Star Bulletin - Gathering Place

an old article; but very well said
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August 19, 2007

Kailua transformation -- all that glitters might not be gold

By Dan Bremner

The Star-Bulletin's story last Sunday "Transforming Kailua Town" makes us mindful of the threats to the future of Kailua and to the character traits that endear it to its residents. The glitter of "progress" via development is being dangled before our eyes again. It's a good time to remember that all that glitters is not gold and might not even be of value.

This "progress" has already dislodged many former "small town" merchants in Kailua. The future of others is on the block. Kailua is not alone in this concern. Recently, the advent of Whole Foods at the Kahala Mall coincided with the departure of several venerable tenants, creating a disquieting situation.

Into this arena, we ask the participants to seek a transcending goal as they try to "transform" our town. This goal is to preserve the desirable attributes, general character and pleasing atmosphere of Kailua. It is important that the so-called "growing pains" referred to in relation to "transformations" be prevented from becoming chronic diseases. That's why the community group Keep It Kailua is concerned with these changes to Kailua, and will be carrying out its goal of making sure that only change for the good of the community is embraced and other change is prevented.

What category does Kaneohe Ranch's desires for Kailua fall into? Well, we're not quite sure yet -- but we have seen that Kaneohe Ranch is a much more aggressive entity under its new CEO, Mitch D'Olier, than it had been previously. D'Olier, formerly CEO of the Victoria Ward Estate in Kakaako, did a lot of developing there, which was a distinct change for the previously semi-dormant Ward Estate. When he was through, Ward Estate was sold to General Growth Properties Inc., a national real estate giant and owner of the Ala Moana Shopping Center. Is that a scenario that might be repeated in Kailua?

Kaneohe Ranch owns about 45 acres in central Kailua. This is less than 1 percent of the whole town, but it is the "center" of town and what happens there can establish an image for the community. Otherwise, it is an insignificant portion of Kailua and this "tail" should not be allowed to swing the "dog" in the wrong direction. Kaneohe Ranch did conduct an extensive opinion survey in Kailua in 2004. The populace responded emphatically. They said the most important concern was to keep the "small town" feeling of Kailua and to manage growth accordingly. This same theme had been repeated by people making comments at the Kailua Town Party over many years.

One of the uncertainties about Kaneohe Ranch's intentions arises when its plans dislocate existing tenants for the purpose of accommodating a 40,000-square-foot store for the national retailer Whole Foods. Is this consistent with our "small town" atmosphere? Does this "small town" need and, more important, can its population of 40,000 plus 11,000 Marine families support five supermarkets and a health-food store within a half-mile radius, and seven supermarkets and a commissary within 1 mile or so of one another? Something might have to give.

Or will the proliferation of national retailers require market expansion beyond that available in Kailua for some to survive? Where would such market expansion come from? The official community plan for Kailua, the city's Ko'olaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan, indicates that Kailua has reached a growth saturation point and projects future change at the miniscule rate of 0.15 percent a year. Consequently, market expansion is not likely to come from growth. Kaneohe Ranch already has raised another question about its intentions by reaching out to other markets on Oahu with its "Shop Kailua" advertising campaign, begun around the time of the Kailua Pier 1 Imports opening.

Other potential for expanding markets for national retailers in Kailua exists in the area of tourism. Greed already is driving some to try to change the character of Kailua into a resort town. Not surprisingly this movement finds support in the small number of merchants in Kailua's business district and through them into the Kailua Chamber of Commerce. Kaneohe Ranch is a major mover in the Kailua Chamber of Commerce. Is Kaneohe Ranch counting on this direction for market expansion? We hope not, because the vast majority of Kailua's residents opted to live in a residential area, not a resort.

Kaneohe Ranch says it wants to keep Kailua, Kailua, but what do we measure, actions or words? When actions are inconsistent with words, we worry. We worry about the seeming inconsistency between the market needs of large national retailers and the continuance of "small-town" Kailua. We worry about Kaneohe Ranch's disavowal of a "resort" town desire when it already has made efforts toward market expansion beyond Kailua. We worry that an unnecessary parking structure poses a future loss of open-space parking for new buildings. We worry when Kaneohe Ranch says it aspires to a pedestrian-oriented town center, but acts to insert new streets in the interior of our already pedestrian-oriented super-block behind Macy's and Longs. Introducing through-traffic into a pedestrian-oriented area is not usually the way to make it more pedestrian-friendly!

We worry, and so we will watch and act to make sure the desirable traits of the Kailua community are not threatened by design, lost by inadvertence or otherwise circumvented under the guise of "progress."

Pacific Business News - article

Monday, November 29, 2010

Executive Chef to open at Kailua Town Center

Executive Chef will open its second location, this one at the Kailua Town Center in fall 2011. The cookware, bakeware and cutlery retailer has signed a lease with Kailua Town Center’s manager, Kaneohe Ranch, and will occupy 4,559 square feet of retail space next to Whole Foods Market, according to a statement from Kaneohe Ranch.

The third phase of Kailua Town Center, which is where the Executive Chef store will be located, is under construction and is scheduled to be completed next fall.

The Executive Chef already has a location at Ward Warehouse.

Big Box Tool Kit

Award-winning author, Stacy Mitchell -- "Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses" -- has posted our Community's story to her website.  We are thankful for the national support our Community is being offered not only from Stacy Mitchell, but also from Al Norman.  Visit Stacy's website to educate yourself on the negative impacts big box stores like Target bring to communities like ours.

Kailua, HI (Nov. 21, 2010)

Hoping to smooth the way for a proposed 130,000-square-foot store in this small Hawaiian town, Target officials organized an "open house" at a local elementary school. But the event was quickly overtaken by more than 200 opponents, who showed up armed with signs, pointed questions, and their own bullhorn.

Several grassroots groups have sprung up to block the store, including Keep It Kailua, No Target Kailua and Choose Kailua.

Opponents complained that the "open house" format, a common tactic used by big-box retailers, gave citizens no opportunity to publicly voice questions and concerns about the development. As one resident said, "Why wouldn't you want to hold a meeting? An actual meeting, like a public meeting, where somebody's up there and we can ask questions?"

If approved, the Target store will destroy Kailua's small-town feel, create excessive traffic, and undermine the local economy, opponents contend. They note that the Kailua Sustainable Communities Plan prohibits big-box stores. Whether this plan carries the force of law is now in dispute.

Star Advertiser - Letter to Editor

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Shapiro ignores big differences

David Shapiro is missing important points in his column about the Target vs. Don Quijote stores ("1 giant store to replace another in Kailua, ho-hum," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 24).
Comparing those two is strictly apples and oranges. Target is a big-box, deep-discount retail outlet that will draw shoppers from miles around into the busiest street in Kailua. Don Quijote has limited appeal and few customers who drive long distances to get there.
Target's plans to mitigate traffic address only the street immediately fronting the site. It will do nothing to improve the congested roadways that lead into Kailua, most of them narrow, two-lane streets winding through residential neighborhoods -- bumper-to-bumper traffic even without the addition of 20 percent more cars coming to a Target.
The real problem for Kailua is the growing controversy with Kaneohe Ranch and its expansionist agenda. No, it was not OK to bring a huge Whole Foods business and building into Kailua any more than to insert a giant Target into a town that does not have the infrastructure or carrying capacity to handle either. Community groups have been spontaneously springing up to protest and other long-established groups have come out in opposition.

Mollie Foti
Kailua

Letter from Rep. Chris Lee & Rep. Cynthia Theilen

Letter from Rep. Chris Lee

From: "Rep. Chris Kalani Lee" repclee@capitol.hawaii.gov
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 3:42 PM

Aloha,

Thank you for taking the time to write about the proposed Target store in Kailua. I want to bring you up to date. Throughout the last year, I have heard widespread community opposition to Kaneohe Ranch's plans for a Target Store in Kailua. Hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls from residents have been received by myself and other area officials. Residents and local small businesses have been organizing in opposition, and the Kailua Neighborhood Board has passed a motion opposing the project.

Representative Cynthia Thielen, Councilman Ikaika Anderson and myself have continued to meet with Target and speak with Kaneohe Ranch about their plans. It has been frustrating that despite our previous requests, the community has not been made a real part of the process, and a real discussion about many of the issues has not yet been had. I will continue to push for an open dialogue between Kaneohe Ranch, Target, and our community. Until the community is brought on board, and until our local small businesses' concerns can be met, I remain opposed to the opening of a Target in Kailua.

Building a large big-box retailer in Kailua ignores the spirit and purpose of our planning guidelines that the community worked hard to create. The Koolaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan, "intended to help guide public policy, investment, and decision-making through the 2020 planning horizon," is specifically "oriented toward maintaining and enhancing the region's ability to sustain its unique character and lifestyle."
The plan explains that any future planning and development "should prevent the introduction of "big box" retail stores," because "development of a "big box" store or discount center would be inconsistent with the vision for Koolaupoko's future."

Concerns about the negative impact on our community from a new Target store are not limited to development. Traffic congestion in Kailua is worse now than it was six years ago, when a 2004 community survey of 2,932 Kailua residents found that "An overwhelming 86% of respondents agreed that there were traffic congestion problems in Kailua." Five community forums sponsored by Kaneohe Ranch in 2004, and a study prepared for Kaneohe Ranch in 2005, recommended that "community desires for a small town sense of place can be enhanced by pedestrian-scale development," where a parent "would feel comfortable letting a child walk ahead of them with minimal supervision."  However, all Target traffic would flow directly through the recommended pedestrian friendly district, and add to the existing congestion in Kailua.

The largest concerns are about the loss to the small businesses that have been dedicated to our community for decades. Making Target a "one stop shop" would mean that there is little reason for customers to go anywhere else. It has been difficult for many businesses to voice their concerns because Kaneohe Ranch is their landlord. Many that have contacted us feel they must choose between either losing their business once Target comes to Kailua, or losing their lease if they speak in opposition. Kailua's success and distinction is owed to the iconic small businesses that have come to define it.

Following the Kailua Neighborhood Board's motion opposing Target, Kaneohe Ranch asked the board to rescind its motion and informed the board that Kaneohe Ranch could pursue legal action for "compensation and damages" related to their opposition to Target. Our neighborhood board is elected by our community to speak on behalf of the people of Kailua, and I have attached a letter responding to Kaneohe Ranch's threat of legal action.

Other elected officials and I are continuing to meet with Kaneohe Ranch and Target officials on behalf of the residents and small businesses of Kailua, and I will continue to push to make sure any concerns are heard and addressed. As we await the next steps by Kaneohe Ranch and Target, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Mahalo,


Representative Chris Lee
51st House District
State Capitol, Room 313
415 S. Beretania St. Honolulu, HI 96813
Ph: (808)586-9450 Fax: (808)586-9456
repclee@capitol.hawaii.gov

Neighborhood Board - powers, duties & functions

Neighborhood Boards

2008 NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN

POWERS, DUTIES, AND FUNCTIONS

§2-13-101  Purpose.  The purpose of this neighborhood plan and the neighborhood boards is to increase and assure effective citizen participation in the decisions of government. [Eff] (Auth: RCH §14-103(a)) (Imp: RCH §§14-104)

§2-13-102  General powers, duties, and functions of the boards.  (a)  The boards are responsible for actively participating in the functions and processes of government by identifying, addressing, communicating, and seeking solutions to neighborhood issues and concerns, both within and outside of their respective neighborhood areas.  Their actions should reflect the needs, wants, and interests of the neighborhood.  Boards may take the initiative in selecting and prioritizing their activities, and provide reasonable means to increase and assure effective citizen participation in the decisions of government.

(b)  The powers, duties, and functions of boards shall include:

(1)  Increase and assure effective citizen participation in the decisions of government by providing additional and improved opportunities for public input and interaction, and communicating that input to the appropriate persons and agencies;

(2)  Initiate, review, comment, and make recommendations concerning any general plan, development and sustainable communities plan, zoning, planning, permitting, and other land use issues within the city;

(3)  Identify, prioritize, review, comment, and make recommendations concerning any government capital improvement proposal, plan, or project;

(4)  Assist with evaluations of the efficiency and effectiveness of government services and programs, whether provided by government agencies or their contractors;

(5)  Initiate, review, comment, and make recommendations concerning any other substantive issue reasonably related to the processes or decisions of government;

(6)  Encourage understanding of the decision-making processes of government; and

(7)  Encourage the role of the board as a public and informational forum on community and governmental issues.

     (c)  Boards, in compliance with this plan and all other applicable laws, may communicate and cooperate with each other, especially on a regional basis, to promote general awareness and understanding of issues of mutual concern, explore opportunities for collaboration, and foster beneficial relationships to further increase and assure effective citizen participation in the decisions of government.

(d)  Each board may express its neighborhood's view, opinion, or advice on matters within the scope of the board's jurisdiction to properly fulfill its duty.  No deference is required of a board to any other board.

(e)  Boards may cooperate and collaborate with persons, agencies, and community organizations so long as the cooperation and collaboration does not exceed the powers, duties, and functions of boards as allowed by law.

(f)  The commission shall provide reasonable assistance and reasonable operating expenses for the boards for the performance of their powers, duties, and functions.  [Eff] (Auth: RCH §14-103(a)) (Imp: RCH §14-104)

HONOLULU CITY CHARTER

 (As of February 20, 2001)

Section 6-1511. Adoption of the General Plan and Development Plans22 --

1.      The council shall adopt the general plan or revisions thereof by resolution and development plans or amendments thereto by ordinance. Resolutions adopting or revising the general plan shall be laid over for at least two weeks after introduction. Such resolutions shall be advertised once in a daily newspaper of general circulation at least ten days before adoption by the council. Upon adoption, every such resolution shall be presented to the mayor, and the mayor may approve or disapprove it pursuant to applicable provisions governing the approval or disapproval of bills. (emphasis added)

The general plan and all development plans shall be kept on file in the department of planning and permitting.

2.      Any revision of or amendment to the general plan or any existing development plan may be proposed by the council and shall be processed in the same manner as if proposed by the director. Any such revision or amendment shall be referred to the director and the planning commission by resolution, which resolution shall be accompanied by supporting documentation sufficient to satisfy the director's usual requirements for the commencement of processing. If the planning commission disapproves the proposed revision or amendment or recommends a modification thereof, not accepted by the council, or fails to make its report within a period of either thirty days after the close of its public hearing or ninety days after its receipt by the commission, whichever occurs first, the council may nevertheless adopt such revision or amendment, but only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of its entire membership.

Any revision of or amendment to the general plan or any existing development plan which has been processed as an "unendorsed proposal" shall, in the absence of an affirmative recommendation from the planning commission, require for its adoption the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the entire membership of the council.

3.      Public improvement projects and subdivision and zoning ordinances shall be consistent with the development plan for that area, provided that development plan amendments and zoning map amendments may be processed concurrently.23        If any provision of the general plan or development plans places the receipt of federal funds in jeopardy, the council may, after a public hearing, set aside the general plan or development plans, but only to the extent necessary to resolve the conflict which jeopardizes federal funding.

Footnote

{22Charter does not give city council carte blanche authority to engage independent contractual services in the interest of its legislative policy-making and investigative powers. Each branch of the government is expected to cooperate with the other. The executive branch is primarily responsible for initially proceeding to conduct in-depth studies relating to city planning. Only if that branch has been requested to do so by the legislative branch, and has failed to comply with the request, may the council commission such studies as an incidental exercise of its power to amend or revise an existing general plan or development plan. Akahane v. Fasi, 58 Haw. 74, 565 P.2d 552 (1977).

