Luxury shops in Hawaii to close after 63 years

"Owned by luxury giant LVMH, the Hong Kong-headquartered DFS Group runs duty-free shops in Waikiki, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu and Kahului Airport on Maui. All three stores will close, with the T Galleria in Waikiki shuttering on Jan. 28, and Honolulu airport's shop closing on March 31. The closure date for the DFS store at the Maui airport has not been announced, but the company said the lease there will end on Aug. 31."

"Opened in 1962, the store in the Honolulu airport was the first duty-free shop in the United States, offering international travelers a place to buy high-end beauty products, watches, jewelry and premium spirits without paying local taxes. The group cited "the slow return of international travelers amongst other macro factors," according to Velda Steel, the director of corporate communications at DFS Group. Hawaii has seen a significant decline in international travelers, particularly from Japan, since the COVID-19 pandemic."

DFS Group, owned by LVMH and headquartered in Hong Kong, will close its Waikiki T Galleria, the Honolulu airport duty-free store, and its Maui airport shop. The Waikiki location will shutter on Jan. 28 and the Honolulu airport store will close on March 31; the Maui store closure date is not set but its lease ends Aug. 31. The Honolulu airport store opened in 1962 as the first duty-free shop in the United States. The group cited the slow return of international travelers and other macro factors, noting a notable decline in visitors from Japan since the COVID-19 pandemic. A WARN notice lists 183 layoffs across the three stores, with 84 in Waikiki, 80 in Honolulu airport, and 19 in Maui. The company expressed gratitude to employees and said it will support them through the transition.

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