (mountain side) in 2008 (formerly anchored by Nordstrom, but soon-​to-​be replaced by Saks Off 5^th Avenue)
Note: Nordstrom moved on March 11, 2016 to its new location in the recently renovated Ewa Wing), and
4) the Ewa Wing (west side) in 2015 (anchored by Bloomingdale’s)
Note: The Ewa Wing used to be anchored by one of Ala Moana Center’s original tenants, Sears, until its closing in 2013.
In addition to the myriad of retail shops and endless food choices, there’s also live entertainment and various events at center stage.
So, bring your ohana (family), your walking shoes, your camera, your appetite and, of course, your money for a fun-​filled day of shopping at Ala Moana Center!

When I was a kid, going to Ala Moana was a big deal. I looked forward to running around like an urchin in Sears. I’d get a big box of popcorn there, and strangely, I still remember the packaging it came in. It had pink and black strips on it with en vogue cartoon cats decorating the sides. Memories.
Well, all the big name stores have taken over, but such is change. I browse Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, Kors, and Nunn Bush, but I shop at Longs Drugs and eat at Shirokiya. Those places have survived the passage of time, and for that I am very happy.
Avoid ABC and the commercial food court. Longs has everything you need at good prices, and you won’t see very many tourists dining at the food court in Shirokiya. Happy making!

This is touted as the «world’s largest outdoor mall,» or so their advertisements have claimed for years now. 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 4^th 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 end, 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 4^th 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.
Shirokiya, another original tenant from the early days, will be moving from their current spot near Macy’s, into a bigger space on the street level where Sears was, and is opening a «Japan Village Walk.» Foodie heaven, it will be!
Foodland supermarket, an original tenant, closed up shop but will be returning as a Foodland Farms, their version of a Whole Foods.
The most current project now is Park Lane Ala Moana, a bunch of low-​rise apartment/​condo buildings fronting Bloomingdales that stretches to Neiman Marcus. Bookoo bucks. I’m sure Mr. Z of Facebook fame will snap one up as well, as he did at One Ala Moana, the sparkley blue-​windowed building next to the current Nordstrom.
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 COURT:
AKA Makai Market, is the largest mall food court I’ve ever been to. There’s something to please every palate, with just around 30 or so different eateries.
OVERALL:
Crazy busy, bustling, something for everyone, and cannot sit still!

Best mall on Oahu and best mall in all of Hawaii. I truly believe this is a top 10 mall in the entire United States! I love the open air atmosphere! I believe this is a must visit if your visiting Oahu for a week.
With over 290 stores to choose, this mall has it all from Old Navy to Louis Vuitton and Lululemon. Of course there is Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom’s and now a Bloomingdales. If shopping is not your thing then swing by one of the many places to eat at the food court or head to the restaurants with over 30 options there is something for everyone including bars to hydrate from all that shopping.
Parking is free so no need to worry. One of the best things about this mall is the free Hula show at 1:00pm daily.
Tourist or local this is the only mall you need!

For a small island like ours, it’s pretty cool that we have the world’s largest outdoor shopping mall. While the mall has certainly changed from the early days, you can’t help but give the current owners props for modernizing the mall, creating more retail space and parking, and making improvements to the food court. Sure I miss some of the old time tenants who are no longer there, but in life, it’s all about progress and moving forward.
There is literally something for everyone at Ala Moana Center. The anchor stores are Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales. Additionally, there are smaller specialty stores, a handful of local businesses, and food tenants that will keep your tank full as you shop till you drop.
As far as parking goes, my favorite place to park is at Nordstroms (entrance off of Kapiolani Blvd) or on the upper levels in the new ewa wing by Bloomingdales. The intersection to avoid is on the mall level (2^nd level) mountain side, near Tiffany’s. Because of the pedestrian crossing between the main mall and Nordstrom wing, traffic tends to gridlock in that area.

Very large mall that offers a wide selection of high end stores for both men and women.
The Ala Moana is undoubtedly a place that you must visit while in Honolulu. The mall is just a blocks West of Waikiki which is an easy walk or short drive over. I think the mall is deceptive in appearance with giving of the look of a plain and standard shopping area, but it is very apparent upon entering that this mall is quite large and very nice.
The interior of the mall’s is where Ala Moana separates itself from other shopping centers. It has nice décor and look especially during the holidays. Although its open air for most of the mall, it has an indoor shopping mall feel. This center is fairly expansive and is able to house hundreds of stores (supposedly 600+). The majority of the stores are high end designer stores or luxury department stores that match the generally ambience of Ala Moana.
There are many restaurants, dessert shops, and cafes to enjoy along with your shopping. This shopping is fully comprehensive. The only downside is that it feels a little bit challenging to see all of the mall because of the odd layout and design, but it still is worth spending a half day there.

