Shopper's Delight at Ala Moana Center - Seven New Stores!

Some more great news for shopaholics in Hawaii.  Ala Moana Center has just confirmed seven new retail stores, two new eateries and a travel agency to Hawaii's largest shopping complex. Woo hoo!

There are some retailers who are new to the Hawaii market! Tory Burch, offering woman's sportswear and accessories is opening in the fall; Australian-based Gilly Hicks lingerie store, owned and operated by Abercrombie is opening in July; Pandora Jewelry, known for its charm bracelets is opening in August and Q-pot, a Japanese accessory and art emporium is opening in July.  All will be open by the time I next visit the Islands!

In addition, the center has added JTB USA travel agency, which handles nearly 300,000 travelers from Japan each year, and Regis Salon, which opens in May. 

But wait! There's more! Other businesses that have recently opened at Ala Moana Center include Crocs, Island Vintage Coffee, Saigon Garden, Local Motion and Central Pacific Bank. 

News of these new stores is most pleasing for businesses and consumers alike.  Does this mean that the economy is finally starting to shift?  I hope so; I'm tired of sticking to a budget!

Get Shopping at Ward Centers – Honolulu

I love to shop and have always found Honolulu to be a great shopping destination. In addition to Waikiki and the well-known Ala Moana Center, Ward Center is also a great local shopping destination, which continues to expand (great news for the economy!). To get there from Waikiki you can catch the number 8, 19 or 20 bus – or just walk from Ala Moana Center.

It is most pleasing to confirm that a number of new retailers are opening at Ward Centers this spring, adding to the more than 135 shops and restaurants at the open-air complex.

Stores to be opened are:

• Abracadabra at Ward Entertainment Center: Offering embroidered baseball caps, vintage hats, handmade hats, and children’s hats, as well as jewelry, key chains and handbags.

• Downtown Gifthings at Ward Warehouse: Offering personalized jewelry, eco-friendly products, stationery, and travel bags and accessories.

• Jewel Flair at Ward Center: Offering jewelry from local, national and international designers.

• Discount Mobile & Computer Repair at Ward Center: Offering cellular phone equipment and accessories and offering computer technical assistance and repairs done at an off-site location.

For more information and a full store directory visit the Ward Center website. Happy Friday and Happy Shopping!

Forever 21 Heading to Waikiki

Forever 21 is making its way to Waikiki! The fashion retailer specializing in trendy clothing for young women and men has leased a large retail space at the Royal Hawaiian Center that had been originally planned for bankrupt Hawaii retailer Hilo Hattie.

Forever 21 plans to open a 42,580-square-foot, three-level department store at the Waikiki shopping center next summer!

The store, which will be located between The Cheesecake Factory restaurant and fashion boutique Bebe at the Diamond Head end of Royal Hawaiian Center, will be Forever 21’s third Hawaii store. The Los Angeles-based company also has stores in Pearlridge Center and at my favorite mall of all time - the Ala Moana Center.

The size of the store will give Forever 21 the opportunity to introduce more of its brand labels to the Hawaii market, including men’s and plus-size clothing.

For those that have been in Waikiki recently, you may have noticed that things are looking pretty impressive in regards to shopping and overall glamour. It makes me wonder if I will ever need to visit the Ala Moana Center again, as almost everything you need is right in the heart of downtown Waikiki. There's only one store missing.....a Hello Kitty Store!

July 4 Celebrations on O'ahu

Happy July 4 to everyone! While it may seem strange that I am Australian and I am getting into the American holiday spirit - I think its important to embrace the traditions of the place in which you reside. July 4 is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Typically, people celebrate by having BBQ's, parties, picnics, going to the baseball, and with fireworks. I am not a big fireworks fan, for a few reasons:

1. The noise

2. The mess

3. The danger

4. The effect they have on animals

However, I anticipate a night of fireworks where I live and if you are in Honolulu, why not head to Ala Moana Center’s annual Fourth of July Celebration, where they have it ALL (ok, I don't think they have baseball)!

Live music at Ala Moana’s Center Stage will start at 12 noon today. At 5 p.m., Hoku Zuttermeister, Natalie Ai Kamauu, B.E.T., Pali and other contemporary and traditional Hawaiian music acts will take over the shopping center's ocean-facing parking deck for a concert leading up to the evening’s fireworks. The fireworks show is one of the 25 largest displays in the U.S.begins at 8:30 p.m., launched from three platforms at Ala Moana Beach Park, which is across the street from the mall (and where John and I got married!).

If you want more information head to the Ala Moana Center website. Have fun and most of all, be safe!

Ala Moana Center Adds New Stores....Again!

