The news that part of Ala Moana Center’s popular Lanai Market Food Court was abruptly interrupted this week due to a confirmed bed bug infestation even caught us off guard. It is Hawaii’s most famous shopping destination, billed as the largest open-air mall in the world, and a must-visit attraction for millions of visitors each year. Yet now, some of those same visitors are wondering how the state’s showcase mall failed one of the most basic hospitality tests: keeping its food court clean and safe.
Ala Moana confirmed the issue after pest control teams found bed bugs in wooden chairs used by guests. The area was treated and monitoring began. That may have been the right move, but try telling that to visitors with limited vacation time and no warning.
For residents, it is an inconvenience. For visitors who arrive with high expectations and spend a significant amount on accommodations, airfare, and dining, it raises fresh questions about whether Hawaii is slipping just when prices are at record highs.
From Sears to Chanel: How Ala Moana became a visitor icon.
Ala Moana was once where locals bought back-to-school clothes at Sears or housewares at JCPenney. The vibe was middle-of-the-road, filled with regular shops and familiar anchors.
That started shifting a decade ago. Sears closed in 2013, Bloomingdale’s took over, Nordstrom anchored a gleaming new wing, and dozens of luxury names arrived. Chanel, Gucci, Cartier, Louis Vuitton. Ala Moana was deliberately remade into a high-end showcase for international shoppers. Unfortunately, many of those visitors never returned.
That is why this week’s closure feels especially jarring. A mall that now sells $5,000 handbags and designer jewelry had to shut down part of its food court because of bed bugs. The contrast could not be much sharper.
Hawaii’s visitor infrastructure faces another blow.
This is not an isolated incident. Hawaii has had a string of visitor-facing breakdowns in the past year. Broken bathrooms in parks and at beaches. Sewage spills that closed shoreline areas. Escalators and walkways out of order at Honolulu Airport. Now, add bed bugs to the state’s crown jewel mall.
None of these alone would ruin Hawaii’s reputation. Taken together, they paint a picture that is hard to ignore. Visitors paying $500 a night for a hotel room and $25 for a burger expect basic standards. What they are seeing instead are cracks in the foundation.
Hawaii’s tourism trust is on shaky ground.
This comes as Hawaii is already struggling with its image as a visitor destination. The state is fighting battles over vacation rentals, higher taxes, and new visitor fees. Airlines have cut direct routes. Hotel occupancy remains softer compared to pre-pandemic highs. And online, a steady stream of visitor comments paints Hawaii as overpriced and underdelivering.
The Ala Moana incident may seem insignificant, but symbolically, it matters. For many visitors, this is where they pick up gifts, eat plate lunches, or get their first taste of Hawaii beyond the beach. The idea that pests were found in the furniture is not just embarrassing. It chips away at the promise of a world-class experience.
From a traveler’s point of view, news like this spreads fast. Posts on Reddit and forums are already warning, “Check your bags before you leave Ala Moana,” and “Avoid the wooden chairs.” One visitor wrote, “Avoid the wooden chairs at Ala Moana—bed bugs are no joke.” Whether fair or exaggerated, this is the kind of reputational hit isn’t good.
And if Hawaii’s most iconic mall can slip up, what does that say about hotels, vacation rentals, restaurants, or other public spaces?
What Ala Moana is doing.
The mall’s management said pest control teams acted immediately and that the closure was voluntary to ensure safety. The food court is expected to reopen after clearance testing. That response is appropriate, but the absence of clear public updates made it worse. Visitors who stumbled onto the closure in person were left wondering what happened. Transparency matters, and on that front, Ala Moana fell short.
A wake-up call for Hawaii tourism.
Bed bugs are easy enough to treat. The bigger issue Hawaii cannot seem to address fully is trust. Visitors want to believe that, despite soaring prices, the islands still deliver safety, cleanliness, and quality. Every breakdown erodes that belief a little more. And once trust is lost, it takes a long time to rebuild.
Reader feedback tells the story.
When we write about lapses like this, our comments can fill fast. Visitors recall beach bathrooms not working, overflowing trash at Diamond Head, or crowding at beach parking. Residents vent about infrastructure stretched thin between locals and tourists. Expect the same here. Readers will not just debate bed bugs. They will use this as another example of Hawaii letting standards slide.
Hawaii cannot afford these slip-ups. Ala Moana is more than just another mall. It is the state’s retail crown jewel and a symbol of Hawaii’s readiness to welcome millions of visitors. A bed bug problem in its busiest food court is a reminder that even the glossiest parts of Hawaii’s visitor industry can falter.
Would this wreck your trip, or is it just another Hawaii shrug-it-off moment?
Lead Photo Credit: Ala Moana Shopping Center, Waikiki.
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Not just Ala Moana Mall but I remember couple outbreaks at the airport and hotels. With all the tourists from different countries guess it’s bound to happen. But they can do better by cleaning and disinfecting more often so that’s on them.
We were in Oahu when the major hotel chains were on strike and even guests were picketing with the staff in front of the iconic Hilton Hawaiian Village. Prices have risen so high, but staff compensation for workers are pre-Covid level. We changed hotels once we heard which hotels were faced with striking. Hawaii is still a magical place with an aloha spirit that I felt every minute. Moana Surfrider, despite being the first hotel on Oahu and rooms are small, dated, need redone, the hotel has an aura of serenity and peace and the staff treated us like we were royalty. Honolulu changed the outdoor “Hawaiian type items” souvenir small shops that I loved and made Honolulu feel Hawaiian to another Ala Moana – boutique luxury designer shops that only the wealthy Japanese that come over for weddings with 100 guests can afford, certainly no Americans that I know. Neiman Marcus, Saks, Hermes, I liked the little flea market shops that used to be there.
There are not only bedbugs here, but also a large number of dogs on the beaches and in the water. It’s disgusting. It ruins people’s vacations. Dogs on the beaches are unacceptable!
This article is really funny. Apparently this writer never really goes to Ala Moana and looks around. This mall is filthy. If you look closely, it’s just a dirty disgusting place, especially in the parking lot. This is similar to our city and state officials who love tourism but do nothing to pick up trash building up all over our once pristine island.
We visited Maui in August 2023. Our 5th floor ocean view hotel room was infested with moths. They were in the cornices and curtains as well as in closets. The staff was un-helpful.
I feel like furnishings floors etc should become immaculate. All public furniture outdoors should be wiped daily or more often when it’s a frequently used area. It’s very simple, people expect cleanliness and service while on vacation. I’m not excited about going to Hawaii like I used to be- this article saved me a lot of money.
Bed bugs are no laughing matter. I am glad I didn’t get to the mall a week ago. Bed bugs are not always easy to treat. I once moved into an apartment that had them. Despite several fumigations and treatments they would not go away. I was forced to move. Yes, it would certainly ruin my trip. Those little devils could have moved anywhere in the mall to almost anywhere. Sounds like they are trying to down play it.