Pearlridge

Pearlridge, formally Pearlridge Center, is a major enclosed shopping center in Aiea on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. It is regarded as Hawaii's second-largest shopping center after Ala Moana Center and is described as the state's largest enclosed mall. The property overlooks the Pearl Harbor area and the USS Arizona Memorial, giving it a setting that combines regional shopping, tourism, transportation, and local community activity. The center opened in 1972 with its original Uptown section. At opening, the principal anchors included JCPenney, Shirokiya, and Liberty House, while Sears operated as a freestanding store before the later Downtown expansion. Pearlridge Downtown opened in 1976, adding a second major retail zone, a Skycab connection, Hawaii's first Daiei store, and a Fun Factory entertainment venue. The development subsequently evolved through department-store closures, changes in entertainment and restaurant tenants, and the conversion of former anchor spaces into smaller retail and service uses. The property is organized around two principal enclosed areas and smaller adjacent retail components. In 2019, the former Uptown and Downtown names were replaced with the Hawaiian-influenced names Mauka and Wai Makai. The former East and West areas were also renamed Ko Makai and Awa Makai. The two main areas are linked by the Skycab, a monorail system that is a distinctive feature of the center and is described as Hawaii's only monorail. The system began operating in 1977 and was built by Rohr Industries. Pearlridge contains more than 170 stores and restaurants, two food courts, and a multiplex operated by Consolidated Theatres with 16 screens. Its tenant mix has included department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment operators, medical services, and other consumer-service businesses. Macy's occupies the former Liberty House position as a principal anchor. Sears closed in 2021, leaving a major vacant space as of the latest supplied reference material. Other notable tenant changes have included the replacement of former Borders, Circuit City, and Bed Bath & Beyond locations with later uses or vacant space following corporate closures and bankruptcies. The broader property is more than a conventional shopping mall. Pali Momi Medical Center provides an emergency clinic on mall property, and the Pearlridge Office Center is an eight-story office complex housing financial and professional services. The site also includes standalone restaurants and stores, while Sumida Farm, identified as Hawaii's largest watercress farm, operates on Kamehameha Schools-owned land leased in connection with the wider area. Transportation access has expanded through the Kalauao, or Pearlridge, station on Honolulu's Skyline rail system, which opened for public service in June 2023. Washington Prime Group owns the shopping-center property, while the underlying land is owned by Kamehameha Schools. Pearlridge therefore functions as a locally significant retail and services destination rather than a conventional product brand. Its continuing identity is built around regional shopping, entertainment, food, healthcare, office uses, and its unusual Skycab link between the two main mall sections.

Pearlridge Center developed as a major regional shopping destination in Aiea, central Oahu. Its first phase, Pearlridge Uptown, opened in 1972. The initial anchor lineup included JCPenney, Shirokiya, and Liberty House, while Sears operated independently before the second main section was completed. The center's early design established the two-part configuration that would remain central to its identity. Pearlridge Downtown opened in 1976. This expansion added Hawaii's first Daiei store and a Fun Factory location, along with the connection infrastructure that later made the center notable for its Skycab monorail. Daiei subsequently left the property after its acquisition of Holiday Mart stores, relocating its Pearlridge operation to the Holiday Mart Pearl City site in 1980. The vacated space was later adapted for cinema use after the movie theater moved from an area near the office complex. The tenant and physical configuration continued to change as national retailers altered their Hawaii operations. JCPenney exited Hawaii in 2004, and its former anchor area was incorporated into the mall and initially used by Borders and Price Busters. Borders later closed in 2011, after which Ross Dress for Less moved into the space. Other freestanding and adjacent properties also changed hands or uses over time. Circuit City occupied the former Star Markets space in Pearlridge Awa Makai until the electronics retailer's 2009 bankruptcy-related closure. Bed Bath & Beyond later replaced Circuit City in 2010, but that store closed in 2023 after Bed Bath & Beyond entered bankruptcy proceedings. Pearlridge's physical identity is organized around two large enclosed districts, formerly called Uptown and Downtown, plus smaller areas that were previously identified as East and West. A 2018 renovation of the Downtown area, completed in 2019, included the closure of Fun Factory and the arrival of new dining and retail operators. In 2019, the center adopted the names Mauka and Wai Makai for the principal sections, and Ko Makai and Awa Makai for the smaller areas. The renaming was presented as an effort to incorporate more Hawaiian cultural references into the center's public identity. The Skycab is one of the property's most distinctive features. Built by Rohr Industries, the monorail began service on November 7, 1977, and links the two main mall sections. It has been described as Hawaii's only monorail. The property also includes a 16-screen Consolidated Theatres complex, two food courts, more than 170 stores and restaurants, standalone restaurants, and a range of service businesses. Macy's remains a principal anchor in the former Liberty House position, while Sears closed in 2021 and its former space remained vacant in the supplied reference material. Pearlridge extends beyond retail. Pali Momi Medical Center operates on the property and includes an emergency clinic described as the only such clinic located on a Hawaii mall property. The eight-story Pearlridge Office Center accommodates financial and professional offices. Sumida Farm, identified as Hawaii's largest watercress farm, is another notable feature of the surrounding property and operates on land owned by Kamehameha Schools. Washington Prime Group owns the shopping-center property, while Kamehameha Schools owns the underlying land. Transportation connections have expanded with the Honolulu Skyline rail system. The Kalauao, or Pearlridge, station opened to the public on June 30, 2023. Together with the Skycab, the station reinforces Pearlridge's role as a regional destination connected to both local road and rail networks. The center remains an active mixed-use retail complex whose significance comes from its scale, location, unusual internal transit system, and combination of shopping, dining, entertainment, medical, office, and community-oriented uses.

