Ala Moana Center Expands Retail and Entertainment Mix

New tenants and store relocations signal a strategic shift in floor plan management for Honolulu retail operators.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Ala Moana Center Expands Retail and Entertainment Mix

Live Poll

Do you feel new entertainment options improve the value of your local shopping center?

Ala Moana Center has expanded its retail and entertainment footprint with several new tenant openings and internal relocations. These shifts across the center's Ewa Wing and Mauka Wing introduce new leisure and shopping options for the local market.

Why it matters

Active management of floor space and tenant mix helps large-format shopping centers maintain foot traffic and revenue stability. These reconfigurations highlight how operators in high-traffic corridors balance new experiential offerings with the relocation of established luxury brands.

The updates include a new 42,000 square foot entertainment space, an 8,000 square foot gallery, and a 3,477 square foot luxury boutique. These figures represent the footprint of the latest phase of tenant activity vs. the center's existing portfolio.

The players

Ala Moana Center

A major shopping center in Honolulu serving as a primary hub for regional retail and entertainment.

Bulgari

An Italian luxury goods company founded in 1884 known for its high-end jewelry and accessory collections.

The details

New tenants, including Kids City Adventure and Kaikoa Gallery, have secured leases across multiple levels to diversify the center's offerings. Existing operators like Bulgari and SoHa Living have simultaneously moved into redesigned spaces, optimizing their site positioning within the Ewa Wing to align with updated layout strategies.

October 2026: BB Wellness is expected to open.
November 2026: Molly Tea is expected to open.
November 12, 2026: CAMILLA boutique opening.
December 2026: Fantasy Claw arcade opening.

Market Landscape

The center’s current reconfiguration follows the industry-wide shift toward integrating entertainment-focused tenants alongside traditional retail to sustain foot traffic. This strategy mirrors broader mall management trends that prioritize high-engagement anchor experiences to remain competitive.

Property managers and retail owners should monitor these footprint shifts to assess how center-level layout changes impact customer flow and adjacency benefits. Keep an eye on upcoming Q4 openings as indicators of continued demand for experiential-focused retail space in the Honolulu market.

The takeaway

Large-scale retail hubs are increasingly leaning on entertainment-based tenants to maximize occupancy and diversify visitor draws. Operators should track the vacancy rates of their own square footage against the center's total footprint to identify potential opportunities for layout optimization.