HAWAII STATE – Travelers headed to Hawaii next year will have a new burger option to seek out: Shake Shack is officially preparing to open its first-ever restaurant in the Aloha State.
The popular fast-casual chain will open at Honolulu’s Ala Moana Center on Oahu, taking over the former Sugar Factory space on the fourth floor of the mall’s Hookipa Terrace. The Hawaii location is expected to open sometime in 2027, though an exact date has not yet been announced.
Shake Shack first revealed plans for a Hawaii debut last fall, announcing an exclusive licensing partnership with Honolulu-based Union MAK Corporation. Union MAK will operate the location and is expected to begin construction and hiring in the coming months.
For many mainland visitors, Shake Shack has become a familiar vacation stop in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Chicago and Miami. The chain is best known for its made-to-order ShackBurger, crispy chicken sandwiches, crinkle-cut fries, frozen custard, lemonade and milkshakes.
The new Hawaii ShakeShack will carry these. Company officials have also said the restaurant will feature Hawaii-inspired menu items, local purveyors and artwork meant to give the first island Shack a distinctly local identity.
It is a notable addition for Ala Moana Center, one of Honolulu’s major shopping and dining destinations and a regular stop for Mainland travelers staying in Waikiki. The restaurant will sit a short drive from Waikiki Beach and many of the area’s biggest hotels.
Shake Shack began as a hot dog cart in New York City’s Madison Square Park before opening its first permanent restaurant in 2004. It has since grown into a major global chain with more than 625 locations systemwide, including more than 400 across 34 states and Washington, D.C.
Hawaii has increasingly become a target for mainland chains that once seemed unlikely to make the leap across the Pacific. Sonic, Chick-fil-A and Krispy Kreme have all opened in the islands in recent years. But Shake Shack’s arrival may be especially welcome for visitors who have had to satisfy their ShackBurger cravings before boarding the flight home.
For now, travelers will need to wait until 2027. But Hawaii’s first Shake Shack now has a confirmed home — and one of the state’s most heavily visited malls.
