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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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JbKillinIt

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Start um young</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @JbKillenIt, with a stoked little grom.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Start um young

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ASD Staff

Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by John Pritchett on Oʻahu. "I liked this photo, wispy clouds, because it looked like jellyfish floating in the sky. It made me feel like flying. The photo was special because I had never seen clouds like that before."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

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Whispy clouds

<title>Hawaiʻi Skies: Jellyfish clouds</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by John Pritchett on Oʻahu.

Hawaiʻi Skies: Jellyfish clouds

De Soto 2025

DeSoto Brown

Hawai‘i History

Columnists

As Aloha Tower moved into the middle years of the 20th century, tourism was increasing, and it was recognized that future infrastructure improvements were going to be necessary. Although travelers arriving in Hawai‘i by ship were gradually diminishing while those arriving by air were increasing, discussions in 1958 determined that Honolulu's main docks needed major reconstruction. Piers 8 through 11, at the base of Aloha Tower, should have facilities for passengers moved to a second level while cargo handling should be confined to the ground floors of the wharves. 

Unfortunately, this assessment did not take into account two trends that were already identified at the time — jet planes would be starting service to Hawai‘i within a year or two, and ocean cargoes would soon be shifting exclusively to standardized shipping containers, which Matson had begun using this same year. The latter would eventually require all of Honolulu's cargo movements to be relocated to Sand Island.

So even as visitors were moving away from ship travel in favor of faster and cheaper jet airplanes, in June 1963 a bid of over $5 million was accepted for the revamp of the pier complex. On July 11, 1963 the work started, and in June 1964 a controversial elevated traffic ramp's construction began. This structure was to allow access by vehicles to and from the second-story passenger area that filled in the former open space between Piers 8, 9 and 10. The ramp was criticized for how it would block the view of the harbor when looking down Bishop Street, since to keep the degree of its rise gradual, it would have to extend from a base some distance away at Pier 6.

Even worse, to many people, was how the base of Aloha Tower was completely obscured by the new addition, which also left the ground level here perpetually in shadow. Regardless of complaints, the finished project was dedicated on March 29, 1965.

The anticipated need for accommodating increased ocean travelers at Aloha Tower turned out to be incorrect. Their numbers consistently decreased, and in 1970 Matson ended its once-famous passenger service completely, to focus exclusively on cargo transport from then on. The enlarged dock facilities were unused most of the time.

By 1981 came the start of Aloha Tower's next transformation, which truthfully is still going on today. But this process has been so complex and troubled that it's impossible to even attempt to recount it in any detail here. We'll just focus on what happened starting with the closure of the Tower and its docks on November 1, 1993 in preparation for demolition and then new construction. The overall plan for the area was a massive, multi-stage development, which would start with a "festival marketplace" of the type that had already been successful in other US cities like the first one at Fanueil Hall in Boston from 1976, or Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Planned to follow this at Honolulu Harbor would be an office building, a 350 unit condominium, a maritime-specific office structure, a 350 room hotel, a "historic park" and an elevated bridge over Nimitz Highway to Fort Street. Needless to say, none of the latter ever came into existence.

Starting off the redevelopment process was the tearing-down of everything that had been constructed in the 1960s, along with the pier structures at Docks 8 and 9. On July 14, 1994, Aloha Tower stood entirely by itself for the first time ever, with the two-story concrete & steel wharf buildings at its base entirely removed. This was seen as a very positive step in the anticipated creation of what was to become Aloha Tower Marketplace. Intense work was necessary to meet the opening date of November 19, 1994, when about 50,000 people came to see the new $100 million shopping center. Consisting of a very attractive group of two story buildings with open walkways between them, the mix of tenants included retail stores, bars, restaurants and an open area dedicated to kiosks and pushcarts, with total tenants planned to number 200. The unique, scenic setting and the substantial number of Honolulu residents and visitors as potential customers seemed to indicate a bright future.

Except...the bright future never happened. The immediate problem was parking, which was limited and expensive. The rejection of having to pay to leave your car someplace, when lots of other places fairly nearby were free, pretty much doomed the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Within a few weeks came the first worried complaints from tenants, particularly from the pushcart owners. By May 1995 the developer, Aloha Tower Associates, was in arrears to various unpaid vendors as well as to the State of Hawaii, its landlord.

For years afterwards, the marketplace limped along through bankruptcies, lawsuits, failed proposals for parking improvements, different owners and managers, and dwindling tenants. A few of the latter did well, but many failed.

Finally in 2011, Hawai‘i Pacific University — which occupied numerous rented spaces in multiple downtown buildings, mostly along Fort Street — purchased the lease to Aloha Tower Marketplace along with a commercial investor. The following year the complex was 70% vacant, and by 2013 HPU had bought out its partner and had full control. Thereafter the center was redeveloped into student housing and various other school uses.

