Historic Aloha Tower marks 100 years with reopening, free celebration
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Aloha Tower stands proudly at the entrance of Honolulu Harbor. Despite being 100 years old, the historic structure looks brand new following an $8.5 million rehabilitation project.
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“The tower’s been closed for a number of years, especially the observation deck. And so now everything is reopened,” said Dre Kalili, deputy director for the state Department of Transportation Harbors Division.
“Really what it means is the public can come back down to the waterfront and really see our ports in action, our supply chain in action,” Kalili said.
Observation deck reopens
The observation deck had been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic. Now it’s part of the grand reopening of Aloha Tower, which features historical photos of Honolulu Harbor, the tower, and, of course, breathtaking panoramic views of the harbor and downtown Honolulu.
If you’d like to check out the observation deck, it’ll be open every day from dawn to dusk. The best part: admission is free.
“Being able to see from the 10th-floor observation deck on the balconies, you can see all the ships coming in. You can see the cargoes being discharged. You can see all the hands that really make our economy run. That’s so important,” says Kalili.
Historically, the Aloha Tower was once the tallest building in Honolulu, and it remains a landmark whose name represents what Hawaii is all about.
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“It was the tallest building for four decades,” said state Sen. Sharon Moriwaki, who represents the area. “A beacon welcoming ships into our harbor with a single word that captures who we are, Aloha.”
“I think about how there is a whole generation that does not know Aloha Tower, but let that be a challenge for us to invite the next hundred of years to know that Aloha Tower is not just a landmark,” said Rep. Darius Kila, chair of the House Transportation Committee. “It can be a gathering place. It can be a symbol of resiliency, and it can be a reminder of where we’ve come from and what we can do.”
Centennial celebration planned
To mark this historical event, the Department of Transportation is hosting a celebration at the Aloha Tower Marketplace, called Anchored in Aloha. It began Thursday with festivities surrounding the reopening of the observation deck.
On Friday, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., a centennial pāʻina takes place at Pier 9. The public is invited to this free event.
“We’re going to have a full lineup of live music. We’ll have some food trucks. And at 8 o’clock, we’re going to have a spectacular drone show. I personally am very excited to see the sky lit up in celebration of Aloha Tower,” Kalili said.
“Aloha Tower is more than a landmark. It is a witness to our history. Through changing times and generations, it has remained our anchor, reminding us where we’ve been and where we’re going, and also telling the world who we are,” Moriwaki said.
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