Enactment of and amendments to development plans constitute legislative actions of the City Council and as such are entitled to a presumption of validity. Lum Yip Kee, Ltd. v. City and County of Honolulu, 70 Haw. 179, 767 P.2d 815 (1989).

23State not required to conform with charter requirement that public improvements must implement an area's development plan when the public improvement in question is expansion of the University of Hawaii campus. Kunimoto v. Kawakami, 56 Haw. 582, 545 P.2d 684 (1976).(As of February 20, 2001)}

4.         No person shall construct, operate or maintain any street railway or bus or other motor vehicle common carrier line or transit system on any street or route within the city unless the location and extent thereof has been submitted to and approved by the director as being in conformity with the general plan and the development plan for that area. (1998 General Election Charter Amendment Question No. 1(III))

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION WEBSITE

The Neighborhood Board is full citizen participation in government so that the powers of the City can

properly serve and advance the aspirations of its citizens. Through the Neighborhood Board system, every resident has the opportunity to participate in government decision making which affects his or her

community. The system applies the concept of participatory democracy, involving communities in the

decisions affecting them. It establishes an island wide network of elected neighborhood boards as

communication channels, expanding and facilitating opportunities for community and government interaction.
.....

.In a continuing effort to make government more accessible to people and expand public input for the Neighborhood Board process, we have built a home page for each Neighborhood Board. Moderated and

overseen by the board, here you can check agendas of upcoming meetings, download minutes of past

meetings, leave messages and discuss community issues through a "message board" system to elected

board members and give your input on issues the board submits for public discussion.
 Please return often

as each board moves into its new on-line home.

Kailua Sustainable Communities Plan

To stimulate the revitalization of the town centers of Kailua and Kaneohe, land use and zoning policy should prevent the introduction of “big Box” retail stores or shopping centers consisting predominately of discount or factory outlet stores within the region. This type of commercial development often results in inappropriate building scale, localized traffic and parking demand impacts, and the economic decline of existing businesses. Koolaupoko does not yet have this type of commercial development, although the region’s population is large enough to support at least one of these stores.  (Pg. 2-17 hard copy)

More faorable sites have been found for this type of commercial development in Leeward and Central Oahu, where large development parcels are more readily available and better situated to capture patronage from the island’s major population growth area. The opening of H-3 Freeway has also made these “value retail” stores more accessible to Koolaupoko’s residents. Development of a “big box” store or discount center would be inconsistent with the vision for Koolaupoko’s future expressed in this Sustainable Communities Plan; land use policy and zoning regulations should specifically prohibit retail and warehouse businesses over 90,000 square-feet in size. (pg 2-18 hardcopy)

Thank You

We would like to thank each individual who showed up at Target's open house on Saturday..

It was very nice to see the great amount of support Kailua has in this effort to keep Target out of our Kailua town! 

It was very telling as one perused each Target station (economic impact, traffic impact, building design, sustainability) that many of Target's representatives' answers did not adequately address the flood of the Community's pointed questions.

Like we have said before, this still is NOT A DONE DEAL!  We encourage you all to continue to write, call, email all the people on our "CONTACTS" list.  It is important for all these people to hear our voices!!

Star Advertiser - article

 (please note our corrections in RED per conversations, meetings, & facts we have collected)

Kailuans take on Target

Promises to make traffic improvements do not assuage fears of angry residents

By Gordon Y.K. Pang

A planned Target store in Kailua will draw about 10 percent to 15 percent 30 percent more traffic into the business core of the town, the retailer said yesterday in pledging to make traffic improvements.

But most of the estimated 250 residents attending a Target-sponsored open house at Kailua Elementary School left unsatisfied and remain convinced that the big-box store's arrival in 2012 will increase congestion and diminish the Windward town's charm.

Eric Padget, a Target senior development manager, told residents the company would spend more than $1 million in traffic improvements for the area. The Target store will be built at the existing Don Quijote store site, between the post office and a Safeway store.

Traffic improvements would include a new traffic signal at Hahani Street, new left-turn lanes and crosswalks, and reducing the number of driveways to the shopping center from five to two, Padget said. Target also will do a traffic study after the store opens to see whether further improvements are needed, he said.

Diane Para, 41, who lives at the nearby Windward Harbour condominium complex, grilled Padget about why Target's traffic study did not consider traffic conditions beyond its own boundaries.

Para pointed out that a new Whole Foods outlet is scheduled to open a few blocks away next year while the 200-unit Ironwoods condominium project also is being developed in the area.

"I'm only allowed to make traffic improvements to property I have permission and rights to," Padget replied.

"We don't have the infrastructure to have that kind of traffic," said Jean Fernie, 65, of Enchanted Lake. "It just doesn't belong here."

Para said Target, the other developers and the city need to work together on a traffic impact analysis for the greater Kailua community because customers are expected to come from as far as Hawaii Kai and Kaneohe.

Padget said the company has talked to property owner Kaneohe Ranch about a broader traffic study.

Target officials said the current Don Quijote store is 116,000 square feet less than 90,000 square feet while the new store, after expanding the existing building, would be 130,000 square feet.

Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2011, with the opening expected a year later, said Sarah Bakken, Target communications manager.

Several organized community groups opposed to the project collected signatures outside the cafeteria. Members of Keep It Kailua, No Target Kailua and Choose Kailua said they added 500 signatures to the 2,000 they already had.

Not everyone was opposed.

Olomana resident Joe Bussen, 37, said the site is zoned for commercial use and that Target wants to spruce up an aging area. "I don't even like Target, I loved Holiday Mart and A&W. But times change," he said.

Keoni Webster, 29, of North Kainalu said he supports a Target because his wife likes to shop there, adding that the family drives to the Honolulu Target about three times a month.

"Traffic is going to get worse no matter what," he said. Webster, a construction worker, said the last thing he wants to see is the building sitting vacant like the nearby theaters have been for years.

Brook Gramann, who owns two businesses on Kailua Road, said she expects Target will be good for businesses by drawing people into the area.

Target won't compete, as other merchants fear, because it will bring a different type of product, she said. "Target coming into Kailua is a good thing as long as they meet the parking problems."

The Kailua Chamber of Commerce has chosen to take no position on the issue. Chamber President Puna Nam said the 190-member group is split evenly among those who support and oppose a Target.

The Kailua Neighborhood Board voted Nov. 4 to oppose the project.

Opponents expressed concerns that Kailua is losing its small-town feel.

Sally McCully, 58, said she feels Kaneohe Ranch "took the easy way out" by attracting Target when it could have redeveloped the area with a mix of medium-sized businesses that better fit the area, she said.

Kalaheo Hillside resident Steve Spencer, 56, said he grew up in Kailua. During an impromptu rally started by Target opponents at the cafeteria stage, he said, "Part of living in Kailua is so we don't have this crap." Spencer said he and his family plan drives to Honolulu if they need to shop for things they can't find in Kailua.

Ruby Luzon, 78, said her biggest disappointment will be the loss of the Don Quijote, which she calls "Don Q."

The Keolu Hills resident said she meets friends there and that the store "caters to elderly people" by bringing in Asian food products and other hard-to-find items.

Target has attempted to bring in more local vendors and products at its other Hawaii stores, and Luzon said she might visit the new store if it carries some of the things she finds at Don Quijote.

"But if there's too much traffic, I don't think I'll be going there at all," she said.

T-shirts

Thank you to those who bought & wore the shirts to support this effort on Saturday at the Open House!

We have received additional inquiry from those who want to purchase these shirts.  So, we have decided to extend the offer!

If you are interested in purchasing a shirt, please pre-order by emailing us at: notargetkailua@gmail.com

Each shirt is $4

We would like to give special thanks to Lunar Teeʻs (one of Kailuaʻs local merchants) for helping us with designing and printing our shirts!  If you are interested in printing shirts for your future events, contact Trenton at LunarTees@gmail.com.

television media coverage

Target opponents rally at retailer's open house
KGMB - Hawaii News Now
http://www.hawaiinews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=13543411&clienttype=printable



Many Kailua Residents Reject Target's Move
KITV
http://www.kitv.com/video/25866797/detail.html



A Target Q & A for Kailua residents turns into a public protest against store's opening
KHON2
http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/A-Target-Q-A-for-Kailua-residents-turns-into-a/DAIz0355V0SbkQL59LC0YA.cspx

Hawaii News Now - article

November 19, 2010

Kailua residents & merchants voice concern over Target

By Brooks Baehr

KAILUA (HawaiiNewsNow) – People who represent Target, the big box merchandiser, will hear from a lot of Kailua residents Saturday about why they do not want Target in their town.

Target is holding an open house Saturday, November 20, at 9 a.m. at Kailua Elementary School. The company says in a news release that the open house will give the broader community a chance to see informative exhibits and engage in "informal conversations with the project team" on topics including traffic impacts and improvements, building design and landscaping, economic impacts, and "Target's commitment to sustainability."

On Thursday, Nov. 18, Hawaii News Now aired a story in which landlord Kaneohe Ranch made arguments in favor of Target.

On Friday, Nov. 19, Hawaii News Now aired the views of Kailua merchants and residents opposed to the mega merchandiser.

One of the arguments against opening a target in Kailua is the negative impact many fear it will have on small locally owned businesses that are already here.

Hungry Ear Records is one of those businesses.

"I come in here since I was in high school. So we're talking about, 30 years. And I like this store. It has this local feeling to it," said Kailua resident Dean Michihara as he looked through the CD selection at Hungry Ear.

Target will not buy and sell used music like they do at Hungry Ear, and it will not have the vinyl records that are available at Hungry Ear, but the store's owners still worry Target may doom them.

"I think they are really going to hurt the new CD sales because they have a CD department that's maybe the size of our store," said co-owner Dennie Chong.

"So a lot of our little businesses will fold up and die," said long time Kailua resident Mollie Foti.

"First of all, Target is way too big for Kailua. Kailua is a little town. Target is a big store, and in order to fill all those aisles they are going to have to have shoppers coming from all over," Foti added.

More shoppers means more traffic in a town struggling to maintain its small town feel.

"I represent their prime demographic. I have two children that are in school. I'm married. I own a home. I'm who they want shopping there and I don't want them here, so I'm not sure where they're coming from saying that I need them," said resident Dana Miller.

