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Will Waikiki's International Market Place be razed, renovated or left as is?

by: Chris Bailey
posted: Thu May 21, 2009 at 11:54 AM

You ask. We answer.

HAWAII Magazine reader Patricia Renze from New York, NY, writes:

What’s the status of the International Market Place renovations in Waikiki? I have spent many a happy day walking around and talking with all of the vendors. I hope the project has been shelved, as I love the Market Place just the way it is.

Well, Patricia, you’ll be happy to know that Waikiki’s International Market Place is staying the same. For now at least.

A $150 million overhaul of the 4.5 acre banyan-tree-shaded property in the heart of Waikiki has been postponed indefinitely, say Market Place officials. Development plans will be revisited sometime after 2010, but there’s no certainty of what will become of the open-air bazaar.

The planned redevelopment of the property has sparked protest from residents and visitors. A revitalized market place would come at the expense of the dozens of small retail booths that sell all manner of mostly foreign-made Hawaii tchotchkes—from plastic tiki statues and discount aloha wear to writhing hula girl lamps and wood carvings.

The International Market Place has been a Waikiki attraction for decades. Restaurateur Donn Beach—owner of the now long-gone Don the Beachcomber restaurant chain—once famously perched his office in the sturdy branches of the market place's massive banyan tree.

Since the International Market Place's 1957 opening, there have been no major renovations to the property. The newest building on the property was erected in 1970. But property developers have coveted the shopping district’s central Waikiki location for almost as many years as the Market Place has been open.

Landowner Queen Emma Foundation’s latest plan for site—originally slated for a 2005 start—called for razing most of Market Place’s familiar tropical facade, making way for more upscale shops and restaurants, a storytelling center and an entertainment pavilion. Construction delays and the souring economy have stalled the project.

We’ll keep you posted on what happens next here on HawaiiMagazine.com.

Photo: International Market Place

Check out these related HawaiiMagazine.com posts:
Say goodbye to Waikiki's International Market Place? An update.
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Hawiian2
on 05/23/2009

Please leve it alone. It is a landmark ...

palanithelegend
on 05/23/2009

I have been to Int. Market Place many times when vacationing in Waikiki. Leave well enough alone.YOU ARE RUINING HAWAII with all these fancy stores,restaurants,and new buildings. I like a rustic Hawaii.

tracy101
on 05/24/2009

This just breaks my heart. After being away from Oahu after 25 years, I am planning my next trip. If this kind of garbage continues, I won't spend my money here. SAD...

tikismom
on 05/24/2009

I think they could do some upgrading of the restrooms, etc but leave well enough alone with the rest of it, although I wouldn't mind just a few less jewelry shops that are all exactly alike. We don't need any more fancy dancy shops. Lord knows it costs enough to visit Hawaii and who the heck wants to shop for clothes we can get on the mainland while in Hawaii.

HawaiianWahine
on 05/25/2009

Darn right it should be left alone! its one of my Favorite Spots to come to when on Oahu! Please don't mess that all up its totally awesome just as it is right now!.

PAMP
on 05/28/2009

LEAVE IT ALONE! It'a a part of the heart of Waikiki. There have been too many "progressive" changes in Hawaii that change the whole sense of Hawaiian history. We took away the country, do we have to take everything away? Please leave the history of Hawaii alone. Money makes the world go round, but, the Hawaiian people and their culture make visiting Oahu a blessing, a joy, and a wonderful pleasure.