Ho Ho Ho! The 2015 holiday season is finally upon us! Whether you’re local or not, Ala Moana Shopping Center is the place that everyone ends up gravitating to. It is Hawaii’s largest mall conveniently located in Honolulu and within a few walking minutes to Waikiki. Also, Ala Moana Beach Park and Hawaii Convention Center are adjacent to the south and east side entrances. So, if you’re looking for something to eat, drink, wear, or simply walk around and window shop (or free parking), this is the place for both the thrifty and the ones able to throw down some serious cash. Like Kris Aquino, The Queen of Talk of the Philippines (also daughter of the late Senator Nino Aquino and sister of President Aquino). Yep, celebrity sighting for us just a few weeks ago. So, keep your eyes open and your cameras ready!
A few of my favorite spots are Mai Tai Bar (Happy hour!), Lululemon, Sephora, Macy’s & Benefit Eyebrow Bar, Apple, Honolulu Cookie, Bath & Body Works, Origins, Blue Hawaii (try their Acai bowls!), and Shirokiya (Japanese food court).
There’s a stage in the middle of the mall and the performances can be fun to watch. From hula to garage bands, make your way to the «Centertainment» area with your Starbucks drink in hand. It can be a nice time to take a break. There’s a great viewing deck from the top, too.
The new wing that houses Bloomingdales, Magnolia Bakery, and soon-​to-​be relocated Nordstrom is all the hype these days. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy people watching if your wallet already did some damage in the older wing.
The mall offers Same-​Day Delivery for your shopping convenience. For just $ 5, they’ll deliver your bags to your home, office or hotel. Bring your purchases to Ala Moana Center Guest Services (Street Level 1 behind Centerstage) and enjoy your shopping experience, hands free! Delivery available to Honolulu, Waikiki, Kaimuki, Manoa, Kahala and more!
The parking structure is probably one of the worst designs ever, but when you do find a space available you’re bound to stay for a while so it’s worth the wait. Happy shopping!

It’s huge… it’s outside… there was a free concert the day I went. The food court is absolutely what gives them the 5^th star. So many amazing choices… why can’t we have shrimp burgers in SD?
It has expanded considerably so you should be able to get all your xmas shopping done in one place. It’s walking distance to hotels near the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Ala Moana, antes que nada, es enorme. Y mientras más grande es algo, más difícil es evitar el caos, porque a veces se llena de gente. Más allá de eso, es genial que exista un shopping así de grande, con opciones tan variadas, y áreas cubiertas y descubiertas (dudo que alguien vaya a Hawaii para estar metido en un shopping, a resguardo del sol) por igual. Está tan bueno que para no tirarle flores nomás, voy a criticarlo un poquito, pero es con amor.
Está tan basado en los que manejan que para los peatones (que, me atrevería a decir, son la mayoría de los turistas extranjeros) es un poco complicado acceder, teniendo que buscar en el estacionamiento medio sombrío la senda de peatones con indicaciones de qué calle da a la salida que uno eligió. Fui varias veces a Ala Moana y siempre terminaba perdiéndome, o entrando por un lugar distinto.
Más allá de mis críticas, la verdad es que es tremendo shopping. Hay tiendas súper caras y exclusivas, como también unas más sencillas y accesibles, por lo que es realmente ‘todo en un sólo lugar’. Es espacioso, sus baños son limpios, tiene un patio de comidas enorme (aunque en mi opinión podría ser más grande, aunque no me molestó compartir mi mesa con otras personas) y lo mejor que tiene Ala Moana: shows varias veces al día de bailes típicos. Los bailes están súper bien organizados, se ven muy profesionales y hasta tienen dos MC que presentan todo con mucha información. Hay niños que bailan, un grupo de mujeres y uno de hombres. Prácticamente todo lo que uno quisiera ver, y gratis, varias veces al día en el escenario de Ala Moana.
No soy muy fan de los ‘kiosks’ o los stands que están en el medio de los caminos, porque tienden a ser muy ¿agresivos? ¿apasionados? en su afán de hacer una venta. A mí particularmente no me pasó, pero ver a turistas que no entienden nada siendo presionados a probar y comprar cosas es incómodo. Sería bueno regular un poco eso, porque sino la gente no va a querer regresar.
Yo sé que le di con un palo a Ala Moana, pero es genial. Es enorme, hay de todo, y es un buen lugar para pasar el rato esperando a que pare la lluvia del momento antes de volver a la playa que te espera a pocas cuadras.

Größtes Einkaufscenter auf Hawaii. Viele großen Labes wie Apple oder A&F sind dort vertreten. Schnäppchen kann man dort aber eher nicht machen. Parkplätze sind kostenlos. Riesen Foodarea.

:D

Das größte Shopping Center der Hawaiiianischen Inseln, 290 Shops zwischen Badesachen, Kinderspielzeug, Jeans… Dependancen der großen Kaufhäuser Macy, Sears und Marcus Neimann bietet an einem bewölkten Tag eine kurzweilige Alternative zum Strand. In der Vorweihnachtszeit kann man schon prima Schnäppchen machen, die Verkäufer sind trotz Stress unglaublich freundlich und hilfsbereit.
Verschiedende Food-​Bereiche bietet von Korean Bento-​Box bis zum ausgewachsenen Steakhaus genügend Auswahl.
Aus Waikiki zu Fuss nicht ganz nah, aber auch mit der Pink-​Line der Trolleys zu erreichen, 2 $ pro Fahrt, passend bereithalten.