Fort Street is one of the oldest streets in Honolulu, at one-time a Russian-American Company defensive fort located at the present intersection of Queen Street and Fort Street. King Kamehameha I drove off the Russians and appropriated the fort. It protected Honolulu harbor and also housed a number of administrative functions, including many years of service as Honolulu’s prison. Fort Street gradually became the shopping center of Honolulu. In the 1950’s it hosted several of the largest department stores in Hawaii including Kress, Liberty House, and Woolworth’s. The opening of the Ala Moana Shopping Center in 1959 led to an exodus of Fort Street’s retail businesses. In 1965, Hawaii Pacific University and Honolulu Christian College merged into a single institution with Fort Street as its main campus and became an anchor tenant. In 1968, the City & County of Honolulu converted Fort Street into a pedestrian mall. This guided tour will be conducted in small groups and take you from Fort Street & Beretania heading Makai to Fort Street & Ala Moana Blvd. Fort Street Mall’s character changes block by block, based upon the tenants, that include the University, a food court, shopping, fashion, and finance businesses along the route. After the tour, enjoy refreshments and pupu’s at the Honolulu AIA Center. Can’t make the tour? There is also a real time guided tour available for on-line viewing. More info: Mall vs. Mall | Fort Street and the Rise of the Pedestrian Tickets, Sat, Oct 15, 2022 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite and Fort Street Mall and Docomomo Hawaii (docomomo-hi.com)
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