Kolikka
on 05/30/2009

Please leave The International Market Place alone! Enough of true Hawaii(OAHU) has already be urbanized with all of the high end stores that take away from the beautiful people and culture of the island. Mahalo!

gigpatty
on 06/02/2009

I love that place. Is soo Hawaii!!! I have happy memories of buying gifts there! I did get bird poo on me tho...but, it made me laugh and created that memory!

crabapple124
on 06/02/2009

The International Market Place was the main location for watching all the girls go bye when I was stationed in Hawaii 1961 to 1963. My wife and I have visited Hawaii three times since 2006 and we are returning 2-13-2010 with two Grandsons and we plan to visit the Market Place then. I wish is was like it was in the the 60s we watch Pres Kennedy from in front of the market when he visited Hawaii. Many fond memories they should never tear it down they should try to bring back some of the old traditions. Thanks and old Jarhead Jerry

ollie
on 06/02/2009

I have been to Hawaii 4 times and each time I HAD to visit the International Market Place. This place is an icon. PLEASE LEAVE IT ALONE!!! It's such a FUN place to shop.

floger
on 06/02/2009

Please leave the International Marketplace ALONE! I have fond memories of eating at Trader Vics on our first visit in 1973. Since retiring, we now visit HI for four months each winter and always enjoy visiting the International Marketplace. It is one of the FEW vestiges of the Waikiki of old that holds so many memories. Everything else has been torn down to make room for cookie cutter shops/restaurants that you can find anywhere on the Mainland. It's really SAD!

casjpoelker
on 06/02/2009

THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET IS A PIECE OF HAWAII, I DON'T GO THERE TO SHOP AT HIGH CLASS, HIGH PRICED SHOPS. I GO TO HAWAII TO EXPERIENCE THE NATURAL BEAUTY,THE CULTURE OF THE ISLANDS. I LOVED THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET AND BOUGHT MANY OF MY GIFTS THERE. I CAN SHOP AT HOME, WHEN I COME THERE I WANT TO BRING A PIECE OF HAWAII BACK HOME WITH ME, AS I ALWAYS LEAVE MY HEART THERE. I DON'T NEED TO BE ABLE TO SHOP FOR THE SAME THINGS I CAN FIND AT HOME.

magtag
on 06/02/2009

I'm so sick of the greed of corporate America and land developers! PLEASE leave the little "Mom and Pop" businesses alone! One thing that would be a deciding factor of revisiting Hawaii is that the International Marketplace was still there!

Nolairv
on 06/02/2009

We will make our nineth trip in November. The two days we are staying in Honolulu are so the wife can shop the International Market Place. She loves it! If we should make a tenth trip and the International Market Place is gone we will not be visiting Oahu. Upscale shops are not our thing.

Maurice
on 06/02/2009

I liked the market place more in late 70's earle 80's, when there where fewer carts, and enjoyed the entertainment. must admit every visit I do go there

ann mccleese
on 06/02/2009

we have been to wakiki 2times and we can't wait to go shopping at the international market place. we love it just as it is. it wouln't be the same if they changed it.there ar eto many fancy places on the waikiki beach walk now, that we really didn't care for. simpler is best for the beauty of the island.

Marilyn
on 06/03/2009

I hope they never remove the MARKET PLACE..every time we go to Oahu we so enjoy the ambiance there..this is so much a part of the Islands..

lopakabob
on 06/03/2009

i HAVE VISITED THE MARKET EACH TIME I VISITED THE ISLANDS AND FIND IT ONE OF THE MOST PLEASANT PLACES I HAVE SEEN. DON'T CHANGE A THING

durrahsm
on 06/03/2009

Please leave the Marketplace as it is, if you need to renovate, renovate the restrooms, please! It's my #1 reason why I always look forward to my next trip to Hawaii. I don't visit Hawaii to patronize Macys cookie cutter stores, I can do that in the Mainland. (Think Liberty House before Macys ruined it with its drab New York look. Mahalo!

hawaiikimo
on 06/03/2009

I just visited Hawaii in May on my 22nd trip to the island paradise. I visited the International Market Place as I always do and was glad to see it still in operation! Please don't tear it down. The developers already ruined Lewers Street with its trendy non-Hawaiian shops and restaurants. I can eat at PF Changs at home. I don't need to go to Hawaii to eat there!!!! Lewers Street used to have some great inexpensive restaurants and shops, but they are all gone. I avoid that street now! I loved the Islander Grill for its cheap, but good meals. Great buys at the IMP! I bought shirts for under $5.00. Jim "Kimo" Husing

bunnyj
on 06/03/2009

I lived in hawaii for 3 1/2 years and the International Market place was the place to go. I have since been back to Hawaii twice and that is one of the places I most want to visit. It is a landmark. It is Hawaii. The old Hawaii. Leave it!

