Yesterday my daughter and I went to the Super Shopping Plaza. The NEX (Navy Exchange) at Pearl Harbor. The NEX back in 1967 was a single story old building with a couple of separate ones scattered around the Moanalua Shopping Center area and up the road from the Makalapa Gate- Pearl Harbor Navy Base.
A few years ago they built this giant double level mall NEX consisting of 275,000 sq. ft of oodles of shopping, other stores and a giant Commissary too. It is Hawaii's Largest Navy Exchange and named the "2006 Bingham Award" winner for excellence and outstanding performance.
Not only is this "mall" HUGE to accomodate the hundreds if not thousands that trapse through all the shopping mall, it is also tastefully decorated to entertain Active Duty Military In Hawaii, their dependents, Vets in Hawaii and their guests.
The waterfall pictured to the left starts from the pool on the second floor and tiers down with cascading waterfalls to three or four levels and ending at the bottom pool. The sculpture is a Wyland sculpture titled "A Leap of Faith".
While coming down the escalator I noticed many children and adults tossing coins to make a wish.
What a sight!
Yes, I ran around taking pictures of the gigantic mural on the ceiling that highlights the entry and the middle of the mall. Guess who did this "Ocean's Sanctuary" mural? Ah...of course it's Wyland!
This mural features Wyland's 89th mural (he just painted his 100th one in China in honor of the Olympics) and spans 10,000 sq/ft and features three adult and two baby whales.
In 2004 Wyland returned to the NEX to add on a HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL to the mural. Do you see it right in the skylight?
We ate at the Food Court and got our fill so we could romp around the Hawaii Navy Commissary without stuffing our basket with unneeded items (that one usually does when they're all hungry before shopping). Right inside the entrance there was a flower/plant 'shop' and I decided to pick up two plants to give my little courtyard garden some color.
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Hours of operation:
Daily: 9 AM - 9 PM
Telephone: (808) 423-3330
Customer Service: (808) 423-3274
Mailing Address:
1025 Quincy Avenue, Suite 1020
Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-4512
Physical Location:
4725 Bougainville Drive, Building 631
Honolulu, HI 96818
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© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog. All rights reserved
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2012 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
Wow, I have been in a few base exchanges, never seen anything like this - you could hang around all day and not even shop!
Sally, this has been a real treat for me. Thank you for the information and the really cool eye candy!
Sally, The mall sounds like a great place to be. I loved the waterfall and the mural, you got some beautiful shots!
Sally... sure would love to be there in Hawaii even if it was to just to hang out at the NEX. What a beautiful state you live in!!
Ralph: Hey there buddy! I don't know about "hang out" but it was a nice lunch and a 'quality time' moment with my 26 yr. old :)
Carole: Sure did...the highlight of it all, huh? A localism though in progress LOL
Carolyn: Thanks...glad you enjoyed the shots!
Virginia: Nah...shop until we dropped...don't believe the stuff my daughter bought...that's another story. lol!
Sally the Navy Exchanges didn't look any thing like that when I was in the Navy back in the early 70's.
They have come a long way baby ........... LOL
Your Navy Exchange is out in the open where anyone can shop there? My ex-husband is in the Navy so my daughter gets a lot of stuff at the Exchange. It's located ON the Navy base.
Hi Sally, WOW, what a place. And how fortunate you are that you get to utilize this place. Very impressive!
George: I didn't want to talk about years or anything but since you said that...I'll just say I remember going into Barbers's Point BX and it was wooden plank floors lol!
Lisa: Checkpoints for Id's Lisa...no...everybody can't go in....and everywhere you go in ...like the commissary and bx you show an id. My daughter is a dependent so she took me on as a guest. ....and the lady asked her how old she was LOL. And Schofield is ON a base just as many others are.
William: Only when i'm with a military person or dependent and as their guest.
Everyone: I guess I forgot to mention....this is the same as any military place where you have to show id's or go on as a guest.
Morning Sally,
What a beautiful Mall, sorry we didn't know it was there during our visit to paradise. I would have enjoyed seeing the works of Wyland while the others shopped.
My husband and I became addicted to Wyland back in '83 when we first visited Hawaii...sure you don't need a Buyers' Agent? LOL
Hal: Next time :)
Lisa: I do both... LOL!
HI SALLY!
It looks so cool! I remember the old NEX & commissary, I use to shop there. They've come a long way! Thanks for sharing, those pics are great.
Yvette: No kidding? It was all one level and all cramped and barely had anything. Now it's HUGE!