Take a trip back in time as Ala Moana Center celebrates 60 years of shopping, dining and entertainment. See how it all started and why it's still called a shopper's paradise.
Lots of good memories, and good times, going there. First time was in 1964. Christmas was magical back then. Saw all the changes through the years. Almost all the "Local" type stores gone. Replaced by expensive "tourist" stores. Haven't been there for years. Last time I went made me so sad. Sometimes change is not a good thing.
I remember my first visit in 1973. I agree. It's all un-affordable mainland stores and the local flavor is gone. I miss Ken's Okazuya downstairs before the food court opened.
In 1963, I remember a trip to Honoloulu to visit my aunt for Christmas. I was 4 years old then, and visiting Ala Moana for the first time during the Christmas holidays was nothing short of magical for a country boy from the Big Island. The adults wanted us to have the sitting in Santa's lap experience and riding the Christmas kiddy train which was going to be the highlight of our afternoon. Needless 2 say nature made its calling at the most inopertune time, just as we were boarding the train. Mom was hoping I could wait till after the train ride to go to the bathroom. Well, as nature wouldn't wait and as the train made its circular journey, I found my way to the back of the caboose and relieved myself as the Christmas crowd looked on. I was told the story many years later that my astonished Aunt said to my mom, "Pretend he's not ours!".
Ala Moana holds a piece of my heart, 1977 age 7 got lost at the mall with my younger brother to find our big sister at Jeans Wharehouse. In the '80s, video arcades, and fast foods, Sears, Shirokiya for goodies was a place to go. In the late '80s, high school, the first food court opened, we ate lunch there every day and a place to hang out. The '90's mall shopping getting great deals at JCPenney's, Kramers, etc. 2000's Hot Topics and many coffee shops, Armani, fine shops. 2010, stroll through the malls, Apple, etc... 2020 never went back and I live 5 minutes away by car. A great history though.
I feel the same way as i was born in 69’ so we share the same timeline. I have a lot of memories since to get home from school, we had to catch the bus to go to Ala Mo’s. I went to Sera’s Surf Shop for my first Ripper wallet, ate at McDonalds where the Center Food Court is now, and played arcade games at Woolworths. I worked at Liberty House kids shoe department in the early 2000’s for 5 years and had great memories. Then development started to rejuvenize the mall to stay in business with Sears closing down which was a staple store. I dont go there now except for the food court once in a while because its too commercialized.
Frequented Ala Moana Shopping Center back in the 1970's when I would come to Honolulu from Midway Island where I served in the US Navy. It was a good place to shop, watch live shows and meet girls. :D
Ala Moana is not the same, most of the stores I don't even step foot in. To high end for me, so I just stick too Pearlridge and Kahala Mall. Choke good memories as a child at Ala Moana. Had my first kiss right in front of Shirokiya when I was in high school😂. I think that was the store name. #govs
I miss Hawaii! I moved from Hawaii 2017 it’s been 5 years since i visited .. growing up I’ve always heard people saying “it’s no place like home” didn’t understand it till I left .. the food, the people, our culture…
Many a weekend as a kid in the '80s, my mother, sister, and I would hop on TheBus from Ma'ili to Ala Moana for Back to School shopping, Christmas Shopping, or to eat at the Food Court and see a movie at the nearby theaters off Kapiolani, Ala Moana Blvd, or Kuhio Ave. It was a long trek, but on the way back we would get the first crack at seats on the bus ride home, since Ala Moana Center was and always has been a major transit hub.
Wow! Even I don't remember Woolworths there. My heyday years were the 1970s and I remember Ala Moana Shopping Center as it was then. It's a real circus now. Just try getting in and out of there today with all the traffic.
I'm too young to remember Ala Moana when it was in its heyday, but my parents used to talk about how it was in the good old days.. They always mentioned Liberty House and JC Penny's. I remember shopping at Sears with my mom on the weekends. So sad when it was announced that it was going to shut down. When Shirokiya moved to its current location I was kinda sad. Loved going there when it was at its original location. Youngbloods like myself won't remember Ala Moana as it used to be because we obviously weren't around.
I first shopped at Ala Moana in the 1970’s and still love to shop there. It’s been a part of my life for about 50 years and is very dear to me. I miss the Yami Yogurt shop and Sears. But I am very thankful Ala Moana is still there.
