2024's Top 10 Retail Center Experiences: No. 7 Ka Makana AIi‘i
No. 9 on last year’s list was Honolulu’s massive Ala Moana, a world-renowned center that draws more than 50 million visitors a year from all over the world. Twenty miles west of Ala Moana, in the city of Kapolei, is another vibrant center, one that does draw tourists from local resorts, but one whose name beckons to locals — Ka Makana Ali‘i, Hawaiian for “The Royal Gift.”
Opened in 2016, the 600,000-sq.-ft. center that is operated by JLL took wing through a partnership with the State Department of Hawaiian Homelands, which provides ongoing financial support for programs aimed at perpetuating Ka Makana Ali‘i as the heart of Hawaiian culture on the island of Oahu.
The nearly 8 million people who visit Ka Makana Ali’i annually experience events such as the Hawaiian Civics Club’s Annual Prince Kuhio Parade, the West Fest Hawaiian music festival, and Honolulu Magazine’s and Frolic’s Poke Fest.
Hawaiians love their football, and the many island kids who strive to follow in the footsteps of Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa are gifted with a special treat from the first regional shopping center to open in Hawaii in 30 years—football camps run by NFL standouts that include Ronnie Lott and Jerry Rice.
“We strive to create unique and impactful experiences, and celebration of the host culture is a thread that runs through the majority of our events and entertainment programs,” said Stephanie England, VP of retail management and general manager at Ka Makana Ali‘i.
With more than 100 tenants, 40 restaurants and eateries, a luxury theater, and a lifestyle daily needs center, Ka Makana Ali‘i has earned a reputation for offering a wide range of unique offerings. Key retail tenants include H&M, Macy’s, The Cheesecake Factory, PetSmart, Orangetheory, and Sephora along with local brands Foodland Farms, Moani Island Bistro, and Hawaii’s Finest Clothing.
Forty-three of those tenants came on board in the last five years, growing the center’s occupancy rate from 68% to 97%.
“The center is an economic engine in the region – not only providing shopping, dining, and services, but also thousands of jobs,” said Kelly Kauinana, JLL’s senior manager of retail marketing at the center. “It also serves as an incubator for a number of locally owned businesses that have had the opportunity to thrive and expand."
Ka Makana Ali‘i joins CSA's other 2024 Top Retail Experiences: