MidWeek - Letter to Editor

Wednesday - July 28, 2010

Shopper urges traffic study for Kailua Target

By MidWeek Staff

Editor’s note: This letter originally was sent to Mayor Hannemann in June.
Editor,
Kailua is a small, wonderful community, which is why I chose to live here. But there are few roads coming into Kailua, and traffic is difficult at times.
Target is exploring moving into Kailua where Don Quijote’s is located at 345 Hahani St. This already is a very congested area, as Safeway is on one side, the post office is on the other, and the streets always are busy. An independent traffic study by the city should be done now before plans progress any further.
My daughter lives in Portland, Ore., across the street from a large Target at Washington Square, one of the largest malls in the greater Portland area. We both like to shop there, but the traffic always is a problem. This Target is located on a four-lane road and just off of the exit from a freeway. Although Target installed a traffic light on the main road so people could safely get in and out of the parking lot, traffic remains a problem. I just cannot imagine what it would be like in Kailua. Horrible.


 

Target has said that it’s having a traffic study done, but that would certainly be biased toward them. Please have an independent traffic study done by the City and County of Honolulu.
Thank you.
Claudia L. Webster
Kailua

KHON - article

 May 19, 2010

Kailua Don Quijote store could be replaced by Target

Target is looking to build in Kailua on the site of the current Don Quijote store.
On Tuesday night target presented their plans to Kailua residents - many of which had concerns about traffic.
"The main road, goes, skirts the outside and it doesn't go through the main business district of the town. So if they created a traffic jam, not just in their area but if they expect to draw people from Kanehoe, it's faster for people who lives in Kanehoe to go to Salt Lake," said Kailua resident Clinton Abe.
"Because we understand the, you know, the unique feel of Kailua, we're actually going to be building our smallest store in Hawaii," said Ed Padgett, a Target representative.
"Traffic is not only a concern for Kailua residents, it's also a concern for Target."
Target hopes to begin construction in 2011.
When complete, the store would have between 250 and 300 employees.

KITV - article

May 19, 2010

Residents Voice Concern About Target Moving Into Kailua

Construction Expected To Start 2011


HONOLULU -- At a meeting Tuesday night, Kailua residents received the news many in the room didn’t want to hear.

A Target representative explained to the packed room, the company’s plans to open where Don Quijote is currently located in the middle of Kailua town.

The majority of residents opposed the chain store moving into Kailua, but there were some residents who welcome Target in their neighborhood.

“If you live in Kailua, Don Quijote sells they offer a lot of things you can’t find anywhere else unless you want to go to Chinatown or like where am I going to find a bamboo steamer at 10 p.m.,” said Kailua resident Steve Parker.

Many residents fear the big box store will draw heavy traffic, which residents said the roads aren’t capable of handling.

But Eric Padget, a spokesperson for Target assured the crowd the company is conducting a traffic study to determine how traffic congestion can be reduced.

Amid those against Target moving into Kailua, was a longtime Kailua resident who welcomes the store.

“I still think its going to be very good for Kailua. It’s going to provide jobs people need them here. I love what they’re doing with this huge parking lot and turning it into something appealing,” said Sandra Kelley.

The company plans to start demolishing the Don Quijote building, along with several other stores in the strip mall, in the summer and be ready to open in the summer of 2011.

The company expects to hire 250 to 300 employees. Target said Don Quijote employees will not get preference.

There is no word yet on when Don Quijote will close.