We all know that parking in Waikiki is at a premium and it’s harder and harder to find free parking in Waikiki. Well, the situation is about to get worse, probably a lot worse. I guess we should have seen this coming, but we were caught off-guard. We find it a sad ending to an era for us at least, of free parking during the day at Ala Moana Shopping Center.
Paid shopping center parking started in April and it is going to expand.
Four areas of the shopping center currently have paid parking, while the rest is free. But the writing is on the wall. Clearly there are two things at play:
- The shopping center is seeking to increase profits via very lucrative, low-impact paid park.
- They have long wanted to stop people from parking at Ala Moana who were actually not shopping there. An example is the hotel, where we’ve attended events and parked for free in the shopping center.
- Finding parking at Ala Moana shopping center has long been a challenge.
Premiumpark.com’s paid parking plan.
Varying rates in effect are as follows:
1. For parking we just checked, 1-4 hours was priced at : $2.88 per hour, pus tax and service fee. Total cost is $4.30/hour.
2. For more than four hours discounted rates apply.
6 hours: $14.39 plus tax and fees.
10 hours: $19.18 plus taxes and fees.
Full 24 hours parking: $28.78 plus taxes and fees. As far as we know, there will be no in and out privileges associated with 24-hour parking, but that might be a good idea for them to pursue.
3. Other parts of the mall have cheaper parking listed from $1.92 per hour plus tax and fees.
4. We see reference to surge parking, but we aren’t clear what that means or how it will be implemented. We are reminded, of course, of Uber’s surge prices, which can be ridiculous.
No parking validation option at this time.
There is no indication of store parking validations. So for now, at least, it is all paid if you choose those parking spaces, and it is handled exclusive though the vendor’s phone app.
We haven’t seen how much parking violations will cost, but we can imagine they will be high.
Advance parking reservations will be help.
One of the positive aspects of this is that you can reserve your parking stall in advance. We can’t tell you how much time we have spent over the years driving around the shopping center looking for parking at crowded times of year and especially on weekends.
Are you ready to pay to park at Ala Moana Shopping Center?
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Chastity N says
What about the locals? Can locals still park for free?
Stephanie says
Why would it matter where you reside? That doesn’t seem very fair making someone pay based off of where they live now does it?
Kimo says
From khon: “Ala Moana Center would like to highlight that parking is still free for customers and says there are 11,000 free parking options surrounding the property, including 4,500 parking spaces located in the Mauka Ewa Parking Structure”
Christopher L says
Happy to shop Amazon.
Rick B says
I don’t live in Hawaii but I’d use to. Back in those days love going to Ala Moana Mall. Parking was a bit of an issue but not too much. Now however I would go too Pearlridge or Kahala, as long as parking is free. How long before these malls do the same thing?
Natasha says
There’s nothing more annoying than paid parking when you’re intent is to spend money. Back to the internet I go. Chances are the size or color I need won’t be in stock anyways and I don’t want to ask a store I didn’t buy from for validation. Validation anxiety and just overall don’t want to wait at a kiosk to come and go.
Ed L says
I’m ready to boycott Ala Moana.
There are plenty of other places to park and shop. Windward, Pearlridge, Kahala.
Hope the vendors know their business will drop off – they may want to move.
Pam says
I think it’s a good idea. Keeps the huflums out of the parking lot. If you can’t afford it then you boycott.
Meghan L says
“Huflums?”
Is that like riff-raff, hooligans, etc?
Julianna K. says
Mahalo as always for the update. The parking fee makes “grab and go” from the Ala Moana food court a”no-go” with the extra cost to park.
Michael W says
No, no, no and heck no! Ingress and egress is already a cluster as it is. How will they manage ticket gates and exit payment machines. It will back up to Kahala Mall…..maybe just go there instead?
Michael says
This is totally a bad idea.
First, The people who live far will not go there.
2nd. They’ll find other places and other avenues to shop, 3rd. Which will mean sales will decline, stores will close, more empty shops will be seen by all.
4th and most important, it’s not like Ala Moana is running out of available parking spaces, please. Very stupid decision which i believe it will back fire.
In my case, it will be an uncomfortable situation. I can walk to it, but i will not be walking with all the bags that I usually put in my car and continue shopping.
Its your move….
