The Hopeful Traveler: 10/30/16

(photos credit: TheHopefulTraveler)

In Hawaii shopping is big. How else can you explain four Costco locations on one island. In fact I once heard a tourist mention that there are only three main things to do in Hawaii which are going to the beach, eating and shopping. Many island residents would agree. The newest addition to Oahu's retail landscape is Ka Makana Alii the largest shopping mall to open in the city of Kapolei.

There are other shopping centers in Kapolei but not on the scale of Ka Makana which is expected to hold 150 shops and may include additional phases. The center includes a cinema (Olino by Consolidated Theaters), a hotel (Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton) and anchored by a Macy's and H&M.

I was there on the morning of Oct 21, 2016 for a quick hour as it was a working day for me and I was heading back to the office from an early meeting. Walking through the mall the 75 or so stores that were scheduled to open did not make the mall seem half-full. In fact Ka Makana Alii feels much bigger than expected.

One thing I worry about is how hot this area can get in the daytime. I feel open-air shopping center designers in Hawaii have not thought how people stay away from the sun when shopping. The natural breezes are great but the heat is not. Maybe a few more shade structures or taller trees may help especially in this Leeward part of the island where normally temperatures are warmer than in Honolulu and where it seldom rains. But the food court is well covered for those wanting to eat in the dining area.

The following is a photo show of Ka Makana Alii on opening day. For more info visit kamakanaalii.com. The center is open Mon-Sat from 10am-9pm and Sun 10am-6pm

The photo show includes the facades of all the open shops and the signage for those that will open in the coming months. Since there are almost 100 photos, the Photo Show is broken into four separate posts. This is Part 1. Click HERE for Part 2 of 4. (photos credit: TheHopefulTraveler)