A handful of commercial tenants are present today, but in February 2020 the last of the original businesses from the 1994 opening finally closed, which was the controversial Hooters bar and restaurant.

And so we conclude in 2026, Aloha Tower's 100th birthday, anticipating that discussions for the future of the tower and its surroundings will be ongoing indefinitely (perhaps), with probably few actual changes to take place. We can say with certainty that someday the Skyline elevated train will be traveling along nearby Nimitz Highway with a station at Bishop Street, but its effects cannot be anticipated, and if anything can be learned from history, it would be unwise to try to guess them in advance.

(For Part 1 of Aloha Tower at 100 Years, click 

1 Aloha Tower 60s 16x9

<title>Aloha Tower at 100 years old, Part 2: It seemed like a good idea at the time ...</title>

In the early 1960s, the State of Hawai‘i invested millions in harbor upgrades that included modernizing Aloha Tower as a terminal for passenger liners. But jet planes soon replaced passengers liners, rendering the terminal obsolete. In the 1990s, those structure were torn down to create Aloha Marketplace, a shopping and dining destination that would never draw the anticipated crowds. ASD history writer DeSoto Brown brings us to the present day as Aloha Tower celebrates its centennial.

Aloha Tower at 100 years old, Part 2: It seemed like a good idea at the time ...

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Ala Moana Center has been named one of the top shopping centers in the U.S. 

in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.

The awards aim to rank the 10 Best in several areas of travel and lifestyle.

Ala Moana Center landed at No. 2 on the 10Best list of 

 and was among 20 nominated by a panel of experts. Final rankings were determined by public vote.

“This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the support of our tenants, employees, residents and visitors from around the world who help shape the experience at Ala Moana Center each day,” Craig Gorris, senior general manager of Ala Moana Center, said in an announcement Wednesday. “To be voted a top shopping center in the country is an incredible honor, and we’re grateful to everyone who took the time to support us.”

Ala Moana Center opened in 1959 and is the world's largest open-air shopping center with more than 2.4 million square feet of retail space. It offers more than 350 stores and 160 dining options. 

You can check out the latest on what's new and what's coming to Ala Moana Center 

A handful of Hawai‘i businesses have also been included on other recent 10Best lists:

Voting is still underway for several other 10Best lists that focus on Hawai‘i. Read 

Ala Moana Center 052526

<title>Ala Moana Center makes list of best shopping centers</title>

USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards aim to rank the 10 best in several areas of travel and lifestyle. Here's where Ala Moana — and other Hawai‘i businesses — landed on several lists.

Ala Moana Center makes list of best shopping centers

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Viewpoints

Aloha Spirit

 party over three years ago and declined to show, according to the Office of the Governor.

 from the 2022 legislative session, Gov. Josh Green was asked “to establish a Hawaiʻi Commission on the United State Semiquincentennial.”  

The commission formed by the governor did not receive any government funding

 “to coordinate a statewide effort commemorating and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America,” per the executive order.

Leading the 19-member Hawai‘i America250 Commission is Peter Young, a member of the Hawaiʻi Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, along with lawmakers and other representatives.

The commission is responsible for soliciting donations to bring local events and activities to “communities across the Islands [that] will reflect on our shared past, celebrate our diverse heritage, and honor our veterans and ancestors through events grounded in local culture and the Spirit of Aloha,” its website notes.

To donate, volunteer and learn more, go to: 

Hawaiʻi opts out of Great American State Fair

Hawaiʻi has no official government representation at 

, a block party on the National Mall in Washington D.C., running now through July 10.

It features attractions like rodeos and a 110-foot Ferris wheel, with more than 150 exhibits for all 50 states plus U.S. territories, as well as "businesses, innovators and civic organizations," according to 

, the organizer of the fair and other semiquincentennial events.

The decision for the Hawai‘i America250 Commission, which includes Green as an honorary chair, to say, “No can” to participating in the fair appears to have grown more apparent as the travel commitment grew “from a few days to two weeks with 12-hour days,” 

Green told Aloha State Daily in a statement Friday, “The Hawai‘i America250 Commission is not operating a pavilion at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., which is 5,000 miles away. No funds were earmarked by the state, or by Congress.”

One Mililani resident wrote in to ASD after hearing Hawaiʻi would not be at the fair.

“Especially with what's been happening in Hawaiʻi, participation in this national event would have been a great opportunity to formally and informally educate and share the history and Aloha of our people; to garner support/supporters from outside our state for the causes of the Hawaiian people and the legacy of its past monarchs,” the reader wrote.

Another ASD reader from Honolulu wrote, "

Wouldn't this have been a great opportunity for the state's Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)? According to their annual budget, they expend [millions] of our taxpayers’ money annually on branding and marketing!"

