PacificBusinessNews-article

May 17, 2013  

Kaneohe Ranch puts Kailua town up for sale with Eastdil Secured

By Duane Shimogawa

Kaneohe Ranch Co. LLC and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation put the entire Kaneohe Ranch commercial real estate portfolio, which includes the town center in Kailua in Windward Oahu, on the market for sale Thursday with Eastdil Secured.
The properties, which are being marketed in its entirety as a portfolio, or as two geographic sub-portfolios, for an undisclosed price. They include retail shopping centers and leased fee land interests in Kailua as well nine properties on the Mainland, according to the listing with Eastdil Secured.
The Kailua town center includes a mix of fee-simple and leased properties whose tenants include Whole Foods Market (NYSE: WFM), Foodland, Safeway (NYSE: SWY), Times Supermarket, Longs Drugs, Macy’s (NYSE: M) and California Pizza Kitchen.
Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) bought seven acres along Hanani Street in Kailua, next to Safeway, from Castle Family LLC for $22.5 million in January 2011 and is building a new store there.
Many of the existing commercial properties in Kailua were developed as leasehold interests 40 to 50 years ago and several of the long-term ground leases "have either expired or will be expiring by the end of this decade, providing ownership with the opportunity to continue to upgrade and reposition downtown Kailua," the listing said.
Kaneohe Ranch officials could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday night. Kaneohe Ranch manages the real estate owned by the Castle family and the nonprofit Harold K.L. Castle Foundation.
The Hawaii portfolio also includes the land beneath the Windward City Shopping Center and Servco Windward Toyota in Kaneohe, and three properties in Honolulu.
The Mainland portfolio includes five leased fee land interests, three single-tenant retail and office assets and one multifamily asset located in San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Dallas, Phoenix and Portland, Ore. Tenants in those properties include Lowe’s in San Jose, Calif., a Kohl’s department store in Phoenix, the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay and the U.S. government.

KITV-article

May 13, 2013

Kailua Target could open as early as Oct. 2014

Target working with cultural descendants on burial treatment plan

KAILUA, Hawaii —The new Target store planned for Windward Oahu could open as early as October 2014.

The company released a rendering of the 130,000-square-foot store planned for Kailua town.

Target bought the land from Kaneohe Ranch two years ago.

But, the discovery of two sets of human remains on the site triggered an archaeological survey and need for a burial treatment plan.

"The construction design of it was changed dramatically and that was done to minimize the impact on the ground," said Target Real Estate Manager Brian Treber.  "The Don Quijote store will be torn down, but we will be building up from that and the site will be built up."

Target says it has been working with cultural descendants of the area on the draft burial treatment plan that is now before the Oahu Burial Council.

The group Kailua Kau A Ho'oilo tells KITV that it prefers any discovered remains to be buried in place whenever possible.  But, barring any other delays, the store is slated to open in fall of 2014.

KHON-article

May 12, 2013

Discovery of iwi stalls construction of Kailua Target
By Manolo Morales

Two set of remains were found last year and since then, construction has stopped. A spokesman says the Kailua Target store could open next year.
The property that was once occupied by the Don Quijote store remains fenced in and covered with black tarp. No work has been done since bones were found last summer. Construction began in July 2011 and some Windward Oahu residents have been wondering when the store will open its doors.
“It’s a lot nicer than looking at the eyesore that’s there right now. So yeah I welcome that,” says Sandee Phillips, Waimanalo resident.
There had been some opposition when the project was proposed, occupying 130,000 square feet.
“There’s a traffic concern obviously you bring more traffic in this area and this already sometimes gets a little inconvenient,” says Robert Mueller, Waimanalo resident.
That wasn’t enough to stop it. Instead iwi discovered during trenching work now has Target working with Native Hawaiians to work out a burial plan. That burial plan will have to be approved by the State Historic Preservation Division and by the Oahu Island Burial Council before construction can resume.
“We’re hopeful to open the store in October 2014 but again we’re going to be extremely sensitive to the iwi that is in place and make sure that is treated appropriately,” says Brian Treber, Target corporation.
Treber says the company and the group of descendants have agreed on a plan which was supposed to be presented to the burial council today but the hearing was delayed. He says there’s been no problems coming to an agreement.
“None whatsoever. It has gone extremely well and we found them to be very wise descendant group with very good recommendations,” says Treber.
Treber says there’s also no more digging planned for the project. So now it’s a just a matter of getting approval from the state agencies.

StarAdvertiser-article

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.

PacificBusinessNews-article

May 9, 2013  

Target, descendants agree on plan for Native Hawaiian burials found at Kailua store site

Officials with Target Corp. are working with descendants of ancient Native Hawaiian burials discovered at the site of the company's planned Kailua store on a burial plan for the remains, which must be approved by Hawaii's State Historic Preservation Division before construction can resume.
KHON reports Target (NYSE: TGT) was to have presented a plan to the Oahu Island Burial Council, which must also give its approval, on Wednesday but the hearing was delayed. KHON reports a Target spokesman says the 130,000 square-foot store, which would be the company's fifth location in Hawaii, is aiming to open in October 2014.

