Easter sales and increased tourist traffic at Ala Moana Center, Kahala Mall and Pearlridge Center contributed to marginal sales gains, according to figures compiled by the centers for the Star-
Bulletin. But renovations and tenant changes at Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and Windward Mall caused sales declines compared with the year-ago period, the representatives said.
A retail industry official attributed part of the downturn at the two centers to a national trend as many apparel companies pull out of malls to downsize their businesses.
"Women's apparel has been the hardest hit in retailing," said Jan Berman, chair of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii. "You see it in lots of malls everywhere, not just in Hawaii. We are seeing the beginning of a shakeout in retailing."
Here's a breakdown by mall:
Ala Moana Center: Sales were up 7 percent, general manager Dwight Yoshimura said.
"We had a spring fashion show in March and a sales promotion," Yoshimura said. Easter sales also were early this year, he said.
Top gainers were: men's wear, up 35 percent; gifts, art and specialty, up 16.95 percent; and shoes, 15.76 percent higher.
Kahala Mall: Sales were up 7.6 percent in March, said Ron Yoda, mall general manager.
"We found an increase in tourists, especially the Japanese," Yoda said. "The Mandarin (Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii) hotel opened and we had an early Easter so most of that shopping was done in March instead of April.
Strong categories were: specialty food, ahead 23 percent; jewelry, up 32 percent; and services and recreation, 36 percent higher.
Pearlridge Center: Results were up 2.7 percent, said Heidi DiEugenio, marketing director.
"The early Easter definitely helped us out in March," DiEugenio said. "And we had a new store opening. Sweet Factory sells bulk candy out of bins."
Top gainers, by category, were: men's apparel, up 21 percent; specialty food, up 18.4 percent; and specialty retail, up 16 percent.
Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center: Sales were down 4.5 percent in March, said Charlian Wright, marketing director.
"March and April were great months last year so it is difficult to top that, but March this year still ranks in the top 10 sales months in the history of Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center," Wright said.
Part of the decline is due to several ground floor spaces which are under renovation and won't re-open until summer, she said.
Strong categories were: furniture, up 25 percent; jewelry, 19 percent higher; and specialty retail, up 17 percent.
Windward Mall: March sales were off by 2 percent, said spokeswoman Wright.
"We had a recent rash of national tenant turnover forcing the center to re-evaluate its tenant mix and to align our leasing efforts to more closely reflect the community's needs and desires," Wright said.
New tenants will be announced in upcoming months, she said.
The mall's largest gains again resulted in the recreation category, up 179 percent, with the addition of Kids Sports last fall. Other good performers were gifts, art and specialty, up 78 percent; and children's apparel, up 50 percent.