Miller has joined "Choose Kailua," a grass roots group whose short term goal is stop the mega store from opening in Kailua.

There is also a "notargetkailua" web site where the opposition is collecting signatures from people who do not think the store belongs at the site currently occupied by Don Quote.

"It's nothing against Target at all. I think a lot of us love Target. But we can go 20 minutes to Target. I think for me personally, I don't want to see target competing with some of our small town merchants who have been here for a long time," said Malia Peters, whose family has lived in Kailua for five generations.

Target already has the lease to the property. It plans to begin construction in the Fall of 2011 and open in the Summer of 2012.

Hawaii News Now - article

November 19, 2010

Touting Target in Kailua pt.1

By Brooks Baehr

KAILUA (HawaiiNewsNow) - This is ground zero. This is the seven acre property where Target plans to open a store in Kailua.

Don Quiote is the biggest tenant on the property now. There are also a few smaller stores and restaurants.

At the end of March, they'll all be out clearing the way for a brand new 130,000 square foot Target store.

"I see a cleaned up building. I see a parking lot with 185 trees," President and CEO of Kaneohe Ranch Mitch D'Olier said.

Kaneohe Ranch owns and manages 40 acres of prime Kailua town property including the Target site.

"A lot of leases were done in the 50's that are expiring now, and we are faced with aging improvements and what to do and that's driven a lot of the change," D'Olier said.

D'Olier oversees what he calls a renewal in Kailua... replacing aging buildings with new modern structures and amenities.

"I'm trying to make it a wonderful pedestrian place. I'm trying to renew it. I'm trying to make it not tired and dilapidated," D'Olier said.

D'Olier says Target will be another step toward giving residents in Kailua everything they need.

"Our real plan would be Kailua residents don't have to leave Kailua to shop. And right now they have to. If you want to buy office products, kitchen ware, sporting goods for kids, clothing for kids and women, you can't really get it," D'Olier said.

D'Olier believes Target will have a positive impact on other stores and shops because it'll bring people into town.

That means more traffic, but he says Target will make the needed road improvements.

"Target is more concerned than anybody because if people can't get to their store, they're not going to do any business," D'Olier said.

Target plans to break ground next fall and open in the summer of 2012.

"We're in recession. Target comes in and invests $40 million in the Don Quote site cleaning up a mess. They create 250 construction jobs for 14 months. They create 300 permanent jobs," D'Olier said.

So, some compelling arguments from Kaneohe Ranch about why Target may be a good fit for Kailua. Of course the folks who so not want a big box store here say their arguments are even stronger. And we're going to hear from them Friday night at the same time.

WANTED

We are in search for the young man who gave us two different iron-on shirt designs at our past sign waving event back on August 10th (see one example on left). 

If anyone who knows this individual, please contact us at: notargetkailua@gmail.com

Thank You!

MEETING with TARGET

Saturday, November 20th

9:00am - NOON

Kailua Elementary School - Cafeteria

315 Ku'ulei Road

Please let your friends, family, neighbors know about this event!  We need to get our entire community to this meeting and personally raise our concerns to Target!!!

This is our opportunity as a united force to send Target a clear message No Thanks to such an over-sized and incompatible development for our small town! 

We suggest arriving early to the meeting, bring your list of questions and concerns for discussion with the Target representatives.

On the RADIO

Friday, November 19th
6:30am - 10am
Radio Station KSSK - FM 92.3/AM590

Please listen in and/or call into the Perry & Price radio show.  Many of our community members are planning to call in and speak about issues regarding the planned Target store in Kailua!  We encourage you to do so as well!
phone: 296-5959 OR 296-9292
website:  http://www.ksskradio.com/main.html (streams LIVE)

Letter from Lawyer

·     It clearly states in our “Ko'olaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan” (KSCP) – No big box stores in our community!!

      Didn’t Kaneohe Ranch advise Target of this KSCP stating “no big box” stores?? (Wikipedia definition: “Big-box store is a physically large retail establishment, usually part of a chain … ie. Target” )

      Letter that follows from the lawyers of Kaneohe Ranch to our Neighborhood Board, the elected representatives of our Kailua community, is sheer intimidation and this is wrong!  

    

      On November 9, 2010, our Kailua Neighborhood Board adopted a resolution, which requested the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, to deny any permits for the proposed Target store on the basis of Section 2.2.6 of our Ko'olaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan (KSCP).

On November 12, 2010, the law firm of McCorriston Miller Mukai Mackinnon LLP, who represents Kaneohe Ranch, sent a letter to the Kailua Neighborhood Board advising them that the resolution is “illegal and improper” and requested the resolution be “rescinded immediately”.  (click on images on left to view larger)

What about the legal rights of the Kailua Community?  The Ko'olaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan was created in 1999 to protect all of Ko'olaupoko, including Kailua, from Big Box stores and was NEVER ADOPTED by the City Council, even after several requests from our Neighborhood Board to do so. This is our government … For the People … if they had acted on adopting the plan, this would not be an issue today!

The Kailua Neighborhood Board is doing what is right for the people they represent. Shouldn’t the City Council be held accountable to the same standards?

Which Law Firm will represent the people of Kailua and send a threatening letter to the City Council advising them what they have done, or failed to do, is illegal and improper?

