Aloha Tower Marketplace

The Aloha Tower Marketplace is an outdoor shopping and dining mall in Honolulu. It is located on the waterfront a few miles west of Waikiki Beach and is easily reached by bus, tourist trolley or taxi cab. It's a little too far to walk, especially in the heat of the Hawaiian sun. The tower was built in the 1920s and serves no special purpose although there is an observation deck on the 10th floor. In 1994 the Aloha Tower area was renovated and turned into a shopping and dining plaza. Every year on July 3rd, Aloha Tower has a fireworks show to celebrate Independence Day. It can get crowded so be prepared.

Most of the stores at Aloha Tower are geared towards the tourist. There are plenty of clothing boutiques, jewelry stores, Hawaiian handicrafts and miscellaneous souvenirs shops. I go to a coffee store called Island Vintage Coffee to buy a specialty coffee. It's called Kona Peaberry #1 grade. It kicks ass. Very dark and rich in flavor. It's $40 for a pound or $165 for a 5 pound bag. I usually buy 5 pounds and split it with a friend.

Over the years, many different restaurants have come and gone from Aloha Tower. Only a few have endured for any appreciable length of time. I think the best restaurant at Aloha Tower is Chai's Island Bistro. They serve up great Thai and Pacific Rim cuisine. Evenings usually have Hawaiian musicians to entertain the patrons. Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant is a micro brewery restaurant with lots of outdoor seating. They also have nightly entertainment. Don Ho's Island Grill attempts a throwback to the vintage years of Waikiki. In my opinion, they should concentrate on serving better food. The Bikini Cantina is a place for Mexican food. I think the phrase "Mexican food in Honolulu" says all you need to know. Honolulu wouldn't be a tourist destination if they didn't have a Hooters restaurant. If you want to stare at women, you should go to the beach and take a pass on Hooters. The last restaurant in my roundup is the Makino Chaya Japanese restaurant. I don't know ANYONE who has eaten there. This is a place where the Japanese tourists go when the tour bus drops them off. I think there is some kind of relationship between the restaurant owners and the Japanese Tourist Bureau. If you're in a hurry to eat, there is a food court and a few small food stands scattered throughout the Marketplace.

Unless you're looking for something specific, I wouldn't go out of my way for Aloha Tower Marketplace. I think Ala Moana mall and the Ward Centers offer better shopping and dining. The only reason I go there is for my specialty coffee. It used to be a lot better but high rental prices and the tough economy has taken its toll on Aloha Tower.