 ala moana center, commonly known simply as ala moana, is the largest shopping mall in hawaii. it is also the fifteenth largest shopping mall in the united states, and the largest open-air shopping center in the world. ala moana is consistently ranked among the top ten most successful malls in the united states, and in 2009 was ranked by u.s. news & world report as america's second most profitable, behind the forum shops at caesars in las vegas, nevada. located at 1450 ala moana boulevard in honolulu, ala moana center is part of the commercial, retail, and residential district of ala moana, south of makiki, east of kakaako, west of waikÄ«kÄ« and adjacent to ala moana beach park. ==history== prior to the construction of the mall, the land was a swamp. dredging projects nearby spearheaded by walter f. dillingham created excess coral which filled the swamp, purchased by dillingham in 1912 from the estate of bernice pauahi bishop. land reclaimed, son and successor lowell dillingham initiated the ala moana center project in 1948 and broke ground in 1957. ===initial development and design=== the ala moana center was developed and designed by don graham. critic
Buildings_and_structures_in_Honolulu,_Hawaii General_Growth_Properties Shopping_malls_established_in_1959 Shopping_malls_in_Hawaii Visitor_attractions_in_Honolulu,_Hawaii