Ala Moana Shopping Center
A Tropical Mall With It All!
A Tropical Mall With It All!
Ala Moana Shopping Center has everything under the Hawaiian sun… the largest in the Hawaiian Islands… where you can shop till you drop! This Oahu mall is a hit with the locals and visitors alike and has something to please everyone.
This attractive open-air mall… also known as Ala Moana Center… stretches along Ala Moana Boulevard and is conveniently located between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. It is beautifully placed across the street from Ala Moana Beach Park.
I recently counted a total of about 288 shops, restaurants and service businesses in this mall… with nearly 30 food booths in the Makai Market Food Court alone! I love this huge food court with its variety of local food choices popular in the islands.
Centerstage offers daily free entertainment. Learn more about the culture at the 1 p.m. hula show. You’ll also find other shows from singers and musicians… to fashions shows, ballet and marching bands. Even the Royal Hawaiian Band plays here occasionally.
Ala Moana Shopping Center has fine dining restaurants too… some offering ocean and Ala Moana Beach Park views. Locals enjoy the dining and nightlife at the Ho’okipa Terrace on the Diamond Head end on level 4. I have fond memories of pleasant dinners here with friends, family and business associates.
To find Hawaiian print clothing and items from Hawaii, check out the major department stores… and these specialty shops:
- Blue Hawaii Surf
- Hawaiian Island Creations (Local Surf Shop)
- Hawaiian Quilt Collection
- Hilo Hatties
- Hula Lehua
- Local Motion (Local Surf Shop)
- Martin & MacArthur (Hand-crafted furniture)
- Maui Diver’s Jewelry
- Na Hoku (Hawaiian Jewelry)
- Reyns (Quality Aloha Shirts)
- T&C; Surf Designs (Local Surf Shop)
- The Slipper House
- The Island’s Best
- Tommy Bahama
- Tori Richard (Quality Aloha Shirts)
- Watumull’s
Yes, local people do absolutely wear tasteful Hawaiian print clothing known as aloha attire. In fact, for some special occasions, it is requested that guests attend the event in aloha attire.
Businessmen frequently wear aloha shirts to work. You rarely see men wearing a suit and tie… except for formal occasions and attorneys in the courtroom.
Women do wear muumuus (ankle length Hawaiian print dresses), especially on Aloha Friday… a casual dress day celebrating the end of the work week. I wore muumuus on Aloha Fridays when I was an employee at a Honolulu hospital.
HELPFUL HINT: It is not customary to see local couples in matching Hawaiian print aloha shirts and muumuus such as those sold in tourist shops. Couples wearing matching clothing are immediately recognized as tourists!
Residents do daily business at Ala Moana Shopping Center at its Foodland grocery store… US post office… and Honolulu satellite city hall. Saturday mornings there is a Farmers’ Market with locally grown fresh produce. Look for it at the Ewa end of the mall by Sears in the upper parking area.
Oahu’s efficient public transit system, TheBus, has its main hub and transfer station at the mauka side of the mall. You can literally find a bus to go anywhere on the island from this location.
The Ala Moana Hotel, Hawaii Convention Center, medical and dental offices and other essential service businesses are located adjacent to mall. You can walk to the beach, banks, shops, restaurants… and public transportation all within the distance of a few blocks.
Who doesn’t want to walk in Hawaii’s climate?
One thing missing at Ala Moana Shopping Center is movie theaters. Not to worry… Consolidated’s Ward Stadium 16 movie theatre complex… is a short distance away. This theatre has spared no expense on being state of the art and is quite popular with local moviegoers.
View Ala Moana Shopping Center in a larger map
Are you planning to move to Oahu, like city living and don’t want to rely on a car? This is a prime location to seek Oahu condo rentals or purchase real estate.
Fair warning… Oahu condos with ocean views near Ala Moana Shopping Center are for those with hefty pocketbooks. You can sometimes find more affordable prices within walking distance of the mall if you are willing to forfeit the ocean view and live in a small space.
NOTE: Mall shops,restaurants and information may change from what is on this page. It is not feasible for me to always know about changes right away, but I try to adjust the information when I become aware of it.