| Sophisticated travelers who frequently visit Hawaii | | | | will be a boon to the Island's economy generally. |
| have long known that the real action in Oahu is not in | | | | Some tourist officials believe the new center will help |
| Waikiki or Honolulu but rather to the west, in the Ko | | | | bring several thousand jobs for Hawaii. |
| Olina area. Decades in the making, Ko Olina is | | | | Also, several smaller shopping centers are also |
| generally considered Hawaii's most luxurious resort | | | | planned for the community including the Laulani Village |
| destination. In fact, it was formerly known as the | | | | in Ewa and Kapolei Commons in West Kapolei. Ko |
| playground of Hawaiian royalty. | | | | Olina visitors already benefit from the good proximity |
| Recent developments in Summer of 2008 are going | | | | of quite a few well known retail establishments. |
| to make this area even more appealing for travel | | | | Home to an extensive selection of upscale condos, |
| enthusiasts. Oahu vacationers may be interested in | | | | the larger area will be benefited by the new shopping |
| some of the new tourism related trends that are | | | | facilities. For example, the newly constructed Ko Olina |
| mentioned in this article. | | | | Beach Villas directly front the lagoons and open |
| Despite the mainland's economic malaise, Ko Olina is | | | | ocean. Other resort properties include the Mariott |
| still seeing a strong upswing in new development and | | | | Ihilani and the Marriott Timeshare complexes, both of |
| activity. For instance, the State of Hawaii has | | | | which are beach front properties. |
| announced an agreement to bring Oahu's largest | | | | These properties enjoy a temperate year round |
| shopping center west of the famed Pearl Ridge | | | | climate as well as a range of amenities such as |
| community. The shopping development is being | | | | championship golf, spas, and lap-pool type lagoons. |
| located between Ewa and Kapolei. | | | | The tranquil lagoons make the destination particularly |
| Known as Ka Makana Ali'i, the shopping center will | | | | appealing to families with small children. The adults |
| have approximately one and a half million square feet | | | | typically wade into the rough of the open ocean |
| of commercial square footage. Also, the plans will | | | | while the kids remain in the safer lagoon waters. |
| allow up to 300 more hotel rooms and up to one | | | | Also benefiting from the shopping expansion will be |
| hundred thousand feet of office space. | | | | the Ko Olina Beach Villas property mentioned earlier. |
| Located on the Kapolei Parkway and the planned | | | | Residents will likely prefer to shop at Ka Makana |
| North-South access road, tourists will appreciate the | | | | rather than driving all the way back to Waikiki. |
| close proximity. Moreover, the extra jobs in the area | | | | |