At least 10 mostly Democratic-led states decided against sending official government delegations to the fair, which including Hawaiʻi are: Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, according to 

“Most of the states that opted out are led by Democrats. But all cited financial considerations, saying they'd have to spend at least $100,000 (and in some cases up to half a million dollars) of their own money and preferred to prioritize celebrations at home,” 

, noting, organizers offered to help cover basic booth setup.

 that “the decision came down to resources”; Illinois sent representatives from the Peoria Riverfront Museum to run the state's booth instead; and Oregon Gov. Tina Koteck cited both cost and concerns that the event is "a more partisan affair than originally presented,” per the The New York Times; while Young of the Hawai‘i America250 Commission has shifted focus to local initiatives.

New Hampshire, which has a similar population size to the Aloha State at about 1.4 million, found a way to participate by having its Department of Natural and Cultural Resources staff an official booth showcasing “historic documents, a presentation and a video featuring state political figures reading the Declaration of Independence.” It is the only New England State with a presence from local government, per the 

 and photos over the weekend from the Great American State Fair, Alaska and Hawaiʻi both have empty booth displays boasting red, white and blue backdrops, though, Hawaiʻi’s included a couple of rocking chairs. 

Makes sense, since they chose to sit this one out.

Hawaii at Great American State Fair

<title>Hawaiʻi says ‘No can’ to Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C.</title>

Hawaiʻi government officials will not be present at the Great American State Fair, put on by Freedom 250 now through July 10, along with at least 10 mostly Democratic-led states citing cost, staffing and for some, political reasons. Gov. Josh Green says no funds were earmarked for the fair by the state or Congress and instead, has thrown support behind local celebrations.

Hawaiʻi says ‘No can’ to Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C.

Government & Politics

The Maui County Council has taken its first formal step toward creating two new hotel zoning districts designed to accommodate certain existing vacation rental properties as the County moves forward with a phased ban on transient vacation rentals in apartment-zoned areas.

By an 8-1 vote on Jan. 7, the Council approved Resolution 25-230, sending a proposed ordinance establishing H-3 and H-4 hotel districts to the Lanaʻi, Maui and Molokaʻi Planning Commissions for review and feedback. The resolution does not rezone any properties but begins the required review process under the County Charter.

The resolution is closely tied to Bill 9, the Council-approved measure that sets a timeline to phase out transient vacation rentals in apartment districts countywide. Under Bill 9, vacation rentals would no longer be permitted in West Maui apartment districts after 2028, with apartment districts elsewhere in the county following on Jan. 1, 2031.

Councilman Tom Cook, who chairs the Water and Infrastructure Committee and represents the South Maui residency area on the County Council, told Aloha State Daily that the new zoning categories are intended to acknowledge that not all apartment‑zoned vacation rental properties can realistically transition to long‑term housing.

“It became clear that not all affected properties are suitable for residential conversion,” Cook said.

Cook said many of the properties impacted by Bill 9 are older buildings with high maintenance costs, leasehold constraints, or locations vulnerable to sea-level rise, making residential use impractical. The H-3 and H-4 districts, he said, would allow those legacy visitor properties to remain appropriately zoned rather than being forced into a housing role they cannot reasonably fulfill.

At the same time, Cook said the approach allows the County to focus housing efforts on properties that are better suited for residential use, while maintaining stable real property tax and general excise tax revenue that supports infrastructure, services and housing programs.

Cook emphasized that the proposed districts would not automatically rezone properties or expand the number of vacation rentals.

“The creation of the H-3 and H-4 districts does not automatically rezone any property, nor does it add new vacation rental properties,” he told ASD.

Any property seeking H-3 or H-4 zoning would still be required to meet all applicable development standards and planning requirements. The primary difference, Cook said, is that the new hotel districts would allow transient vacation rentals, while A-1 and A-2 apartment zoning would not.

The Council opted to transmit a clean version of the bill to the planning commissions without attaching site-specific environmental conditions. Cook said that approach was intentional, since the zoning categories could apply in a variety of settings.

“Environmental considerations are best addressed during the actual rezoning process,” Cook told ASD, when individual property conditions can be evaluated.

Cook added that, in his view, shoreline erosion and sea-level-rise risks should be addressed comprehensively across all shoreline properties, rather than through zoning-specific rules. Those concerns, he said, should be examined when individual properties apply for rezoning, as appropriate.

Asked how the Council is weighing housing goals against potential impacts to County revenue, Cook said the Temporary Investigative Group’s recommendations for H-3 and H-4 districts reflect an effort to support housing while keeping the County's finances in mind.

“Housing policy must be balanced with economic reality,” he told ASD.

Cook declined to comment on how the proposal could affect the County’s legal position amid pending litigation related to Bill 9, citing County policy on ongoing lawsuits.

The planning commissions are expected to review the proposed ordinance and provide findings and recommendations to the Council before any further legislative action is taken.

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Start um young

Kady Pascual

Social Media & Marketing Manager

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Start um young

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media & Marketing Manager

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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