Shame on Kaneohe Ranch for having their lawyers send such a threatening letter to the very Board that represents the community that supports Kaneohe Ranch’s economic existence!  Our Neighborhood Board represents the people of Kailua. By Kaneohe Ranch threatening the Board, they are essentially threatening our community! We cannot accept that!

Please email, write or call and communicate your concerns, especially to the following people:

Mitch D'Olier: mitch@kaneoheranch.com
Mayor Peter Carlisle: mayor@honolulu.gov
David Tanoue (DPP Acting Director): dtanoue@honolulu.gov
Robert Sumitomo (DPP Deputy Director): rsumitomo@honolulu.gov

Full contact list on our blogsite: see 'CONTACTS' link on the right

Sign the PETITION

We need more signatures!! 

PLEASE HELP!  Click on the image on the left to enlarge, then save and print the enlarged image.  Then, go around - ask your friends, family, and neighbors to sign the petition!

If you have a petition with signatures, you may either drop it off at one our our sign waving events, or email us and we can arrange a way to pick it up from you.
If you have problems printing, email us and we can email you a PDF file.

Get the FACTS

Click image to enlarge. 

Save, copy, print, and distribute!  Share these facts with your neighbors!  Educate your fellow community members on what will happen if Target builds a store in our Kailua Town!

If you have problems printing, email us and we can email you a PDF file.

3-TALK meeting

Tuesday, November 16^th

7:00pm

Waimānalo Public Library

District 3’s City Council Member, Ikaika Anderson, will be holding his 3-TALK meeting.  These meetings allow anyone to personally ask questions, comment, voice concerns, etc. to our own City Council Member.  Our community needs to continue to raise questions and concerns to Ikaika about Target!!!

Although Target may not be building their store in Waimānalo, it is important that Waimānalo community members be involved.  This store could possibly affect the current traffic thru Waimānalo, as Hawaii Kai/Koko Head area community would, possibly, drive thru Waimānalo to get to this big box store.  This problem could greatly affect access for Waimānalo residences commuting to and from Kailua town.

Keep It Kailua - letter

Please see letter shown on the left (click image to view larger) that was sent to Mr. Gregg Steinhafel, President, Chief Executive Officer, Target Corporation from Keep It Kailua asking him to veto the company's plan to bring a 130,000 sq ft Target store to Kailua, O'ahu, Hawai'i, population 50,000.

This is not a letter opposing Target as a company. It is a request that Target find a more suitable location on O'ahu.

Keep It Kailua is a grassroots community group founded in 2004 whose purpose is to retain Kailua's family oriented residential character and quality of life. Keep It Kailua's goals are to: Protect residential zoning and promote permanent residency in our neighborhoods; preserve and enhance scenic, civic, recreational and cultural features that define Kailua's sense of place; protect water resources essential to the health of the environment; preserve trees and maintain open green space; promote walking and the use of non-motorized bicycles as alternatives to automobile transportation within and around the town; promote businesses that serve the residential community and support other community groups with similar goals.

Email: KeepItKailua@hotmail.com

Pacific Business News - article

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Neighborhood board objects to Kailua Target

The Kailua Neighborhood Board sent a letter to Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle Wednesday regarding its objections to the proposed Kailua Target store.

In the letter, the board states that it doesn’t support the store’s development because the store is larger than the specification for retail businesses stated in the Koolaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan. The plan states that retail and warehouse businesses should not be more than 90,000 square feet; the proposed Kailua Target is 130,000 square feet.

The Kailua Neighborhood Board also recommends that neither the state nor county governments should give permits to the proposed store because of its size.

Target representatives were not immediately available for comment.

Re-cap of Kailua NB meeting

Thursday, Nov. 4th

• During the Neighborhood Concerns portion of the meeting, a number of residents spoke out against Target -- "we need a comprehensive traffic plan for Kailua" (every community has a Master Plan -- Why doesn't Kailua??) 
• "There are major traffic issues in Kailua ... bumper to bumper traffic on Oneawa Street" (all over Kailua, it's the same congestion issue!)
• "Target in Kailua is not a good fit" ... Target stores are typically placed in close proximity to freeways, not on a tiny land mass surrounded by water, only accessible via six(6) bridges!! (think about this!)
• numerous residents have made calls to Target Corporation in Minnesota attempting to secure a meeting date  for Target to address our community!!  -- No success
• City Councilmember Ikaika Anderson met with Target reps on October 12, 2010 in his office. Anderson has "grave concerns over Target's size being 130,000 square feet" ... "Target has failed thus far to keep the community informed" ... "the community needs to be an active participant" -- along with a few of our other elected officials, he has requested Target contact our Neighborhood Board to schedule a community meeting.
• Ikaika Anderson is looking into funding a Traffic Impact Analysis Report(TIAR) for Kailua as part of the 2011 C.I.P. -- NO big-box project should commence until this TIAR is 100% complete!