Things to remember. The Liberty House bag on the rack, The bird cage, Peteʻs Model Craft, Woolworthʻs and the lunch counter, Sears popcorn and candy stand, AND Keiki Land.
I remember going there every week; a couple of times a week with my mom in 1970’s. Remember shopping at Liberty house, and several of the smaller shops which I can’t remember I mean I’m 60 now so this goes back several years LOL.
God bless the people of Hawaii, my wife and me stay at the Ala Moana hotel last July, celebrating our 2nd Honeymoon, even with the pandemic problems, the beautiful people of Hawaii and the Hawaiian weather were always gorgeous and beautiful, We intent to move back permanently in a couple of years, Mahalo beautiful Hawaii.
Totally agree. The days when you could go to shop there and not break your wallet. The days hay days of locals shopping was from 50’s-90’s. The 00’s was like you said geared towards tourists.
Sire Kumasutra well, a lot of the budget friendly stores kinda went out of business or just lost its lease and of course competition. JC Penny is now gone, Wool Worth’s went out of business, Thomacan shoe stores, Sears, just to name a few. There many stores than can lease there that is more budget friendly, but is filled with high end stores like Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Gucci and other high end stores that does not cater to the average local. Times have changed Now that you have Walmart, Target, Best Buy, online shopping and so forth, Ala Moana is just that, a brick and mortar Tourist Mall.
You don't say. It's literally in Waikiki, the world's capital for tropical vacations. Malls in Hawaii, hell, most retail in Hawaii is geared towards tourism becuase TOURISM IS THE STATE INDUSTRY. THE ONLY REASON WE EVEN HAVE A LARGE AIRPORT BECAUSE WE HAVE TOURISTS.
@@Post_Stall_Maneuver OK Millennial. Was a time when Ala Moana was mostly locally owned businesses. More locals hung out there than tourists. Tourism was NOT Hawaii's one trick pony. Sugar and pineapple thrived. There was a perceived boundary to Waikiki that ended in the Ilikai/Kaiser Hospital area, because the Ilikai was the last big hotel along Ala Moana Blvd.
It used to be for the people of hawaii. Not anymore. It's for the tourist and criminals. I grew up going to Ala Moana. Saw it's changes through the years. The 1970's was it's best years. Now not so much. Last time I've been there was over 15 years ago. Never missed it. kind of sad.
I stopped enjoying da mall once sears closed. It hasn't felt the same ever since. They changed the food court from a cool looking dark ocean area with neon lights to some very generic eating area. It does not feel special anymore. There are too many tourists that ruin my enjoyment. I only still go to ala moana center because the bus system has a hub there At least they still have da koi fish.
how many Ala Moana businesses are owned and operated by Hawaii based and run companies? maybe ABC store....now it mostly international brand chains with high priced made in china stuff. could be any mega mall anywhere , like even atlanta or Dallas
The large Koi pools are gone. I think there is a small pool that still remains I think. They could have removed it already because when your not looking for it, it’s easy to miss. Unlike before where It was huge and was the main feature for Ala Moana for a very long time. Infact there was a large Hanging Koi Sculpture near the middle where the stage is. I get it. It’s very expensive to maintain the koi ponds. There are many upscale stores. Too many. COVID-19 has closed many of them and only a few have reopened. Unless deep pocket Asian tourists come back, it’s unlikely these upscale store will ever reopen. It made for a very empty shopping center which is very strange when it’s usually packed with tourists and shoppers. The shoppers have rebounded a bit due to recent stimulus from the government.
Lived Hawaii & shopped there often '87 thru '93. How it has changed from those closed long-term retailers to highend $ upscaled! Always enjoyed center stage local entertainment I miss ! Now expanded with SEARS gone I hope locals still enjoy that at least!🤙 ALOHA!
“A place where our grandparents came as children?” LOL. What generation are you talking to? My Grandparents were adults when Ala Mona was built and my PARENTS came to Ala Moana as 13/14 year olds when it opened!
Let's be real. Ala Moana sucks now!!! They should have left it alone after the late 90s early 2000's. I absolutely hate going there now with all the new development
shame ala moana is not even owned locally, owned by big mainland corporations just like all the other malls here what a shame. I don't shop there it caters to the rich foreigners and mainlanders
I remember going there when I was 10 in 74’, to see the koi ponds, then over too Aala skate park... good ole days!🤙😊
Lots of good memories, and good times, going there. First time was in 1964. Christmas was magical back then. Saw all the changes through the years. Almost all the "Local" type stores gone. Replaced by expensive "tourist" stores. Haven't been there for years. Last time I went made me so sad. Sometimes change is not a good thing.
