Saturday Briefing

By Barbara Campbell

It is with pleasure that I share the exciting news that Waikiki Beach Walk has received a prestigious Design and Development Award from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). The award was presented on December 3 at the ICSC’s 32nd International Design and Development Awards gala ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona. I was honored to accept the award on behalf of Waikiki Beach Walk and Outrigger Enterprises Group. Joining me was Ron Altoon of the architectural firm Altoon + Porter Design Architects, LLP, who oversaw the overall design of the project.Since its inauguration in 1977, the ICSC International Design and Development Awards program has recognized outstanding projects for excellence in the creation of new retail projects and in the expansion or

Ron Altoon (Altoon + Porter), Barbara Campbell, Gary Dempster (Altoon + Porter), and Eric Kisshauer (Pankow)

redevelopment of existing projects, both internationally and domestically. Waikiki Beach Walk was up against tough international competition. Also nominated in the category representing new projects and renovations smaller than 150,000 square feet were shopping centers in The Netherlands; Salzburg, Austria; Fukuoka, Japan; and Kansas City, Missouri.

This is only the second time an entry from Hawaii has won this prestigious accolade, and we were happy to share the news with Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who has been a staunch supporter of the redevelopment project since the conceptual plans for Waikiki Beach Walk were first presented to the Honolulu City Council nearly ten years ago. When told of the award, Mayor Hannemann said, “Receiving international acclaim for Waikiki Beach Walk is a triumphant achievement. I am pleased to have been personally involved in pushing this project forward, both as the Planning Committee Chair of the Honolulu City Council, and now, in my present capacity as Mayor. I couldn’t be happier about Honolulu receiving such a prestigious award. [. . .] I congratulate Outrigger Enterprises for its redevelopment at Waikiki Beach Walk.  It has breathed new life into Waikiki for both our local residents and the many visitors to our island.”

Open since May 2007, Waikiki Beach Walk has surpassed our dream of turning what was once an aging and deteriorating district into a vibrant and stylish entertainment, dining, and retail center. It’s exciting to know that Outrigger has been a leader in the renaissance of Waikiki, with Waikiki Beach Walk a shining example of a successful sweeping public-private effort that has revitalized Waikiki and restored its reputation as the world’s leading island resort destination.

We are honored and proud that Waikiki Beach Walk has received this global recognition for supreme ingenuity, design, and development, but we certainly didn’t do it alone. Mahalo to the many individuals and businesses that played a part in the development of Waikiki Beach Walk.