Hawaii's Aloha Tower Is So Much More Than Just A Famous Historic Landmark
By Megan Shute|Published November 10, 2019
×
Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
From ancient Hawaiian settlements and now-abandoned sugar mills to historic lighthouses and royal residences, the Hawaiian Islands are home to some truly magnificent historic landmarks that remind us of our island chain’s great history. Perhaps one of the islands’ greatest historic landmarks is the Aloha Tower, but it’s so much more than just a slice of history.
Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, since the time of publication, Gordon Biersch at the Aloha Tower has since closed.
Located on Pier Nine in Honolulu, the Aloha Tower is both a lighthouse that has guided countless ships to shore, as well as one of Hawaii’s most well-known landmarks.
It was built in 1926 at the then astronomical price of $160,000. At 10 stories and 184 feet of height with an additional 40 feet of flag mast, the Aloha Tower was the tallest building in Hawaii for four decades.
Fun fact: Back when travel to Oahu was done entirely by sea, the Aloha Tower stood as a welcoming beacon for visitors and was referred to as Honolulu’s “Statue of Liberty.”
Guests to the Aloha Tower should all visit the 10th-floor Observation Deck. Here, you will discover a panoramic, 360-degree view of the harbor, downtown Honolulu, and the vast Pacific Ocean.
Before or after your trip to the top of the Aloha Tower, stop by one of the marketplace’s restaurants for a scrumptious meal. Dining options include Gordon Biersch, Pier 9 by Sam Choy, Nashville, Hooters and The Old Spaghetti Factory.
But that’s not all this historic landmark is used for. In addition to serving as the anchor for student life as Hawaii Pacific University and featuring urban lofts designed for Hawaii students, the Aloha Tower Marketplace is home to beautiful event spaces perfect for weddings, concerts, celebrations, conferences, and business meetings.
Recognized as the second most famous Oahu landmark — the first being Diamond Head, of course — the Aloha Tower is so much more than a slice of history and you'll want to visit for yourself. Just don't forget your camera!
Have you ever experienced all the Aloha Tower has to offer? If not, we suggest planning a visit the next time you’re in the area. For more information, head on over to the Aloha Tower website.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
