Honolulu Weekly-letter to editor

February 2, 2011

Community First

Kaneohe Ranch has put great effort into portraying itself as a proper steward of its lands in Kailua–the only question is what constitutes “proper” stewardship [Cover story, Jan. 5: “Off Target”].

The ranch is marching forward with a strategy of maximizing profits from its land holdings in Kailua. Contrary to its goal, the ranch’s resulting impression is of a for-profit entity that says it cares about the Kailua community but acts with blatant disregard for the values and goals of the community.

The list of improper acts of stewardship committed by the ranch continues to grow: ignoring community input acquired in its own visioning process, disregarding the intent of the Ko’olaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan that says “no big box,” and trying to hide behind its tireless efforts to bring box to Kailua. This is not pono.

No matter how much the ranch denies it, the community has come to understand it is behind the push to bring Target to Kailua. Many of us consider this action to be in conflict with good environmental stewardship and contrary to supporting the long term wellbeing of the community.

The ranch could and should pursue a mixed-use redevelopment of the Don Quijote site.

That redevelopment should place a priority on creating a community gathering place and a cultural center. In addition, the allotment of space for a mix of retail shops should include a food cooperative that will support the community, including local producers and customers; a symbiotic and supportive relationship that would honor Kailua’s rich agricultural history and provide a meaningful way to support local agriculture and food production.

Furthermore, preservation of the Kailua Theatres and/or the American Savings Bank building would offer a way to not only preserve the history of Kailua through its buildings, but also to avoid having to demolish buildings that could be repurposed to preserve history and pursue progress at the same time.

The time has come for the community to articulate its preference for progress on the Don Quijote site that is rooted in support for the community and support for the landowner. This approach does not require the entry of a big box.

Many community members believe this is the most prudent and viable path of action. It allows our community to support the local economy, and at the same time, pursue progress that is respectful of the community. The way forward requires mutual respect between landowners/managers and the community.

Rosie Goo
Kaneohe

Star Advertiser-letter to editor

February 2, 2011

Kailua's fate has been sealed

While a Target in Kailua might not be the biggest development ever to take place on Oahu, astute readers should take note of its significance to the character of Oahu's small towns. Both Target and Kaneohe Ranch circumvented significant community opposition, effectively paving the way for a giant shopping destination in a town that has infrastructure that is sorely stressed by the current population.

Kaneohe Ranch leadership and Target officials have said the Target location will improve traffic flow, create jobs and stimulate small businesses in the area while beautifying Kailua. Should these rosy predictions fail to pan out, Kailua's transformation from a quaint beachside community to a busy regional tourist and shopping destination will be sealed. This would be a sad fate for a community whose values are primarily defined by the desire to live in an aesthetically beautiful beachside community devoid of big-city trappings.

John Foster
Kailua

Star Advertiser-letter to editor

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Exploitation of Kailua is the American Dream

Just as Bruce Voss has "grown up and still lives in" Kailua, so have I ("Target: It's another Holiday Mart," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 12). In my opinion, Kailua was destroyed years ago, even before places like Pier 1, California Pizza Kitchen, Walgreens and Whole Foods moved in.

Unnecessary stores are coaxed by a real estate company into moving here to make money, which they do. These stores satisfy the throngs of mainland transplants who come to Kailua because it was marketed to them by this same real estate company. This town is being exploited and that is upsetting many Kailua residents, including myself.

I've contemplated moving to a less-populated town in Hawaii, like Kailua used to be, but it's probably no use because some corporation will end up exploiting it the same way, because that is the American Dream.

 

Justin McCoy
Kailua

Star Advertiser - letter to editor

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Big business rules in Kailua

I am sadly disappointed in the relationship between Kaneohe Ranch and Kailua residents who supported the Koolaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan.

The plan was initiated to give people a voice as to the type of community they envisioned. It was the hope of the majority who participated in the survey to keep Kailua a community beach town. The vision included supporting local businesses, creating pedestrian/bike-friendly walkways and no big-box stores. Kaneohe Ranch once shared this vision.

Unfortunately, big business now rules at Kaneohe Ranch. Target and Whole Foods are not the bad guys here; it is Kaneohe Ranch that has disappointed the residents of Kailua by deciding upon itself what is best for Kailua.

