Ala Moana Center

Touted as the world’s largest open-air shopping destination, Ala Moana Center is a popular shopping location with over 260 luxury brand name shops and it is still undergoing expansion efforts to include Hawaii’s first full-line Nordstrom and over 30 new stores by March 2008. There are also a number of fine-dining restaurants and an international food court.

With our hotel just next to it, Ala Moana Center was one of our most frequently-visited destinations for food and shopping. From Makai Market Food Court in the basement, fast food restaurants to restaurants such as Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (yes, themed after the movie, Forrest Gump!) on Ho’okipa Terrace on the top floor, one would be spoilt for choice when it comes to dining options. Shopping choices range from the very high-end such as Louis Vuitton and Coach (favourites of the Japanese), mid-range popular choices such as Abercrombie & Fitch, to the comprehensive Macy’s department store (similar to Isetan in Singapore).

After visiting this place almost everyday, we concluded that the “many” who deemed this shopping centre a “must-visit” place, must have been the Japanese tourists. The place was practically overflowing with Japanese tourists who loved to splurge on luxury goods. They would enter luxury brand boutiques such as LV, Chanel, Gucci and come out with huge bags of purchases as if they were on some shopping pilgrimages! Apparently, we found out that the prices in Hawaii were comparatively much cheaper than those back in Japan. ; p

One useful tip the next time you visit any Macy’s store in the United States; be sure to ask if there’s any discount card for tourists. Thanks to a friendly Macy’s staff with excellent customer service, we discovered that just by showing our hotel key or passport to the relevant person (the counter was located in a rather discreet corner), we were entitled to a special Macy’s discount card which allowed us to enjoy an additional 11% discount off our purchases, even for promotional items!! We could even bring the card to seek “reimbursement” for items purchased earlier! We must say the 11% really did help us to save quite a bit! “p