Ala Moana Center and the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center showed declines from the strong sales recorded in January 1996, but Pearlridge Center and Kahala Mall saw solid gains, according to management at the the malls.
Here's a look at the numbers for January, the most recent available.
Ala Moana Center: Sales were down 8 percent, said Dwight Yoshimura, general manager.
He said the banner month in 1996 was up 18.8 percent from the previous January because the yen-to-dollar exchange rate gave shoppers from Japan more dollars to use for purchases.
Yoshimura also said sales to local shoppers were strong this past January and that the construction for the new Neiman Marcus store was not a factor in the lower sales figures.
Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center: Business in January decreased 17 percent, said Charlian Wright, marketing director.
"The usual high peak (tourist) season after the New Years showed a decrease in rooms for the month and the average of the yen being at 124 to the American dollar also contributed to this soft period," Wright said.
Pearlridge Center: Sales rose by 15.1 percent, said Marty Lastner, general manager. He said the boost is tied to the center's grand re-opening in November. "This was the first January after our renovations and we also had a Martin Luther King Day sidewalk sale that was a big success," Lastner said.
Nordic Trac also opened in January.
New stores coming to Pearlridge later this year include: Anne Ann's Pretzel, Esprit, Claire's Boutique, a Ben Bridge jewelry shop, and Spencer Gifts.
Kahala Mall: Sales climbed 2.8 percent, said Elizabeth Platt, marketing director. "Our January clearance sales seemed to go pretty well and that helped our increase," Platt said.
Windward Mall: Sales fell 4 percent, said spokeswoman Wright. "Though promotions continue to bring in customers, closure of additional national stores due to reorganization continue to be a problem in the shopping center industry," Wright said.
She cited the closing of Honsport after Christmas as part of this reorganization trend.