Whalers Village

Whalers Village is a shopping and entertainment center located in Kaanapali, Hawaii. ^[1] It is located near several resorts along Kaanapali Beach and is a popular tourist destination.^[2] This open-air mall^[3] hosts over 80 stores and both full-service and fast casual dining options.^[1] On the average year, over 3.5 million people visit Whalers Village, and the center makes over $140 million in sales.^[4] Retail spaces are leased by Brookfield Properties.^[4] In addition to retail, Whalers Village is home to the Whalers Village Museum, a tribute to Lahaina’s history of whaling in the 1800’s.^[5] Lastly, Whalers Village offers free entertainment and classes inspired by Hawaiian tradition such as lei making and hula dance lessons.^[1]

History[edit]

Whalers Village first opened in the year 1970 where it has since served as a staple retail and dining space. The Whalers Village Museum was also built in 1970 during initial construction of the mall. In 2015, this whaling museum was ranked the third-most-visited attraction on the island of Maui.^[6] Its first major renovation was completed in 2017 after a two-years of construction.^[4] This renovation cost $27 million and included a full decorative remodel, new stores and restaurants, and a remodel of the Whalers Village Museum.^[6] Additionally, play areas for children were added throughout the center including climbing structures, a splash pad, and an outdoor movie screen.^[6]

Shopping[edit]

A variety of retail options are made available including national as well as local chain stores. Women’s, men's, and children’s clothing, shoes, and accessories options are made available. Some luxury retail options at Whalers Village include Louis Vuitton and Johnny Was. There are also some fine jewelers, home, beauty, and specialty food stores have a presence as well.^[1]

Attractions[edit]

The Whalers Village Museum, a part of the original Whalers Village shopping center, was a museum dedicated to Lahaina’s historical Whaling industry back when the area was a busy whaling harbor in the 1800s. It showed exhibits such as whaler’s living quarters, models of whaling ships, and whale fossils.^[5] While this museum has since been updated during the 2017 Whalers Village renovation, it remains centered around whales. Now called The Whale Center of Hawaii, this museum is partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.^[6] The center features a full-sized whale skeleton and is dedicated to the history of whaling, as well as the future of whales. It focuses on the environment and emphasizes the cultural significance of whales for Hawaiians.^[6]

In the media[edit]

References[edit]

This article "Whalers Village" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.