I feel the same way
I remember my first visit in 1973. I agree. It's all un-affordable mainland stores and the local flavor is gone. I miss Ken's Okazuya downstairs before the food court opened.
Woolworths fried chicken da best
Patty's Chinese kitchen before heading back to UH after a day at the beach. Those were the days!
Remember the tiny ice skating rink downstairs at Liberty House, during Christmas? And Breakfast with Santa...
I love Ala Moana!! It's the highlight of my annual Hawaiian trip from Australia. There's nothing like it anywhere! Shopping heaven
In 1963, I remember a trip to Honoloulu to visit my aunt for Christmas. I was 4 years old then, and visiting Ala Moana for the first time during the Christmas holidays was nothing short of magical for a country boy from the Big Island.
The adults wanted us to have the sitting in Santa's lap experience and riding the Christmas kiddy train which was going to be the highlight of our afternoon. Needless 2 say nature made its calling at the most inopertune time, just as we were boarding the train. Mom was hoping I could wait till after the train ride to go to the bathroom. Well, as nature wouldn't wait and as the train made its circular journey, I found my way to the back of the caboose and relieved myself as the Christmas crowd looked on.
I was told the story many years later that my astonished Aunt said to my mom, "Pretend he's not ours!".
I miss Ala Moana it’s not the same at all. I miss liberty house 😢
I miss the old Ala Moana vibe.
No local welcome feeling anymore
😢
Liberty House was a great store My wife still has her LH charge card. Also liked Byron II and Linn's Deli @ Ala Moana.
I sure miss the "old" Ala Moana Center. To bad my favorite stores are no more
😢
I visited for the first time just a day or two after it opened in 1959, and I'm still going there now.
Ala Moana holds a piece of my heart, 1977 age 7 got lost at the mall with my younger brother to find our big sister at Jeans Wharehouse. In the '80s, video arcades, and fast foods, Sears, Shirokiya for goodies was a place to go. In the late '80s, high school, the first food court opened, we ate lunch there every day and a place to hang out. The '90's mall shopping getting great deals at JCPenney's, Kramers, etc. 2000's Hot Topics and many coffee shops, Armani, fine shops. 2010, stroll through the malls, Apple, etc... 2020 never went back and I live 5 minutes away by car. A great history though.
I feel the same way as i was born in 69’ so we share the same timeline. I have a lot of memories since to get home from school, we had to catch the bus to go to Ala Mo’s. I went to Sera’s Surf Shop for my first Ripper wallet, ate at McDonalds where the Center Food Court is now, and played arcade games at Woolworths. I worked at Liberty House kids shoe department in the early 2000’s for 5 years and had great memories. Then development started to rejuvenize the mall to stay in business with Sears closing down which was a staple store. I dont go there now except for the food court once in a while because its too commercialized.
I liked the arcade with the kiddie rollercoaster. And India imports
@@watsnu2day
I remember ripper wallets.
Do yo remember Hang Ten , Lightening Bolt and OP shorts , double decker slippers?
My mom said I walked off with a stranger in Liberty House after I got lost.
Frequented Ala Moana Shopping Center back in the 1970's when I would come to Honolulu from Midway Island where I served in the US Navy. It was a good place to shop, watch live shows and meet girls. :D
Ala Moana has become a museum where locals go to look at things they can’t afford.
Mahalo for the memories, Ala Moana now is a travesty which has alienated many locals, myself included
I feel the same too
What happened? I raised my kids at that mall up to 2008. Jungle Fun and Slipper House my favs.
Used to work at Ed & Dons Ice Cream Parlor back in the seventies... best job ever!
Ala Moana is not the same, most of the stores I don't even step foot in. To high end for me, so I just stick too Pearlridge and Kahala Mall. Choke good memories as a child at Ala Moana. Had my first kiss right in front of Shirokiya when I was in high school😂. I think that was the store name. #govs
yessuh
Been there so many times . Love Mamas Pasta in the food court
I miss Hawaii! I moved from Hawaii 2017 it’s been 5 years since i visited .. growing up I’ve always heard people saying “it’s no place like home” didn’t understand it till I left .. the food, the people, our culture…
“🎶 Ooh, Ah, Oh Wow, Ala Moana!🎶”
Thanks for informing us how modern Honolulu came to be.
