Ala Moana Center Expansion

PBR HAWAII continued its long-term involvement with Ala Moana Center by the playing a key role of landscape architect for the expansion where the previous Sears store was located. Since 2000, PBR HAWAII has been part of the Ala Moana design team which transformed the Center into a modern shopping and dining destination surrounded by lush native Hawaiian gardens and ponds.

 As the world’s largest open-air shopping center with over 200 shops on four floors, Ala Moana Center is the premier destination for visitors and kama‘āina alike. Ala Moana Center’s dramatic transformation began in 1998 and, following the closure in 2013 of anchor tenant Sears, culminated in the development of additional retail space at its ‘Ewa wing. The new ‘Ewa Expansion opened in November 2015, and now features over 30 new stores, with Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom as new anchors. A key element to the ‘Ewa Expansion was the creation of new “anchor courts” that serve as informal gathering places and entertainment venues for seasonal performances. A combination of native Hawaiian and tropical plants establish lush settings within these anchor courts and throughout the ‘Ewa Expansion, creating a smooth transition between the original mall and the new wing. The work that began in 1998 and concluded with the ‘Ewa Expansion has thus elevated the status of Ala Moana Center to new heights with a fresh, modern interpretation of what makes Ala Moana Center so special.