Ala Moana Center has opened 1,250 new stalls to alleviate the traffic bottleneck at the Ewa end of the mall before the holiday rush.
The center is in the peak of construction for its massive $572 million redevelopment project expected to last at least another year.
"The parking here is already crazy as it is. Even weekdays are just like the weekends," said Aiea resident Heather Mauga, who found parking after 20 minutes circling the lot with her husband, Patrick, 1-year-old daughter Talia and niece Amerie Gonzales, 2. "People get kind of heated, too, for parking stalls. It’s already bad … (and) it’s not even the holidays."
An estimated 2,000 stalls were blocked off at the state’s largest shopping center when construction began last year, reducing the number of parking spaces to 8,000 from 10,000. Ala Moana officials wouldn’t disclose how many stalls remain open, but said it is more than 8,000.
The center opened six levels of the Ewa half of the Mauka Ewa parking garage across from Longs Drugs within the past few weeks, along with ramps into the garage from Keeaumoku, Piikoi and Kona Iki streets. Portions of the Mauka Ewa parking structure on the Diamond Head side remain closed.
In addition, mall officials say they will continue an off-site employee parking program for the duration of the holiday season. Many of Ala Moana’s employees and vendors (including security, maintenance and housekeeping personnel) now park in the Ala Moana Pacific Center. The mall will open parking in the same building for store employees all day on Saturdays and Sundays starting Nov. 22.
From Dec. 12 to 27, additional employee parking will be available at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, which is opening more than 600 stalls for consumers at a cost of $10 per vehicle on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.
"These off-site efforts will effectively free up to approximately 800 employee parking spaces for customers," Scott Creel, Ala Moana Center senior marketing manager, said in a statement. "This year we are offering even more parking options for our customers and employees during the holiday season. We are encouraging both our customers and employees to take advantage of these options to ease and enhance the holiday shopping experience."
The center will continue offering free valet parking at two locations: on the fourth level of the Mauka Ewa parking structure and mall level at the porte-cochere near Morton’s the Steakhouse and Longhi’s restaurant. From Nov. 24 to Dec. 28, a third location will be added on the mall level near Nordstrom.
The first 500 mall employees willing to forgo parking on property during December also will receive free bus passes, the center said.
Ala Moana is demolishing the former Sears store to expand the mall to Piikoi Street in preparation for Hawaii’s first Bloomingdale’s, other large retailers and smaller stores.
The center, which attracts 42 million visits annually and generates sales in excess of $1,400 per square foot, has barricaded the parking area on the Ewa end of the mall for the expansion expected to open late next year.
Another building project adding to traffic woes is One Ala Moana, a 23-story residential condominium atop the Nordstrom parking garage, which is scheduled to be completed by year’s end.
In addition, shoppers must endure the construction of Park Lane Ala Moana, a 200-unit condo complex overlooking Ala Moana Beach Park on part of the mall’s makai edge. That project is expected to be completed by late 2016.
"I had to let out a little steam right now before I opened the door," Wahiawa resident Marcela Supnet said after circling the garage for 30 minutes and having to dodge another driver who appeared to be vying for the same space. "You kind of have to be aggressive to get your spot. In the long run (the project) is good. It’ll bring jobs to people and help the economy. (In the short term) it’s stressful."
