The Waikiki International Market Place Gets a Makeover
The Market Place in Waikiki has changed a lot, so you'll have to see it for yourself, or at least read about it here.
Waikiki has come a long way since the days of a crooning Don Ho and Duke Kahanamoku, but many of the standout experiences have remained the same, such as getting a mai tai at the Pink Palace aka the Royal Hawaiian, listening to slack key guitar enhanced by the legendary view of Diamond Head from the Halekulani, and, for generations of locals (including Don and Duke), buying cheap souvenirs at the Waikiki International Market Place. After a multimillion-dollar renovation, however, you’ll need to update your expectations and bring the Black card. Besides the 160-year-old banyan tree that still stands, everything else has changed. The rows of sparkling tchotchkes have been replaced with Teslas and the state’s first Saks Fifth Avenue, along with 90-plus retailers and 10 world-class restaurants and, in a nod to Mr. Ho, a nightly “O Na Lani Sunset Stories” show. shopinternationalmarketplace.com
This article originally appeared in Marin Magazine’s print edition with the headline: “Market Place Makeover”.