jacksandy
on 06/03/2009

We have been visiting Oahu every January for several years and spend a lot of our time in the International Market Place. We have our favorite vendor and enjoy the Aloha Broiler for lunch or dinner. It would be such a shame to have it no longer there for us and future visitors.

malama
on 06/04/2009

It is about time to do away with that Waikiki eye sore, since the upgrading of Kalakaua Ave is nearly complete the Market Place does not seem to fit in. I never did like it it cheapened the beauty of our Island Tradition.

crazybouthawaii
on 06/05/2009

Every time I go to Oahu, I always visit the International Marketplace and buy a strand of pearls from the same woman. PLEASE do not change the marketplace. I visit at least once a year. I am a travel agent and send all my clients visiting Oahu to the marketplace. They always come back and thank me for sending them there. Mahalo, Malia

Suechan
on 06/09/2009

There was a movie made at the International Market Place in June, 1964 by USIA about Thai students at the East-West Center and their American friends - I was one of the American "friends" in the movie. Any idea if a copy is available?

Naneke
on 06/09/2009

I lived on Lewers St.back in the 80's and I am now getting used to all the changes there and on the main street. I come back 2 -3 times a year. Please leave it alone. You need to preserve some of the old landmarks from the past.

D STAHMER
on 06/29/2009

When I returned to Waikiki In '99 the only thing left from my '70 R&R was the Int. Market Place & Don Ho, now we only have the Market Place. FIX IT UP BUT DON'T REPLACE. WAIKIKI NEEDS AL THE REAL ALOHA IT CAN GET, NOT MORE FAKES.

landfill158
on 08/07/2009

If I see one more Gucci, Alfani...stores that don't belong here being developed, I'll just be sad. Hawaii is not the place for these stores and I hope this poor economy drives them away. You go to New York for that kind of shopping, not paradise. Tourists will be driven away if Waikiki loses all of its class. It already has lost most of it; taking away IMP will definitely take another huge chunk away.

kalona77
on 08/12/2009

The International Market Place is what brings me back to Waikiki. My husband prefers Kauai, but I love Waikiki for IMP, and all the other small shops there; that are not high end stores. If I wanted that, I would go to New York City instead of Hawaii...Keep the IMP just the way it is...

BILL PRYTHERCH
on 08/16/2009

My wife & I have visited HI 15 times since 1987 and we feel the I.M.Place should remain & develop around it. we look forward to it each time. our guests to the State feel the same.

MARILEE
on 09/11/2009

marilee 09/10/2009 why do you want to change to be like the mainland? I was one of thoae "weird" tourists who loved waikiki. With the redevopement on Lewers/ Beachwalk, though lovely, you're making waikiki look like new york in hawaii. People come because it's Hawaii not New York or anyother big city on the mainland. Waikiki was always my first choice when going to Hawaii but now I'm reconsidering.

Esmort
about 1 month ago

The IMP is exactly what attracts people to Waikiki and Hawaii year after year. Why would you destroy that? I've loved the IMP all my life and under no circumstances should it be replaced with Las Vegas style shops or restaurants. The IMP may be hokey but it's a landmark and I and many others absolutely LOVE it!

kealoha11
about 1 month ago

I've been traveling to Hawaii since 1960 and have such fond memories of the International Market Place. It's one of the few remaining places in Waikiki representative of "Old Hawaii" where everyone can visit and get the feeling of Aloha. I stroll through, buy a beautiful plumeria lei and shop when I return every year. It would be so sad to see a high rise in its' place. Please leave it alone.

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