The Big Island of Hawaii has quickly established itself as a shopping and dining mecca.  The shopping scene on the Kohala Coast has grown so tremendously and has visitors staying longer due to that fact.

 The 75,000-square-foot Kings’ Shops is upgrading and adding.  In the past year the Kings’ Shops has added Tiffany and Coach stores, along with a new program of live jazz that visitors can enjoy throughout their shopping experiences on Saturdays from 4-6 p.m.  and many of their existing stores are under construction, making them even better than before.

 And the 135,000-square-foot Queens’ MarketPlace opened this fall at the entrance to Waikoloa Beach Resort, and serves as a companion piece to the Kings’ Shops.  This market place houses over 70 shops and eateries, along with a 20,000-square-foot gourmet food market.  The Queens’ MarketPlace offers more than just a great place to shop and dine, it strives to capture the different aspects of Hawaii’s culture, and features a the Waikoloa Performance Garden, a showcase for live music, films and group events.

 And the Big Island also offers the new 78,000-square-foot Shops at Mauna Lani.  This has grown to a great place for shopping, dining, and art since it opened in 2006.  it features brand-name designer fashions, island-style ware, unique gifts, local art, and gourmet dining in its open-air walkways and tropical landscaping, with 80 percent of its shops found nowhere else on the island.  They also offer two shows, both of which are free to guests.  First is the “Hawaiian Goddesses,” a multimedia entertainment event which runs Wednesday and Friday at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. and second is “Kamehameha” which is presented Monday and Thursday at and 8 p.m.

Waikiki went for long without any renovations, but due to the Outrigger Enterprises Group, everyone has come around to the idea of “a new Waikiki.” When the Outrigger group originally wanted to renovate, it was nearly impossible due to zoning restrictions on the area that were put there to protect open space and restrict density. But Outrigger didn’t give up and continued to prove their point for a bigger, better Waikiki to local restaurants and retailers, until soon the zoning regulations were changed.

With the new freedom, they went into phase one in April 2004, the Waikiki Beach Walk, a development that includes hotels, public spaces, entertainment venues, retail outlets, and condominiums. This area opened last December, and the area now consists of hotels, condominiums and timeshares. Outrigger is also fixing up their Outrigger Reef on the Beach, with an addition of a 200-room Ocean Tower, which opened in May. The rest is predicted to be complete in 2008, and so far is only halfway to the projected goal.

 
Not only is Outrigger making over and adding to their hotels, but others are following their example. Starwood Hotels & Suites has been upgrading their existing properties, refurbishing and renaming their “first lady of Waikiki” from the Moana Surfrider to Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort. The Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa is adding a 38-story Grand Waikiki timeshare tower and made-over the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. Others that are fixing up their properties are Aqua Hotels & Resorts, Waikiki Beach Marriot Resort, Ala Moana Hotel, ResortQuest Hawaii’s Waikiki Beach Hotel, and many others.

Not only are the previous properties being made-over, but many new hotels and attractions are being added to the Waikiki area. One that they are most excited for is the Trump International Hotel & Tower condo hotel, which is scheduled to open in 2009. Other hotel brands are being added such as Embassy Suites, Aqua Resorts and Wyland. Also, many retail establishments and restaurants are upgrading themselves as well, such as the Kamehameha Schools’ Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, who will be going through an $84 million renovation that will offer more space, landscaping and more retailers and restaurants.

Not only are the retailers and hotels changing their looks, but so is the town itself, by offering new attractions and accommodations. Entertainers will be offering free performances of hula, slack key guitar and ukulele, along with other Hawaiian entertainment. The city will also offer widened streets, additional landscaping, and the Waikiki Trolley will become available to everyone with the same fare as public transportation. “The New Waikiki,” as it is being called, will offer so much more to visitors than it used to, with upgraded hotels, resorts, and attractions, which will be sure to make it a popular spot for travelers.

The development of Waikiki has been largely influenced by the natives. Check out the beautiful landscaping along the Waikiki Beach Walk, there are a variety of native plants and flowers along the way. The Outrigger Enterprise has launched a redevelopment project along this walk, which encompasses close to 2 million square feet of hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Outrigger has partnered with the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame and the Hawaii Academy of Recording Artist. They have created a music program, which features performances by local artist, and exhibits along the Waikiki Beach Walk.The Outrigger development is home to Mana Hawaii, a retail outlet selling traditional Hawaiian artwork, woodwork, hula accessories, clothing and other merchandise. So next time you are in Waikiki, make sure you check out the Waikiki Beach Walk.