KHON-article

May 8, 2013

Iwi stalls construction plans for Kailua Target

 

By Manolo Morales

Construction on a new Target store in Kailua started nearly two years ago.
So why is it still far from being built?
Part of the problem deals with iwi discovered at the site.
Two sets of remains were found last year and since then, construction has stopped.
The property that was once occupied by the Don Quijote Store remains fenced in and covered with black tarp. Construction began in July 2011 and some Windward Oahu residents have been wondering when the store will open its doors.
“It’s a lot nicer than looking at the eyesore that’s there right now so yeah I welcome that,” says Waimanalo resident Sandee Phillips.
There had been some opposition when the project was proposed, occupying 130,000 square feet.
“There’s a traffic concern, obviously, you bring more traffic in this area and this already sometimes gets a little inconvenient,” says Waimanalo resident Robert Mueller.
That wasn’t enough to stop it. Instead iwi discovered during trenching work now has Target working with Native Hawaiians to work out a burial plan.That burial plan will have to be approved by the State Historic Preservation Division and by the Oahu Island Burial Council before construction can resume.
“We’re hopeful to open the store in October 2014, but again we’re going to be extremely sensitive to the iwi that is in place and make sure that is treated appropriately,” said Target’s Brian Treber.
Treber says the company and the group of descendants have agreed on a plan which was supposed to be presented to the Burial Council Wednesday, but the hearing was delayed. He says there’s been no problems coming to an agreement.
“None whatsoever. It has gone extremely well and we found them to be very wise descendant group with very good recommendations,” he says.
Treber says there’s also no more digging planned for the project, so now it’s a just a matter of getting approval from the state agencies.

TheMauiNews-Article

April 11, 1013

Target coming to Kahului
The Maui News

National retailer Target will be opening up shop in the soon-to-be built Puunene Shopping Center.

Property Development Centers, a wholly owned real estate subsidiary of Safeway Inc., announced that it has reached an agreement with Alexander & Baldwin to purchase a 24.45 acre site at the corner of Puunene Avenue and Hookele Street, near Zippy's Restaurant.

PDC said that it will in turn sell about 12 acres to Target, which will serve as the center's anchor retailer.

Terms were not released.

The shopping center with the new Target is expected to be completed by March 2015, according Russell Pang, spokesman for PDC.

Target has stores in Hilo and Kailua Kona on the Big Island and Honolulu and Kapolei on Oahu, according to its website.

For the shopping center, PDC is looking at leases with a mix of national and local companies, including mid-box retailers, specialty shops, restaurants, service providers and other businesses, the news release said.

Pang said that Safeway will not be opening up a supermarket in the shopping center.

The shopping center is just off the main artery from the airport to South and West Maui resorts but also within close proximity to the Kahului residential areas. Pang said that the new shopping center will likely serve both the tourist and residential markets.

When completed, the shopping center will add about 275,000 square feet of retail space to the Kahului area. There also will be about 1,425 parking stalls.

The project is expected to generate an estimated 250 construction jobs and to bring in as many as 300 jobs to the shopping center when completed.

"This new retail center in the heart of Kahului's retail district is part of our ongoing commitment to provide new lifestyle shopping options for the Hawaii community," said David Zylstra, chief operating officer of PDC.

http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/571652/Target-coming-to-Kahului.html?nav=10

KITV - article

Februrary 25, 2013

 

Group aims to revive Kailua 4th of July fireworks show

 

$70,000 needed to have the show in 2013

 

KAILUA, Hawaii —Community volunteers in Kailua have formed a new organization and are committed to bringing the Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration back to the area this year.

Kailua Fireworks is a non-profit organization incorporated in 2012 for the sole purpose of raising funds for and putting on an annual firework display on Kailua Bay.

"For 65 years we’ve celebrated Independence Day with a 4th of July fireworks show here in Kailua," explains Brook Gramann, who spearheaded fundraising efforts in past years. "In 2008, Kailua businesses and residents joined forces to continue the tradition after we learned the Kailua Chamber of Commerce would be discontinuing sponsorship of the event."

The 4th of July Fireworks celebration did not take place in 2012.

“The disappointment in the community led to the formation of the new group of volunteers to ensure that the cherished tradition will continue, beginning with July 4, 2013,” says Jody Sakaba, committee member and spokesperson for the group. “Kailua Fireworks will have all of the permits in place and is in the process of raising money.

“To really kick off the summer, our community counts on the 4th of July parade and the 4th of July fireworks. It's up to the community -- the businesses where we shop every day and the residents themselves ---to raise the money for the fireworks." Sakaba explains.

Seventy-thousand dollars must be raised to put the show on. This includes funds for the fireworks, signage, road blocks and off duty police officers.

