If you've been dissed you know it, right? Well, I wasn't personally dissed but my town's community center was in a Yelp review. It doesn't feel good and I didn't appreciate it. Dissing something is way different from just not liking something. There is something less than kind behind it.
So anyway, the out of state Yelp reviewer visits Windward Mall. She reads the positive reviews written about it and is bothered that the locals here rate it 3 to 5 stars. Feeling that, compared to the mainland, this is a small inferior mall and it kinda of sucks because of that. She felt that it was important to point that out to us.
Windward Mall really is the center of our community. It means something to just about everyone in our little city. Anyway, so here is my review of Windward Mall and lots of reasons why it rates more than 2 stars.
Windward Mall, located in Kaneohe, was opened in 1982 and just recently underwent a $23 million renovation. It was built by Kamehameha Schools as an investment. It consists of over 110 stores, restaurants, theaters and services. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qQoDuflZklgyW2tnYc2GqA?select=xDmaN9edulXm7zuNFU10Ew#Hw24JZ7QSjAlB8nFX_HkFg In many ways the Windward Mall has become the center of the Kaneohe Community. Here is why.
Usually a fair number of military personnel and their families come over to shop, have dinner and go to the movies. Many businesses offer daily Military ID discounts and then there is "Military Monday's" with even more discounts for our Military Hero's. While movies are always a big draw for the military women and men, I think some of them welcome a chance to get off of the base and relax by hanging out at the mall like everyone else.
Windward Mall is also the staging area for the annual Kaneohe Community Christmas parade. Yup, it's a small town humble parade with local celebrities, cars and buses with school kids and boy and girl scout troops. Lots of fun for the large crowds that attend.
In Kaneohe, Halloween trick or treating means all the kids, teens and adults young and old come to the Windward Mall. Halloween there is a huge event! Trick or treating in the mall is so huge it has taken on a life of its own. You can't go there and not have fun on Halloween!
Twice a week there is a pretty decent farmers market. While it is not as big as the one at KCC, hundreds of customers show up. I see not only my Kaneohe neighbors there, but I know people who come over from town to shop here. I know because I see them all the time. Wednesday is the big market. Great chance to see your neighbors, save some money and try something new. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qQoDuflZklgyW2tnYc2GqA?select=xDmaN9edulXm7zuNFU10Ew#geZ_f88B_Wr9j3VWPW-hhw
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qQoDuflZklgyW2tnYc2GqA?select=xDmaN9edulXm7zuNFU10Ew#QzC7ur3uq_p-fKECmQ1oGg
There are several on going events that I'll go over. There used to be free chess lessons by a local chess club. But I haven't seen them for awhile. There is country line dancing, Luk Tung Kuen (a Chinese Tai Chi sort of exercise) with free lessons. There is now free ukulele lessons by the Ukulele Club of Hawaii each week. There are frequent classic car shows and the Porsche Club show. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qQoDuflZklgyW2tnYc2GqA?select=xDmaN9edulXm7zuNFU10Ew#02m6Y128-u_En0-wIssVmg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qQoDuflZklgyW2tnYc2GqA?select=xDmaN9edulXm7zuNFU10Ew#Z-BL8_w8gAbakH0Cm3QOmw Plus, there are concerts, the kiddie train, the soft kiddie play area (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qQoDuflZklgyW2tnYc2GqA?select=xDmaN9edulXm7zuNFU10Ew#1mrrHTPD-h2DlMhITkKPwQ), Santa etc.
One year, St. Ann's School, which is a 160 year old school just across the street from the mall, had it's Christmas Program in the Mall. 450 students performed. My daughter was in the show. Mostly parents and family watching but 450 students singing was something to see. Other schools are invited to give concerts. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qQoDuflZklgyW2tnYc2GqA?select=xDmaN9edulXm7zuNFU10Ew#1ATOEn8JvQMqS2geMkF0FA There are art contests. Child safety events and more.
Food Court: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qQoDuflZklgyW2tnYc2GqA?select=xDmaN9edulXm7zuNFU10Ew#qenqM0cp_G7csrNl-85rPw Good selection fast food places plus several full restaurants in the mall. Ben and Jerry's!
Plus, there is the shopping. Almost all the clothes that I wear are from Windward Mall. If my car battery dies, I go to Sears. I bought my TV and lawnmower at Sears. I go to the movies there. I go the eye doctor there and get my glasses there.
For me Windward Mall rates 4 Stars. It gets points for being a true community center. Ala Moana is a 5 Star. But, it is not as much of a community center.
This is a nice little mall. I like it. I invite every one to come share it with us who live in Kaneohe.
PS: Please let it be noted that the writer of the original review, that I mentioned, removed the noted comments. Thank you for doing this. read more