Harbor landmark
to reopenAloha Tower had been closed
Star-Bulletin staff
for renovationsAloha Tower, a popular destination for tourists who want a romantic view of Honolulu Harbor, will reopen April 24.
It has been closed for two years to make renovations.
An opening ceremony with entertainment and a lei cutting will take place at 1 p.m. Entertainment will start at 10:30 a.m. and include the Soundettes vocal group and Kupuna O Mo'i hula halau in the morning and the Poerava Tahitian dance group and the Mercedes dance group from 2 to 4 p.m.
The 10-floor observatory at Aloha Tower will be open daily from 9 a.m. to sunset.
The Aloha Tower Marketplace development is taking over management of the free access to the 10th-floor observatory from the state on a trial basis. The marketplace also is adding walking tours of the waterfront.
"Aloha Tower Marketplace is offering tours twice daily both in Japanese and English," said Scott Creel, marketing director.
He said the walking tours will be conducted by "Ambassadors of Aloha" on the marketplace staff who are bilingual and can talk about the history of Aloha Tower and the harbor. Tours in Japanese will be held at 10 a.m. and noon, and tours in English will be held at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Aloha Tower was first built to greet ships in 1926. The tower is 184 feet 2 inches tall and is topped by a 40-foot flagstaff.
The tower renovations added new handicapped-accessible bathrooms, security cameras and emergency exits.
The state harbor operators have been moved from the 10th floor to the ninth floor.
