KHON2 is located just across the street from the new Ewa wing of Ala Moana Center.
While it won’t be open for more than five months, there’s already lots to see.
By now, many people are used to the sounds of construction, building materials and massive cranes on site.
“If there is any one thing I can tell you about Ala Moana Center, one thing that is constant is change,” said Scott Creel of General Growth Properties.
Up until now, we have only seen renderings of the expansion. Now, we’re getting an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the wing itself.
“It’s just going to be a much more comfortable shopping environment where we will have new features, new areas to explore,” said Creel.
The new wing will give shoppers more space to walk around, which might help with the more than 60 new shops being added, like Island Slipper to Bloomingdale’s, which will anchor the Ewa wing.
“We will be offering something for everyone at all price points and all kind of experiences,” said Creel.
Right now, Ala Moana Center has 290 shops, but once completed, the expansion will bring the total to 350.
“There is going to be a lot of movement within the existing center too,” said Creel.
That means one of your favorite stores at the mall may be moving to the new wing, but those moves won’t be revealed just yet.
“I can’t comment on who’s moving yet from the existing center into the new space, but the exciting thing is that it will create another opportunity at that space with another tenant,” said Creel.
Some of the new building materials you will see featured in the Ewa wing expansion will also be carried on through the existing center.
“If they come into Macy’s or if they come into Bloomingdale’s or Nordstrom and they walk between, you will see the same types of materials being used throughout so we wanted to create a uniform space that is continuous,” said Creel.
As for future plans to expand the state’s largest outdoor shopping mall, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens next.
“What is important to know is that the feel of this space is going to be carried through the existing center,” said Creel.