Ginger Edmunds
Kailua

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

Star Advertiser - letter to editor

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Target doesn't belong in Kailua

It is not too late for Target to acknowledge that Kailua is unsuitable for a big-box store.

Target's Kona, Salt Lake and Kapolei stores are successful because they are sited on the outskirts of towns, near highways where size, aesthetics and traffic are not a problem for residents. But Kailua is not Kapolei. Residents and tourists familiar with Kailua know that planting a 130,000-square-foot store in its heart will undermine the pedestrian-friendly interaction Kailua is working hard to preserve.

Pauline Mac Neil
Kailua

Star Advertiser - letter to editor

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

King of Kailua killed the magic

Once upon a time there existed a magical town located on a beautiful bay. It was called Kailua. Visitors from around the world flocked there. But Kailua was about to change.

Kailua was ruled by a king who lived in a castle at the junction and owned much of its commercial land. The king took pride in his town, but his advisers, who did not live in Kailua, thought of it only as a business. These advisers knew that other kingdoms had generated large wealth by leasing land to big boxes like Target. They advised the king to adopt this strategy. The king asked, "Wouldn't bringing in these large outlet stores change the character of Kailua, increase the traffic, put local stores out of business, and ultimately destroy the town's magical charm?" The advisers replied, "Really, Your Excellency, your serfs don't think in terms of quality of life. Just provide them more shopping options, a few jobs, and they will be happy." Thus the magic left Kailua.

Jeffrey Polovina
Kailua

Star Advertiser - letter to editor

September 3, 2010

Kailua doesn't need a Target

I have a question for Mitch D'Olier in regard to the shopping convenience for Kailua residents if Target comes to town ("Name in the News," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 27). He says Target will make it possible for us to find everything we need there, like kitchenware, office products and kids' clothes.

Well, what about Macy's, just a half block from the proposed Target site? I can find a great selection of kitchen and housewares there, and also at Hardware Hawaii, even at Longs. Macy's has kids' clothes. And for office products, I would go to the professionals in Honolulu anyway -- Fisher Hawaii. Small stuff I can already find at Don Quijote or Longs.

Mollie Foti
Kailua

Star Advertiser - letter to editor

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Kailua worries predate Target

Star-Advertiser writer Vicki Viotti asks Mitch D'Olier, president and CEO of Kaneohe Ranch, "What was the threshold that Target crossed" that resulted in community opposition. He answers, "I'd love to know" (Star-Advertiser, Aug. 27).

We answer as current residents of Kailua where our family has lived continuously since 1929, and as participants in the 2003 survey and the 2004 community planning process.

From our perspective, the threshold was crossed and the tipping point reached before Target even entered the picture. In the last five years, Kaneohe Ranch has developed a new Longs and parking garage; Pier 1 and California Pizza Kitchen; the current construction of a 32,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market plus 8,000 square feet of retail space; and 151 Hekili Street -- 19,000 square feet of retail and office space at one of the busiest intersections in Kailua across from the proposed Target.

We call on Kaneohe Ranch to take a time out and commission an independent assessment of the impacts of its redevelopment on the quality of life in Kailua and the community values defined in the 2004 Community Plan. Because, as he notes, "the real customers are Kailua residents."

Barbara Pope and Deborah Pope
Kailua

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

Honolulu Advertiser - letter to editor

November 21, 2009

KAILUA CAN’T ACCOMMODATE STORE

Target proposed for Kailua — no, no, no.
Target is a place where I shop and I was glad to have Target come to Oçahu. I am not pleased to see that they are considering Kailua for a possible fifth store. The location where Don Quijote is seems much too small for a Target. I also would not want to lose Don Quijote; it provides many different unique products and I shop there weekly.
Due to its size, Target seems much better suited for somewhere in Käneçohe, close to Windward Mall or Windward Shopping Center.
Prior to moving to Kailua, I had a condo in Oregon close to Washington Square Shopping Center near Beaverton. There was a very large Target just across the main street from my condo. I shopped there myself, as did many people. The traffic was terrible. At all hours of the day and evening when Target was open. There were times when the parking lot was so full that people had to wait for others to leave before parking. Kailua does not have the streets or the space to accommodate such a store and such traffic.
Target would be welcome on the Windward side, but not in Kailua, at least by me.

CLAUDIA WEBSTER | Kailua