Many a weekend as a kid in the '80s, my mother, sister, and I would hop on TheBus from Ma'ili to Ala Moana for Back to School shopping, Christmas Shopping, or to eat at the Food Court and see a movie at the nearby theaters off Kapiolani, Ala Moana Blvd, or Kuhio Ave. It was a long trek, but on the way back we would get the first crack at seats on the bus ride home, since Ala Moana Center was and always has been a major transit hub.
Wow! Even I don't remember Woolworths there. My heyday years were the 1970s and I remember Ala Moana Shopping Center as it was then. It's a real circus now. Just try getting in and out of there today with all the traffic.
I'm too young to remember Ala Moana when it was in its heyday, but my parents used to talk about how it was in the good old days.. They always mentioned Liberty House and JC Penny's. I remember shopping at Sears with my mom on the weekends. So sad when it was announced that it was going to shut down. When Shirokiya moved to its current location I was kinda sad. Loved going there when it was at its original location. Youngbloods like myself won't remember Ala Moana as it used to be because we obviously weren't around.
I first shopped at Ala Moana in the 1970’s and still love to shop there. It’s been a part of my life for about 50 years and is very dear to me. I miss the Yami Yogurt shop and Sears. But I am very thankful Ala Moana is still there.
When I was a kid there was a Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor on the Makai side near Patti's Kitchen. Good times.
Was Patti's the Chinese place? That was my grandma's favorite
@@lgv3051 Yup, it was there before they moved it to the food court!
@@lgv3051 LOVE PATTY'S KITCHEN, GOOD FOOD.
Farrels free ice cream on your birthday with all the birthday singing and sirens going on.
Things to remember. The Liberty House bag on the rack, The bird cage, Peteʻs Model Craft, Woolworthʻs and the lunch counter, Sears popcorn and candy stand, AND Keiki Land.
In the 60's and 70's, the teenage boys and girls always went to the mall level by the escalators to check each other out!🤣🤣🤣
Meanwhile, the old men sat outside Sears, next to Long's.
I remember going there every week; a couple of times a week with my mom in 1970’s.
Remember shopping at Liberty house, and several of the smaller shops which I can’t remember I mean I’m 60 now so this goes back several years LOL.
God bless the people of Hawaii, my wife and me stay at the Ala Moana hotel last July, celebrating our 2nd Honeymoon, even with the pandemic problems, the beautiful people of Hawaii and the Hawaiian weather were always gorgeous and beautiful, We intent to move back permanently in a couple of years, Mahalo beautiful Hawaii.
One of my favorite places! Can't wait to go back.
I won't shop there now it's just an extension of waikiki high end shopping and the mall I once knew is long gone
Made me so homesick!
Me too Barbara. I’m still hoping to visit sometime this year. Carol
and now Ala Moana is where the first Chick-fil-A on Oahu opened
Love the GAF Viewmaster effect
Great video!
I miss Liberty House, Ferrels, and Lynn’s Deli.
And Patti’s Chinese Kitchen!
I live next to a Ala Moana so still go there often
Ala Moana is NOT Hawaii's center! It now caters to tourists and upscale (rich) people. It is Ala Moana Shopping Center in name only.
What replaced it out of curiosity?
Totally agree. The days when you could go to shop there and not break your wallet. The days hay days of locals shopping was from 50’s-90’s. The 00’s was like you said geared towards tourists.
Sire Kumasutra well, a lot of the budget friendly stores kinda went out of business or just lost its lease and of course competition. JC Penny is now gone, Wool Worth’s went out of business, Thomacan shoe stores, Sears, just to name a few. There many stores than can lease there that is more budget friendly, but is filled with high end stores like Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Gucci and other high end stores that does not cater to the average local. Times have changed Now that you have Walmart, Target, Best Buy, online shopping and so forth, Ala Moana is just that, a brick and mortar Tourist Mall.
You don't say. It's literally in Waikiki, the world's capital for tropical vacations. Malls in Hawaii, hell, most retail in Hawaii is geared towards tourism becuase TOURISM IS THE STATE INDUSTRY. THE ONLY REASON WE EVEN HAVE A LARGE AIRPORT BECAUSE WE HAVE TOURISTS.
@@Post_Stall_Maneuver OK Millennial. Was a time when Ala Moana was mostly locally owned businesses. More locals hung out there than tourists. Tourism was NOT Hawaii's one trick pony. Sugar and pineapple thrived. There was a perceived boundary to Waikiki that ended in the Ilikai/Kaiser Hospital area, because the Ilikai was the last big hotel along Ala Moana Blvd.
Nice place.
They forgot to mention when Liberty House became Macy's in 2001.
I remember Liberty House...wow. Memories.
I don’t know any local people that shop at Ala Moana center. If you go there and look at the people shopping, it’s MOSTLY rich Asians and Caucasian’s.
Hey don't forget about the homeless folks. They are a big part of Alamoana
Good!
I'm local and I do one percent of my shopping there.
Was known as the largest Shopping Center back in the day
It used to be for the people of hawaii. Not anymore. It's for the tourist and criminals. I grew up going to Ala Moana. Saw it's changes through the years. The 1970's was it's best years. Now not so much. Last time I've been there was over 15 years ago. Never missed it. kind of sad.
Mahalo. Always interested in Honolulu’s changes. Will this pandemic bring about a new change?
Ala Moana will continue to evolve in unexpected way... yeah, like charge for parking...
COVID 19:"2020 Ala Moana Center shut down."
I miss the camera shops.
Went there in 2016,interesting place but a nightmare to work out where you were and where shops where.
I stopped enjoying da mall once sears closed. It hasn't felt the same ever since. They changed the food court from a cool looking dark ocean area with neon lights to some very generic eating area. It does not feel special anymore. There are too many tourists that ruin my enjoyment. I only still go to ala moana center because the bus system has a hub there At least they still have da koi fish.
Cool
how many Ala Moana businesses are owned and operated by Hawaii based and run companies? maybe ABC store....now it mostly international brand chains with high priced made in china stuff. could be any mega mall anywhere , like even atlanta or Dallas
The large Koi pools are gone. I think there is a small pool that still remains I think. They could have removed it already because when your not looking for it, it’s easy to miss. Unlike before where It was huge and was the main feature for Ala Moana for a very long time. Infact there was a large Hanging Koi Sculpture near the middle where the stage is. I get it. It’s very expensive to maintain the koi ponds.
There are many upscale stores. Too many. COVID-19 has closed many of them and only a few have reopened. Unless deep pocket Asian tourists come back, it’s unlikely these upscale store will ever reopen. It made for a very empty shopping center which is very strange when it’s usually packed with tourists and shoppers. The shoppers have rebounded a bit due to recent stimulus from the government.
Ala Moana Center has ceased to be Hawaii's center. It has become a place for the wealthy and elite. Auwe
I was, there in, 87,88
I was there from 83 to 89
Lived Hawaii & shopped there often '87 thru '93. How it has changed from those closed long-term retailers to highend $ upscaled! Always enjoyed center stage local entertainment I miss ! Now expanded with SEARS gone I hope locals still enjoy that at least!🤙 ALOHA!
Missing Liberty Hoisd Macy’s should have kept the brand and sales Zooper sale
Still get plenty rats. That hasn't changed in 60 years either.
Criminal, grey shirt. Ted's Bakery. Suns. Cocaine. A customer? "Is there somewhere else you can sit?"
Woolworth, JCPenny⋯⋯1980…
Wasn't this an indoor mall in the 90s? I remember going to an indoor mall a lot when I lived there around 1991.
Nope. Ala Moana was always an outdoor mall. The indoor malls are Pearlridge Center, Kahala Mall and Windward Mall.
@@TheHaloRed thanks... I think it was Pearlridge Center that I'm thinking about.
“A place where our grandparents came as children?” LOL. What generation are you talking to? My Grandparents were adults when Ala Mona was built and my PARENTS came to Ala Moana as 13/14 year olds when it opened!
So I
They don't have, bugs you, damn fools. Lava cooled, don't allow-- wetlands.
They ? know Kate Pease Oregon and Greg, NJ?? Dirty
zippys in sears
Let's be real. Ala Moana sucks now!!! They should have left it alone after the late 90s early 2000's. I absolutely hate going there now with all the new development
shame ala moana is not even owned locally, owned by big mainland corporations just like all the other malls here what a shame. I don't shop there it caters to the rich foreigners and mainlanders
You have been, reported-- insurgency plagiarism. False information about, Hawaiian history,
Or, SP'T'U'.
Auwae!! So sad to see ‘āina treated with such disrespect. puna wai and lo’i kalo dredged and back filled to make a shopping center! 👎🏽