Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
mainland chains such as
Gap
and
BananaRepublic.
Department stores, such as
Macy's,
sell
fashion, food, cosmetics, shoes, and household needs. Need shoes? They're a kick at
Nord-
strom,
and
Walking Co.
has first-rate comfort styles by Mephisto, Ecco, and Naot.
A good stop for gifts is
Islands' Best,
which spills over with Hawaiian-made foodstuffs,
ceramics, fragrances, and more.
Splash!Hawaii
has women's swimwear, and for aloha shirts
and men's swimwear, try
Macy's, Town & Country Surf, Reyn's,
or the terminally hip
HawaiianIslandCreations.
The
foodcourt
is abuzz with dozens of stalls purveying Cajun
food, ramen, pizza, plate lunches, vegetarian fare, green tea and fruit freezes (such as frozen
yogurt), panini, and countless other treats. Hours are Monday through Saturday 9:30am to
9pm, Sunday 10am to 7pm. You can take bus no. 8, 19, or 20 to get there, or try the Ala Moana
Shuttle Bus or the trolley.
1450 Ala Moana Blvd.
&
808/955-9517.
www.alamoanacenter.com
. Bus: 8, 19, or
20.
AlohaTowerMarketplace
In the early 1990s, city officials came up with the idea to renovate and
restore the waterfront to bring back the feeling of “boat days.” The shops, restaurants, and
bars inside the resulting two-story Aloha Tower Marketplace offer an array of cuisines, one-
of-a-kind shops, and even a microbrewery. Most shops open at 9am daily and the restaurants
and bars don't shut down until the wee hours of the morning. There is a perpetual parking
shortage here, and if you do manage to find a parking spot, the rates are sky-high. Take the
trolley if you can. The refurbished Aloha Tower, once the tallest structure in Honolulu, still
stands high over the complex.
Dining and shopping prospects abound:
Hawaiian Ukulele Company, Don Ho's Island
Grill
,
Chai'sIslandBistro
, and
GordonBierschBreweryRestaurant
. Retail shops are open
Monday through Saturday 9am to 9pm, Sunday 9am to 6pm; dining and entertainment, daily
8am to midnight. Various Honolulu trolleys stop here; if you want a direct ride from Waikiki,
take the free Hilo Hattie trolley or the Waikiki Red Line trolley, which continues on to Hilo
Hattie in Iwilei.
1 Aloha Tower Dr., on the waterfront btw. piers 8 and 11, Honolulu Harbor.
&
808/528-5700.
DFSGalleria
“Boat days” is the theme at this Waikiki emporium, a three-floor extravaganza of
shops ranging from the superluxe (such as
Givenchy
and
Coach
) to the very touristy. Great
Hawaii food products range from the incomparable
BigIslandCandies'
shortbread cookies
to a spate of coffees and preserves. There are multitudes of aloha shirts and T-shirts, a virtual
golf course, surf and skate equipment, a terrific Hawaiian music department, and a labyrinth
of fashionable stores once you get past the Waikiki Walk. Fragrances and cosmetics make a big
splash at
DFS.Starbucks
serves up coffee and smoothies.
Note:
Some sections are duty-free
and therefore restricted to international travelers only. Daily 9am to 11pm.
330 Royal Hawaiian
Kahala Mall
Chic, manageable, and unfrenzied, Kahala Mall is home to some of Honolulu's
best shops. Located east of Waikiki in the posh neighborhood of Kahala, the mall has
everything from a small
Macy's
to chain stores such as
Banana Republic
and
Barnes &
Noble
—nearly 100 air-conditioned specialty shops (including dozens of eateries and eight
movie theaters) in all. Java-magnet
Starbucks
sits a stone's throw from
GodivaChocolatier,
with its sinfully wonderful treats. Smoothie lovers form long lines at
Jamba Juice.
For gift,
