Shopping, dining and sightseeing - the Aloha Tower Marketplace has got them all, with 75 stores and restaurants, plus panoramic views of Honolulu. It has also been voted by local residents as one of the best venues on the island of Oahu for live entertainment.
For shopping, the primary offerings here are apparel, jewelry and accessories, gift items and Hawaiian specialties. As a venue for souvenir hunting, it ranks among the city's best, which explains why these shops are somewhat less frequented by kama'aina (locals) than malihini (newcomers).
For dining, on the other hand, the broad array of cuisines at the marketplace draws residents and tourists alike. Its two-tiered food court covers 8,750 square feet, designed to resemble a ship's deck. From the Tex-Mex menu of Bikini Cantina to the family fare of Don Ho's Island Grill, there is something for everyone. Well-known franchises, such as Hooters and Subway, and restaurants specializing in Thai, Japanese and Italian dishes are found here, too.
When the Aloha Tower Marketplace opened in 1994, it turned Honolulu Harbor into the first location in the United States to combine a visitor attraction, shops and restaurants, with a functioning commercial port. Its architectural design is known as "territorial-style,'' made popular in Honolulu during the 1930s and 1940s.
Strolling around the marketplace can be a historical adventure. Aloha Tower, which overlooks the marketplace and harbor, was erected in 1926, using 6,000 barrels of cement painted light green and eggshell-white. It was built mainly as a symbol of the city, but it has served as a light house and customs center as well.
At a height of ten stories, the views from Aloha Tower's balconies are unparalleled. One of the building's key attractions is its multi-faced clock, the largest of its kind in Hawaii and one of the biggest in the United States when it was installed in 1926. Each of its four faces weighs seven tons, with solid-cast bronze dials and frames.
The clockworks occupy the space between the 9th floor offices and the 10th floor observation deck. The letters A-L-O-H-A are etched between each clock face and the cupola balcony, greeting new arrivals and bidding farewell to departures.
Complimentary guided walking tours of Honolulu Harbor are offered by the marketplace's Ambassadors of Aloha. They describe not only the sights of the docks, warehouses, passenger-handling and other facilities of Piers 8~11, but also the evolution of local maritime industry and stories of colorful historic figures, such as King David Kalaukaua and more.
When it comes to entertainment, Aloha Tower Marketplace has free daily performances of music from classical Hawaiian to rock'n'roll. Featured artists include some of the islands' most famous voices. School bands, choirs, hula troops, and community groups often showcase their talents at the Center Atrium, an open-air, waterfront stage area. Evening concerts and shows are scheduled each month here, and it is not unusual to see a bridal procession, too, as complete wedding packages are available at the marketplace.
Other services provided are five ATMs, wheelchair services, canopied rest areas, meeting and convention capacity for groups of 25 to 10,000, and retail space leasing. Stores are open from 9am to 9pm daily (Sundays till 6pm), and dining hours are 10am to 2am, varying by restaurant.
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