• 2023

  Pearlridge Skyline station opens

  [1]Pearlridge Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Kalauao/Pearlridge station begins public service on Honolulu's Skyline system.

• 2021

  Sears closes

  [1]Pearlridge Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor leaves the center, creating a major vacant retail space.

• 2019

  Mall sections receive Hawaiian names

  [1]Pearlridge Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Uptown and Downtown become Mauka and Wai Makai, while East and West become Ko Makai and Awa Makai.

• 2018

  Downtown renovation begins

  [1]Pearlridge Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Downtown area undergoes renovation, with changes to entertainment and dining tenants.

• 2004

  Former JCPenney space is redeveloped

  [1]Pearlridge Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Following JCPenney's withdrawal from Hawaii, its former anchor area is converted into additional mall space.

• 1977

  Skycab service begins

  [1]Pearlridge Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Rohr Industries-built monorail begins connecting the two principal mall sections.

• 1976

  Pearlridge Downtown opens

  [1]Pearlridge Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The second major section opens with Daiei, Fun Factory, and additional retail capacity.

• 1972

  Pearlridge Uptown opens

  [1]Pearlridge Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The original Pearlridge section opens in Aiea with JCPenney, Shirokiya, and Liberty House as major anchors.

A large regional enclosed shopping and services destination serving central Oahu, differentiated by its two-part layout, Pearl Harbor setting, interbuilding monorail, broad tenant mix, and integration of retail, entertainment, healthcare, office, and transit uses.

• Enclosed shopping mall section · 1972

  Pearlridge Mauka

  The section formerly known as Pearlridge Uptown. It forms one of the center's two principal enclosed retail areas and includes fashion, specialty retail, dining, and service tenants.

• Enclosed shopping mall section · 1976

  Pearlridge Wai Makai

  The section formerly known as Pearlridge Downtown. Opened in 1976, it contains retail and dining uses and has undergone later renovation and tenant changes.

• Monorail transportation service · 1977

  Pearlridge Skycab

  An elevated monorail linking the two principal mall sections. Built by Rohr Industries, it began operating in 1977 and is a defining visitor feature of the center.

• Office complex

  Pearlridge Office Center

  An eight-story office complex on the property that primarily accommodates financial and professional service offices.

• Cinema and entertainment

  Pearlridge cinema complex

  A 16-screen movie theater complex operated by Consolidated Theatres and integrated into the mall's entertainment offering.

• 2019

  Adoption of Hawaiian section namesStrategy

  Background

  Pearlridge sought to give the center's internal districts a stronger connection to Hawaiian culture and local identity.

  Action taken

  The former Uptown and Downtown sections were renamed Mauka and Wai Makai, and the former East and West areas were renamed Ko Makai and Awa Makai.

  Aftermath

  The new names became part of the center's current physical and marketing vocabulary.

  Source

• 2018

  Downtown renovation and tenant repositioningOther

  Background

  The Downtown section required modernization and a refreshed mix of entertainment, dining, and retail uses.

  Action taken

  Pearlridge renovated the area, closed Fun Factory, and introduced new operators including Uncles Grill. The work was completed in 2019.

  Aftermath

  The section reopened with an updated tenant and dining mix.

  Source

1. 1Pearlridge Centeren.wikipedia.org