The Aloha Tower Marketplace is a waterfront shopping center in Honolulu, Hawaii

Hawaii

Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...

. Located at the Honolulu Harbor

Honolulu Harbor

Honolulu Harbor, also called Kulolia and Ke Awa O Kou, is the principal seaport of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii in the United States. It is from Honolulu Harbor, located on Mamala Bay, that the City & County of Honolulu was developed and urbanized, in an outward fashion, over the course of the...

, the Aloha Tower Marketplace features several declared national landmarks

National landmark

A National landmark is a site identified by a national authority as one possessing nationally–significant natural, historic, or scientific resources...

 including the Aloha Tower

Aloha Tower

The Aloha Tower is a lighthouse that is considered one of the landmarks of the state of Hawaii in the United States. Opened on September 11, 1926, the Aloha Tower is located at Pier 9 of Honolulu Harbor. It has and continues to be a guiding beacon welcoming vessels to the City and County of Honolulu...

, Falls of Clyde and Hawaii Maritime Center

Hawaii Maritime Center

The Hawai`i Maritime Center was the principal maritime museum in the State of Hawai`i from 1988 until it closed in 2009. Located at Pier 7 of Honolulu Harbor east of Aloha Tower, the center was a campus of the Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum...

. Aloha Tower Marketplace was completed in 1994 as part of a Honolulu Harbor commercial revitalization project. It now features under a hundred stores and popular restaurants and facilities for conventions.

The architecture of the building creates a welcoming feel. There are benches & tables located in each wing. Some of the stores feature interesting details, such as sandy floors. A good view of a section of the Honolulu Harbor can be had from riding the elevator to the top of the tower.

The Marketplace has never been profitable, has been bankrupt and litigation between the management entity and the land-owner, state controlled Aloha Tower Development Corporation has occurred. Isolation from other tourist areas, lack of parking and mismanagement have been cited as reasons for the operating revenue losses.

The museum at the Falls of Clyde focused on historic sailing as well as Polynesian sailing customs. Occasionally, outrigger canoes were at the Hawaii Maritime Center

Hawaii Maritime Center

The Hawai`i Maritime Center was the principal maritime museum in the State of Hawai`i from 1988 until it closed in 2009. Located at Pier 7 of Honolulu Harbor east of Aloha Tower, the center was a campus of the Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum...

 as well. The museum closed May 1, 2009 due to lack of revenue, there are currently no plans to reopen the facility.

Dining and entertainment

There are several restaurants, including Don Ho's Island Grill which is well-known to locals. Live local entertainment is usually available, almost any night of the year. Major yearly events occur at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Various events include fireworks displays on 4th of July and New Years' Eve, ukulele

Ukulele

The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....

 contests, and Cinco de Mayo celebrations. The Great Aloha Run

Great Aloha Run

The Kaiser Permanente Great Aloha Run is a road race that takes place annually in Honolulu, Hawaii on the third Monday in February . It is a charity event that benefits Carole Kai Charities, a philanthropic fund run by Hawaii entertainer Carole Kai. Kai and Honolulu Marathon founder Jack Scaff, M.D...

bypasses the Aloha Tower Marketplace.