Mayor's Report:

Mayor's rep Mark Scalzone #768-4275 encouraged our community to "continue to reach out and email Mayor Carlisle your concerns" 

Letters & Resolution opposing big-box store:

Mahalo to our Kailua Neighborhood Board(KNB), Keep It Kailua(KIK), and Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle(LKOC) for the following:

1. KNB letter to Mayor Carlisle recommending "that neither City or State governments give any permits (to big-box Target) because this proposed development does not conform to the Koolaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan."
2. KIK letter to Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel recommending they veto the existing plan because of its oversized scale, negative impact to traffic, to the character of our small residential community, to our small local businesses -- and  for Target to wait until a more suitable site is found on our island.
3. LKOC Resolution, "representing our more than 500 members, opposes Target coming to Kailua."

*  for contact information, click on "CONTACTS" on the right side of the page.

PLEASE WRITE OR CALL -- Target, Kaneohe Ranch, Mayor, Governor, elected officials, etc.

It is so very important that everyone continues to hear your concerns. We have to inundate them with calls, emails and letters!  Please ask your family and friends to make contact as well. The more phone calls and emails received, the more likely we are to succeed!! 

Kailua Neighborhood Board Meeting

November 4th

7:00pm

Kailua District Park (Multi-Purpose Building)
21 S. Kainalu Drive

Voice your concerns to the NB AND to our new Mayor's representative (who will be present at THIS meeting)!

CONTACTS

Express your concern about this out-of-scale business that wants to come to our community!!

Elected Officials:

Peter Carlisle: Honolulu Mayor
mayor@honolulu.gov
ph #768-4141

Ikaika Anderson:City Council Member, District 3 (Waimanalo, Kailua, and most of Kane'ohe)
Honolulu Hale
530 S. King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
ianderson@honolulu.gov
ph #768-5003
fax#768-5011

Jill Tokuda: 24th Senatorial District (Kane'ohe - including KCAB; Kailua, Enchanted Lake)
Hawaii State Capitol, Rm 218
415 S. Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
sentokuda@Capitol.hawaii.gov
ph #587-7215
fax#587-7220

Pono Chong: 49th Representative District (Maunawili, Olomana, Enchanted Lake, Kāne'ohe)
Hawaii State Capitol, Rm 404
415 S. Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
repchong@Capitol.hawaii.gov
ph #586-9490
fax#586-9496

Cynthia Thielen: 50th Representative District (Kailua, Kāne'ohe Bay)
Hawaii State Capitol, Rm 443
415 S. Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
repthielen@Capitol.hawaii.gov
ph #586-6480

Chris Lee: 51st Representative District (Lanikai, Waimānalo)
Hawaii State Capitol, Rm 313
415 S. Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
repclee@Capitol.hawaii.gov
ph #586-9450
fax#586-9456

Other District Council Members:

District 1 - Tom Berg                       (808)768-5001   tberg@honolulu.gov
District 2 - Ernest Y. Martin             (808)768-5002   emartin@honolulu.gov

District 3 - Ikaika Anderson             (808)768-5003    ianderson@honolulu.gov

District 4 - Stanley Chang                 (808)768-5004   schang@honolulu.gov

District 5 - Ann Kobayashi               (808)768-5005   akobayashi@honolulu.gov

District 6 - Tulsi Gabbard-Tamayo   (808)768-5006   tgabbard@honolulu.gov

District 7 - Romy M. Cachola          (808)768-5007   rcachola@honolulu.gov

District 8 - Breene Harimoto            (808)768-5008   bharimoto@honolulu.gov

District 9 - Nestor R. Garcia            (808)768-5009   ngarcia@honolulu.gov

--------------------

Kaneohe Ranch Management Ltd.
Castle Junction
1199 Auloa Road
Kailua, HI 96734
info@kaneoheranch.com
ph# 263-8900
fax#263-8919

Mitch D'Olier: President and CEO
mitch@kaneoheranch.com
ph #263-8900

Kimo Steinwascher: Vice President, Leasing & Development
kimo@kaneoheranch.com

Marcia Murakami: Property Manager
mmurakami@kaneoheranch.com

Miles Nishijima: Commercial Property Manager
mnishijima@kaneoheranch.com

Carlton Au: Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
cau@kaneoheranch.com

Ann Matsukado: Accounting Manager
amatsukado@kaneoheranch.com

Judy Guerrero: Agent
jguerrero@kaneoheranch.com

Shirleyann Kalama: Agent
skalama@kaneoheranch.com

----------------------

Target Corporation
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55403
ph #612-304-6073
fax#612-696-5400

Bill Ackman: Board of Director, Chair
ackman@persq.com
ph #212-813-3700

Gregg Steinhafel: President/Chairman/CEO
gregg.steinhafel@target.com
ph #612-696-6234
fax#612-696-6325

Eric Padget: Development Manager
eric.padget@target.com
ph #612-761-1508

Shannon Eldridge: Real Estate Manager

shannon.eldridge@target.com
ph #612-761-6033

Kitty Lagareta: CEO of Communications Pacific

klagareta@commpac.com

Cindy McMillan: Senior Vice President of Communications Pacific
cmcmillan@commpac.com


---------------------------

City & County of Honolulu
Department of Planning & Permitting

David Tanoue: DPP Director
dtanoue@honolulu.gov
ph #768-8000

Robert Sumitomo: Deputy Director
rsumitomo@honolulu.gov
ph #768-8000

Mel Hirayama: Traffic Review Branch
mhirayama@honolulu.gov
ph #768-8077

Wayne Yoshioka: City Department of Transportation Services Director
wyoshioka@honolulu.gov
ph# 768-8301