Ward Centers facts for kids
Ward Centers, once called Victoria Ward Centers, is a large shopping and fun area. It is located near Waikiki in Kaka'ako, Honolulu, Hawai'i. This place is a major spot for shopping, eating, and entertainment.
Ward Centers includes many different areas. You can find the Ward Entertainment Center, Ward Centre, Ward Farmers Market, Ward Gateway Center, Ward Village Shops, and Ward Warehouse here. A big new entertainment center, about 150,000 square feet (14,000 m2), opened in 2001. It has a theater complex run by Consolidated Theatres and a modern arcade.
What's New at Ward Village?
A company called The Howard Hughes Corporation is changing Ward Centers. Over the next ten years, it will become a new neighborhood called Ward Village. This new area will have not only shops but also tall buildings where people can live.
The Story of Ward Centers
The history of Ward Centers began with a woman named Victoria Ward. She was married to Curtis Perry Ward, who was a successful businessman in Honolulu. Victoria's father, James Robinson, was a famous shipbuilder from Britain.
Victoria and Curtis Ward owned a huge piece of land, more than 100 acres, in the middle of Honolulu. This land stretched from Thomas Square all the way to the beaches of Ala Moana. Their large home, called Old Plantation, was on this estate. Today, the Neal S. Blaisdell Center stands where their home used to be.
In 1882, Curtis Perry Ward passed away. He left his land and businesses to his wife and daughters. Victoria Ward continued to manage the family's properties. She bought more land that would later be used for shops and businesses.
Who Owns Ward Centers Today?
The company that owns and runs Ward Centers is called Victoria Ward Limited. This company is now part of The Howard Hughes Corporation. They own about 65 acres of land in Honolulu. This includes the Ward Entertainment Center, Ward Warehouse, Ward Village, and the Village Shops.