Business sponsors are being contacted now for donations. Individuals who would like to donate can donate online at www.kailuafireworks.com or by mail --checks can be sent to Kailua Fireworks, 600 Kailua Road, No. 119, Kailua, Hawaii 96734. Checks should be made out to Kailua Fireworks

StarAdvertiser-article

January 7, 2013

 

Kawainui Marsh restoration will be completed in weeks

 

By Leila Fujimori

 

A restoration is under way of nearly 40 acres of wildlife habitat within the 830-acre Kawainui Marsh, the largest remaining wetland in Hawaii.

Honolulu-bound motorists on Kalanianaole Highway between Castle Medical Center and Kapaa Quarry Road may have noticed beyond the brush that acres of the once-thick overgrowth of tall grasses and trees have been undergoing a dramatic transformation.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Land and Natural Resources broke ground June 28 for the construction of the Kawainui Marsh Environmental Restoration Project, which is nearing completion, possibly by the end of January or early February.

After six months nearly 40 acres of the overgrown, degraded marsh has been excavated and graded, and alien weeds have been removed to create landscaping for 11 ponds, earthen berms and a drainage channel.

The ponds cover less than 30 acres, and each is about 1 to 2.5 acres. Once filled with water, they will create a native habitat for four endangered Hawaiian waterfowl: the aeo (Hawaiian stilt), alae ula (Hawaiian moorhen), alae keokeo (Hawaiian coot) and koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck).

The shallow ponds, now just bare dirt, are separated by grassed earthen berms, which will provide access for maintenance vehicles.

The project calls for drilling several wells and seeding the berms with grass, now about half done, the corps said.

Olomana resident Sue Brown said she's seen the clearing, large machinery and the drilling as she drives by.

"I'm definitely glad it's not a development," Brown said. "I'm really glad they're expanding the marsh. I hope they have a walkway so people can view it up close."

DLNR Director William Aila said at the start of the project that the restoration of the habitat "is expected to increase populations of endangered waterfowl, create more scenic open space and reduce upland runoff to coastal reefs and remove invasive weeds from the marsh."

The project, designed by Oceanit and built by Performance Systems Inc., is projected to cost $6.4 million and is 75 percent federally funded. The DLNR's share is projected to be $1.3 million, or 25 percent of the total. Final costs will be available when the work is done.

The new ponds will eventually be filled with groundwater by 11 wells at varied depths, according to the Army Corps.

Two solar-powered well pumps will be used to supply the water.

"Water will drain out on the Castle Hospital side of the pond into a drainage channel that will convey water to the next pond," the Army Corps said in a written response to questions from the Star-Advertiser. "As an example, think of a taro loi style, where ponds are gravity fed. No water from the wells will empty into the marsh. Water will either go into the ground or evaporate."

DLNR's Division of Forestry and Wildlife will adjust the depth of water as needed to attract the water birds, the Army Corps said.

The corps, responsible for the design and construction, will turn the project over to the state to operate, maintain and repair. DLNR has worked with the Kailua community and the corps for more than 15 years to develop a habitat restoration project, DLNR said.

The project administers portions of the 1994 Kawainui Marsh Master and Hawaii Endangered Waterbird Recovery plans, the department said.

PacificNewsBusiness-article

November 19, 2012

Kaneohe Ranch: Next upgrades for Kailua to happen on a smaller scale

By Jenna Blakely

Kaneohe Ranch Management Ltd. plans to continue Kailua’s renovations on a smaller scale after bringing in national chains like Pier 1 Imports, Whole Foods Market and, soon, Target.
A decade ago, Kailua residents had to leave town to shop, but once Target (NYSE: TGT) moves in, Kaneohe Ranch President and CEO Mitchell D`Olier said residents can now find everything they need without having to leave the Windward Oahu town. Whole Foods Market (NYSE: WFM) opened its second Oahu store in Kailua in April.
But after Target opens, D`Olier isn’t planning on bringing in any more big chains.
“Whole Foods and Target are desirable to have and they enhance the community,” he said. “But for the future, we want it to be a place for smaller merchants and we’re always on the lookout for cool, new restaurants.”
Kimo Steinwascher, executive vice president and chief operating officer, said Kaneohe Ranch has at least a dozen leases that will come up within the next five years.
As more renovations occur, he anticipates that many of Kailua’s smaller merchants will upgrade to the newer locations, he said. Brokers regularly call for open space, he added, which allows the town’s major landlord to be selective in who moves in. For the past two years, they’ve had zero vacancy.
But, D’Olier pointed out that they are moving forward with caution and don’t want to put any one out of business by adding too much of the same thing.
“We have a loyalty to our merchants,” he said. “I want it to be a retail place where everyone can be successful.”
D’Olier added that when Whole Foods moved in, some local businesses were worried about lunch business being taken away. While that may have occurred in the beginning, he said it has calmed down and business has returned to normal.