Aloha Tower Marketplace
Coordinates: 21°18.456′N 157°51.908′W / 21.307600°N 157.865133°W
The Aloha Tower Marketplace is a waterfront shopping center in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Located at the Honolulu Harbor, the Aloha Tower Marketplace features several declared national historic landmarks including the Aloha Tower, Falls of Clyde and Hawaiʻi Maritime Center. Aloha Tower Marketplace was completed in 1994 as part of a Honolulu Harbor commercial revitalization project. As of March, 2014 the Marketplace is under major renovation and only two restaurants, Hooters and Gordon Biersch, remain open.[1]
The Marketplace has never been profitable and was bankrupt at one point in time. Litigation has occurred between the management entity and the land-owner, the state controlled Aloha Tower Development Corporation. Isolation from other tourist areas, lack of parking and mismanagement have been cited as reasons for the operating revenue losses.[2]
The museum at the Falls of Clyde focused on historic sailing as well as Polynesian sailing customs. Occasionally, outrigger canoes were at the Hawaii Maritime Center as well. The museum closed May 1, 2009 due to lack of revenue, there are currently no plans to reopen the facility.[3]
Hawaii Pacific University plans to modify the shopping center into a mixed use facility with retail, restaurant and meeting spaces as well as second-floor HPU student-housing lofts. The redevelopment, which began in 2012 has been complicated by disputes between development entities, permitting issues and staff-reductions. The project is scheduled for completion in 2015.[4]
Dining and entertainment
There are two restaurants currently operating. Gordon Biersch usually has live local entertainment three nights per week.[5] Prior to the reconstruction, major yearly events occurred at Aloha Tower Marketplace, including fireworks displays on the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve, ʻukulele contests, and Cinco de Mayo celebrations. The Great Aloha Run bypasses the Aloha Tower Marketplace.
References
- ↑ Howard Dicus (20 March 2014). "The next big thing for HPU, Aloha Tower". Hawaii New Now. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
- ↑ Lyn Danninger (16 January 2002). "Aloha Tower Files for Bankruptcy". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
- ↑ Rosemarie Bernardo (11 April 2009). "Bishop Museum cuts staff, hours: A reduction in hours is a first for the Hawaii institution". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
- ↑ "Hawaii Pacific University to announce two new tenants for Aloha Tower Marketplace - Pacific Business News". Bizjournals.com. 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
- ↑ "HI - Honolulu". Gordonbiersch.com. Retrieved 2014-06-09.