Oh I love shopping. Someone asked me the other day what it was that I loved about shopping, and my answer: the act of exchanging money for goods and services. The feeling I get when I hand over my credit card and I get something special in return is great! This not only applies to clothes and shoes, but even the grocery store is fun for me!!

Ok I am getting off track. I wanted to share the news that Ala Moana Center is opening seven new stores! They are:

• LEGO - opening July
• Victoria's Secret - opening in fall
• Links of London - opening July
• Ala Bella - opening July
• Taco Del Mar - opening July
• American Apparel - just opened
• Lin's Market - just opened

Ala Moana Center is one of my favorite shopping experiences - you can get almost anything you need (including my favorite, Louis Vuitton!) Happy shopping and see you in August Ala Moana Center.

The Bento Box

The Honolulu Advertiser has this really cute comic in the paper and online every Saturday called Bento Box. It is written by Deb Aoki and I just love it. I have put the May 9 edition of the comic on my blog to give you an example, and this one is very relevant to me as it relates to Ala Moana Center and the constant changes that take place there! Thanks to the Advertiser for the comic. Its a little hard to see on the screen so click on the picture to enlarge if you can't read the full text.

If You Love Shopping - Head To Ala Moana Center!

March 23-29 marks Shop a Le`a - 7 blissful days of shopping euphoria at Ala Moana Center. The week brings seven days of in-store events, special discounts, product demos and a big one-year celebration for the new Nordstrom wing. I am sad that I will miss this as I love Ala Moana Center - their selection of stores is amazing and it just keeps getting bigger and better. Happy shopping for those of you in the Islands. Check out the full calendar of events here.

Aloha People!

Just a quick post before I head out to the Ala Moana Shopping Center, but we arrived safe and sound - had a fabulous flight with Hawaiian Airlines, and our hotel is super. John and Jimmy are off the Pro Bowl today, and I am going to make the most of my free time and do some serious shopping, and first stop is the Hello Kitty store! It is so great to be back here and it reminds me that the plan is to return - we just have to decide when, and from my experience so far it will be in the not too distant future. I love Hawaii!! Aloha!

Only A Few Days To Go!

The Seattle weather today almost fooled me into thinking winter was over! No doubt, the chilly weather will be back, but not where I am headed in just 3 sleeps. That's right, I can almost see Diamond Head in my dreams I am that close to leaving for Oahu. I'm not sure if its because of the line of work that I am in, or if I am just a little bit too organized, but I have a spreadsheet ready with a complete itinerary for our trip, in order to maximize our time in the Islands. I have even scheduled in shopping time at Ala Moana, and drinking time at the Barefoot Bar! I have the important things covered. Oh, and I forgot, dinner at Alan Wong's of course!

If anyone actually reads my posts I would love some suggestions on what else to include in my itinerary - so readers - please send me your thoughts - someone has to be reading this!

Hello Kitty

My husband is off to Japan this week on a business trip. His one instruction from me: Stuff as many Hello Kitty items into your suitcase as possible - even if it means leaving clothes behind! That's right, I love Hello Kitty, sometimes more than life itself, and Hawaii is certainly the place to get your Hello Kitty fix. The Sanrio flagship store is located at Ala Moana Center. They have so much Hello Kitty loot, it will make your head spin. You are probably asking, "why does a twenty-something adult love Hello Kitty when its made for kids?" Well my friends, you would be wrong about that assumption. Not sure if you have been to a Hello Kitty store lately, but they have treats for everyone of every age. Check out their website to see not only the biggest collection of Hello Kitty items, but other characters such as Badtz-Maru and Chococat.

My top 5 favorite Hello Kitty Hawaii items are:

1. Post It notes (available from ABC Stores)
2. Phone Straps (I have the cutest spam musubi with HK on the top)
3. Handbags
4. Coffee mugs
5. Plush - HK doing the hula

I look forward to showing you my Hello Kitty stash on my blog when John returns from Japan - yipee!!!

My Hawaiian Sunday

When I lived in Hawaii, Sunday was my favorite day - especially for R&R. The day would usually run like this:

9am: Wake up - look outside - see sun - happiness

10am: Head to the beach - usually Ala Moana Beach Park or perhaps swing by the Hilton Pool

Noon: Grab a cool beverage (probably beer) and be thankful for all things Hawaiian

2pm: Starting to get sunburn - out of the sun and off to Ala Moana Center - one of the biggest shopping malls in the southern hemisphere! All my favorites are here - Hello Kitty, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, Dior - the list is endless

5pm: Stop by and see John at work - across the street from our house (very convenient)!

6pm: Catch up on shows, do laundry, cook dinner

7pm: Watch the sunset from Pau St

9pm: John gets home - time for dinner

10pm - Bedtime - again being thankful for all things Hawaiian.

What a life! When will it be back??