May 11, 2013
Target's Kailua store scheduled to open in 2014
By Kristen Consillio
Nearly a year after Target Corp.'s Kailua
store was scheduled to open, company officials have finally released a date on
when it will begin doing business in Windward Oahu.
The Minneapolis-based retailer said it
will open its long-awaited, 130,000-square-foot store in October 2014, but
didn't say when construction will resume after an archaeological study
discovered unidentified iwi kupuna, or Native Hawaiian skeletal remains.
Target has completed the fieldwork for
the archaeological study, which is under review by the State Historic
Preservation Division. Two sets of human remains were found at the site of the
former Don Quijote at 345 Hahani St.
Construction of the store, originally
scheduled to open last July, will take about 10 months to a year, Target
said.
Target will resume construction once the
State Historic Preservation Division and Oahu Island Burial Council approve a
burial plan.
The company earlier said it had revised
plans for the $40 million project to minimize ground disruptions, which includes
leaving the Don Quijote building foundation in place.
"We're working closely with both of those
organizations (Historic Preservation Division and Burial Council) and ultimately
are deferring to them out of respect for the cultural descendants," said Target
spokeswoman Donna Egan. "We're waiting to hear what the next steps are. Until
then we are in a holding pattern, but certainly we're anticipating moving
forward sooner rather than later."
The project, which will employ about 300
workers and generate about 250 construction jobs, has met opposition from a
vocal group of residents who fear the big-box retailer will change Kailua's
small-town charm, bring more people into the quiet neighborhood and cause
further traffic congestion.
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