Ala Moana Center

Bordered by the blue Pacific one side and the green backdrop of the Kolao Mountains on the other, this is Alamoana. Maybe it'll be worth something someday, said Walter Dillingham, when he was asked why he bought a swampy parcel of land in the area known as Kaliya. Long ago, Kaliya was primarily wetlands with colo farms, rice paddies and fishponds. Ownership of the Kaliya property was passed down through the Hawaiian royal family. And when Princess Bernice Po'ahi Bishop, the last royal descendant of King Kamehameha, died in 1884, the Bishop estate put the land up for sale. But there were no buyers. In the early 1900s, the land was a mosquito-filled swamp and it was considered a health hazard. In 1912, Walter Dillingham, founder of the Hawaiian dredging company, paid $25,000 for the 52-acre parcel. A dredging company was the ideal owner for the property. Coral and sand dredge from the Alawai Canal and other dredging projects were brought to Kaliya to fill the wetlands. In 1949, Dillingham'son Lowell proposed a new retail idea for the land called a shopping center. It was one of the biggest gambles in Hawai'i's history, but development began on the new Alamoana Center. Architect John Graham Jr. proposed a beautiful double-deck center with 5,000 parking stalls to accommodate booming car ownership. A logo was designed. And on March 18, 1958, construction began. 860 concrete piles were driven 30 feet into the ground for the Sears building. Hundreds of tradesmen built Alamoana Center in only 17 months. On Thursday, August 13, 1959, 10,000 people gathered on the parking deck for the grand opening. The multi-million dollar gamble paid off. Alamoana Center was an instant success. Crowds rushed the stores for opening day deals. A policeman had to direct traffic inside Woolworth's. The slipper house was so overwhelmed they had to close their doors. In 1966, Phase 2 was opened with anchor tenants J. C. Penney and Liberty House. Residents came to shop, but they also came to gather. The 1970s were a golden age for Alamoana Center as local residents and visitors came to shop, eat and meet. In the 1980s, music changed, hairstyles changed, and so did Alamoana Center. In 1982, Alamoana Center was sold to Dai'e Inc. and Equitable Life Assurance. And in 1987, the popular Mekai Market Food Court opened. Theme of the 1990s was growth. The growth of global tourism led to more upscale retailers. The Center expanded in 1998 with the addition of Neiman Marcus and the new upper level. And in 1999, general growth properties bought Alamoana Center from Dai'e. In the new millenni In 2013, Sears closed, making way for construction of the new Evo Wing. Many things have changed over 60 years, but there are a few things that have stayed the same. Alamoana Center will continue to evolve in unexpected ways, but there's one constant that will never change. The people. Alamoana is truly Hawaii Center, a place where our grandparents came as children, a place where we take our children today. Here's to the first 60 years and for many years to come. Alamoana Center