Juan L says
I hope in a follow up article you can talk about how this will affect the Mall employees. The larger operators such as Westfield charge employees $3-10 a day or $40-$90 for a monthly parking.
A minimum wage job parking fees + the price of gas , I wouldn’t be surprised if mass walk outs start.
Randy R says
Having done business in Ala Moana since the mid-1980’s, things change, the Mall has added a 3rd Floor in the early millennia, basically adding 1/5 more stores with no added Parking, but at it’s heart, the issue is Ala Moana Park and Beach (Daytime), the Prince Hotel that replaced a Hospital in the early ’90’s, should have been Parking. The Retail Associates cannot take the Parking of paying Customers, but a Decal or something needs be on their Windshield and they get the Level One Parking or off-site, aside from the Hotel, there are Offices that use the Parking, as well. Night Dining, minimally should include Free Parking, this is one area Locals have to pony up, it’s their Shopping Center too.
Marilyn S says
This is a local problem. I quit renting a car for my annual 2 week vacation years ago. Take the bus everywhere. Convenient, cheap, simple way to explore. Take bus daily for afternoon lunch/dinner in Kaimuki or Kahala, rarely eat in waikiki!
Lynne L says
Most shopping centers in CA offer free parking for the first 3 hours, and then a premium rate thereafter. This isn’t new news. How is one to reserve a parking stall at Ala Moana? Is there an App for that???
Chris S says
My gut says they will validate parking. Do the same here in kaanapali. I really can’t blame the mall. It’s their property and it was built for the convenience of their customers. Not for beach goers and such.
John F says
So Hawaii, what’s next? You charge now to visit certain parks and tourist locations. Tourist’s pay the highest hotel taxes in the United States. Now, we have to start paying to park at a shopping mall where we as tourist’s along with local people spend money to shop and keep people working. Are you now going to start charging for the air we breathe? I’m sure that is probably next.
Juan L says
Last I looked The Ala Mona is owned and operated by Brookfield properties headquartered in NY,NY. So let’s give credit where credit is due. And FYI most major malls located in major cities started charging for parking years ago. “Hawaii” is just catching up.
Greg M says
I live in Phoenix and None of our malls charge for parking. If you’re going to charge for parking at least validate for people who buy something, as opposed to those who just wander around for hours.
Sherri S says
I see no problem with the parking fee as long as all stores will validate the parking. I suppose there has to be some sort of time limit. Locals often complain about the tourists and how we are harming Hawaii, but this seems as if it will hit the locals hardest. Really unfair.
Rod W says
This reminds me of hotels that now have a “resort fee.” Before getting into the parking issue, hotels that don’t have a golf course, a swimming pool, and a significant gym are not resorts. People should avoid them and tell them why.
“For parking we just checked, 1-4 hours was priced at: $2.88 per hour, pus tax and service fee. Total cost is $4.30/hour.”
Why is there a “service fee?” Isn’t that what having the spaces to park is -service? The difference between 2.88 and 4.30 is $1.42. Say the tax is $0.25. That means the fee to park there is not 2.88, it’s about $4.05 /hour. That’s nearly half of the current minimum hourly wage in Hawaii.
I’m disgusted.
S K says
Won’t pay to park there. Will shop at outlying area stores. Prices are high enough.
Jerry says
What a shame. Guess I won’t be doing much shopping at Foodland anymore unless I happen to be also going to the mall. Hopefully the Don Quijote/Walmart/Sam’s club don’t get the same idea.
Jeff S. says
So, what’s Pearlridge and Windward look like these days? I mourned when I learned that the free military parking lots at Ft. Derussy had been closed. If I were still up at Schofield, this would just give me more incentive to be a barracks rat instead of getting out into the community (and the economy).
Trish R says
I honestly would rather not pay for parking and drive to another shopping center. Though I live a short distance from Ala Moana Shopping Center, I usually take my car so as to grocery shop and have the storage space needed for shopping. If they charge for parking, they are going to lose those of us who cannot get validated at the very least! Thank you for making us aware of the issue! Love “Beat of Hawaii” and Mahalo Nui Loa! Keep up the great work!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Trish.
Thanks for your first comment! Yes, not sure how this will impact us in the future either.
Aloha.
Liam G says
Lol it never ends ….