Remembering Ala Moana Center

As a youngster, I remember frequenting Ala Moana Shopping Center with my mother, who was the manager of Garfunkels and Dunkin’ Donuts, where the Honolulu Satellite City Hall is now. Over the years, we children were allowed countless hours in the sand box on the ground floor of Ala Moana, climbing on the metal sculptures within the play area. After dusting ourselves off, we’d go to Kiddie Land and ride on the airplane rides and play a game or two of bowling. Ala Moana was the “big” mall, the place we would go for the really “nice” back to school clothes and if we were really, really lucky, lunch would include standing in line at Patti’s Chinese Kitchen and then an ice cream cone at Ed and Don’s Ice Cream Shop.

With these memories so vivid and intact, it was hard for me to believe that Ala Moana Shopping Center celebrated its 50th Anniversary last year, on August 13, 2009. Originally opened for business on August 13, 1959 with 80 shops and approximately 860,000 square feet it was the largest shopping center of its time. Today, with over 290 stores and more than 2.1 million square feet of space, it is still the world’s largest outdoor shopping center.

Gone now is the huge black birdcage between Shirokiya and what was once Liberty House (now Macy’s)—gone now is Liberty House, for that matter!  Ala Moana, like much of Hawaii has changed over the years, and I must say, part of me mourns the loss of the familiarity of my childhood.  However, through my children’s eyes, I have the awesome experience of growing up in Hawaii, in this magical place, all over again. Their memories will include playing games at Jungle Fun, watching the koi swim around in the koi pond and eating takoyaki from Shirokiya.  So, I still shop at Ala Moana Shopping center, now with my two young sons in tow.  Indeed, it is still a Hawaii Tradition.

Photo credit: Malls of America