Victoria Ward Centers
Encyclopedia
Ward Centers, formerly known as Victoria Ward Centers, is a major shopping complex of various shopping centers near Waikiki
at Kaka'ako
in Honolulu, Hawai'i
. Only minutes away from the larger Ala Moana Center
, Ward Centers is considered a retail hub as host to Ward Entertainment Center, Ward Centre, Ward Farmers Market, Ward Gateway Center, Ward Village Shops, Ward Warehouse and a new, multimillion dollar 150,00 square foot (14,000 m²) entertainment center boasting the largest theater megaplex in Hawai'i. The theater complex, owned by Consolidated Theatres
, and high tech
midway
opened in 2001. There is also the new Ward Village Development that will add a very large section to the Ward Centers.
to the shores of Ala Moana
. On the estate was their mansion, Old Plantation, the site of the present-day Neal S. Blaisdell Center
, a civic center
of the City & County of Honolulu
. In 1882, Curtis Perry Ward died and left his holdings to his wife and daughters. Victoria Ward continued the family business, purchasing real estate which would be developed for commercial use. At one time, Victoria Ward owned all of the land at Kaka'ako.
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
at Kaka'ako
Kakaako
Kakaako is the name of a commercial and retail district of Honolulu, Hawaii between Ala Moana near Waikīkī to the east, downtown Honolulu and Honolulu Harbor to the west. Kakaako is situated along the southern shores of the island of Oahu....
in Honolulu, Hawai'i
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
. Only minutes away from the larger Ala Moana Center
Ala Moana Center
Ala Moana Center in Honolulu is the largest shopping mall in Hawaii, the fifteenth largest shopping mall in the United States, and the largest open-air shopping center in the world....
, Ward Centers is considered a retail hub as host to Ward Entertainment Center, Ward Centre, Ward Farmers Market, Ward Gateway Center, Ward Village Shops, Ward Warehouse and a new, multimillion dollar 150,00 square foot (14,000 m²) entertainment center boasting the largest theater megaplex in Hawai'i. The theater complex, owned by Consolidated Theatres
Consolidated Theatres
Consolidated Theatres was a movie theater chain based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company operated over 400 movie screens and 28 theaters in 6 states along the East Coast.It was part of "The Stone Group" and was founded by Herman Stone....
, and high tech
High tech
High tech is technology that is at the cutting edge: the most advanced technology currently available. It is often used in reference to micro-electronics, rather than other technologies. The adjective form is hyphenated: high-tech or high-technology...
midway
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
opened in 2001. There is also the new Ward Village Development that will add a very large section to the Ward Centers.
Early history
Victoria Ward was the wife of Honolulu industrialist Curtis Perry Ward and daughter of influential British shipbuilder James Robinson. Victoria Ward and her husband owned a vast estate that stretched from downtown HonoluluDowntown Honolulu
Downtown Honolulu is the current historic, economic, governmental, and central part of Honolulu—bounded by Nuuanu Stream to the west, Ward Avenue to the east, Vineyard Boulevard to the north, and Honolulu Harbor to the south—situated within the larger Honolulu District...
to the shores of Ala Moana
Ala Moana
Ala Moana is the name of a commercial, retail and residential district of Honolulu, Hawaii nestled between Waikīkī to the east and Kakaako and Honolulu Harbor to the west...
. On the estate was their mansion, Old Plantation, the site of the present-day Neal S. Blaisdell Center
Neal S. Blaisdell Center
The Neal S. Blaisdell Center in downtown Honolulu, Honolulu CDP is a community center for the City & County of Honolulu. Constructed in 1964 on the historic Ward Estate and originally called the Hawaii International Center, the center was renamed after Mayor of Honolulu Neal S. Blaisdell...
, a civic center
Civic center
A civic center or civic centre is a prominent land area within a community that is constructed to be its focal point or center. It usually contains one or more dominant public buildings, which may also include a government building...
of the City & County of Honolulu
Honolulu County, Hawaii
The City and County of Honolulu is a consolidated city–county located in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The municipality and county includes both the urban district of Honolulu and the rest of the island of Oahu, as well as several minor outlying islands, including all of the Northwestern Hawaiian...
. In 1882, Curtis Perry Ward died and left his holdings to his wife and daughters. Victoria Ward continued the family business, purchasing real estate which would be developed for commercial use. At one time, Victoria Ward owned all of the land at Kaka'ako.