Why Buy Local?

Another reason why Big Box Stores and/or mainland stores are not the answer for our Kailua Town, or Hawai'i in general.

PLEASE support all our LOCAL businesses!

(click to view larger)

From: http://www.foodandtechconnect.com/site/2011/05/11/infographic-making-the-case-for-buying-local/

KITV - article

April 23, 2012

Kailua Residence Oppose Transit Bill
by KITV-TV

Even though the rail's route does not stop in their backyard, Kailua residents fear Senate bill 2927 would give special privileges to developers building near public transportation centers and open the door to high-rise buildings.

"They could build a hotel or a skyscraper or large buildings within small local communities," said Kailua resident Chris Delaunay.

Opponents of the bill passed out fliers at the "I Love Kailua" block party Sunday, asking the public to speak out against the legislation.

Residents said the bill includes development around bus stations and if one of the proposed Kailua sites is picked, it would impact the windward community.

"Basically it will allow for landowners to ignore existing county zoning laws within a quarter mile radius around bus transit centers," said Delaunay.

Area representative Chris Lee voted against the bill, though he believes the statewide legislation could benefit leeward and downtown neighborhoods.

"Its intention is to look at transit oriented development downtown and really push for it with smart growth and urban redevelopment in that area. But what we don't want to see on the windward side is that to have an impact here," said Lee.

Sen. Pohai Ryan also represents the Kailua district.  Ryan voted for the bill with reservations, which she said gives her the power to potentially change it.

"The difficulty is working with the majority that does not oppose the bill yet and having to convince them and point out to them what is wrong with the bill," said Ryan.

Ryan said in no way is she in favor of turning Kailua into Waikiki.  Instead she said she is planning to ask lawmakers to remove Kailua from the list.

"A group in Kailua has been saying that I want a hotel in Kailua and I just want the public to know that is absolutely false," said Ryan.

The bill heads to conference committee Tuesday, which is open to the public, before it gets a final vote. If the bill passes, it does not go into effect until 2050

Hawaii News Now - article

April 20, 2012

Committee Recommends Site in Kailua for Next Landfill
by Rich Meiers

A landfill selection committee has recommended a site for Oahu's next landfill. Mayor Peter Carlisle's Advisory committee on Landfill Site Selection recommended the Kailua Ameron Quarry Site.

Currently, Oahu has two landfills: the City-owned Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill (WGSL) and the privately-owned PVT landfill. The WGSL is Oahu's only municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill. 

The selection committee was given strict orders not to consider the current landfill site at Waimanalo Gulch.

The committee met for the first time on January 20, 2011.

The nine member committee came up with a list of 20 different criteria.  Things like proximity to homes, schools and tourist attractions as well has rainfall, impact on endangered species and cost.

StarAdvertiser - article

April 19, 2012

Business ban sought for beaches

Keep commercial activity off our sand, residents tell Council regarding Kailua
by Gordon Y.K. Pang

Members of a City Council committee voted unanimously Wednesday night to support a bill that would impose a blanket ban of all commercial activity at the popular Kailua and Kalama beach parks.

The vote came after a majority of an estimated 200 people at a meeting at Kailua High School the Council Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee that they support such a ban.

Everything from water sports instructional classes to recreational stops by commercial tourist companies would be prohibited by the ban. The only exception would be commercial filming activities.

The vote was 5-0, although committee members Romy Cachola and Breene Harimoto voted "with reservations." The bill now goes to the full Council on May 9 for the second of three required votes.

Enchanted Lake resident Lisa Cates, a lifelong Kailua resident, told the Council's Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee that the influx of commercial activity at Kailua Beach Park has reached a tipping point. "The vendors and tour bus activity are incompatible with our infrastructure, our neighborhoods and the true character of our village community," she said.

Many people feel a spiritual connection with Kailua Beach, Cates said. "To see it exploited for monetary gain is hurtful, it's degrading, and it's pushed everybody together to unite and ask for this legislation."

Lanikai resident Laurie Lindsay said, "I love tourists." However, she said, "There's a place for them. It's called Waikiki."

Chris Delaunay, a Kailua attorney, said that nearly 1,000 people have put their names to an online petition supporting an outright ban on all commercial activity at the two beaches.

"The beaches are for recreation, not for profit," Delaunay said.

Not everyone was for a complete ban at Kailua Beach. People who rely on the beach for their jobs said they think there's room for some business.

Bob Twogood, owner of Twogood Kayaks, said an outright ban would destroy his business, which operates out of Hamakua Drive in Kailua but drops off kayaks and visitors at a parking lot next to the main portion of Kailua Beach.

What's needed is better regulation of existing laws as it pertains to water sports activities on the beach and permits for a few businesses, Twogood said, adding that he also supports banning commercial buses from entering the parking lot.

A complete ban is just the latest attempt at curtailing commercial activity at the two beach parks.

In February, the Council passed Bill 5 (2011) prohibiting commercial activity at the two beach parks from 1 p.m. Saturdays until 6:30 a.m. on Mondays. Mayor Peter Carlisle signed that bill into law on March 1.

The strong community response to Bill 5 prompted Councilman Ikaika Anderson, the Windward representative, to introduce the original language in Bill 11 (2012), which further limited what was allowed for commercial watercraft and tour bus activities.

Specifically, it calls for:

» A limit of two commercial activities each permitted at Kailua and Kalama. There are currently three commercial permits issued, but only for windsurfing and kite-surfing activities, and none at Kalama, according to Anderson's staff. There are no limits now on how many permits the city can issue at each facility.

» Curtailing the types of commercial watercraft activities allowed at each park to storing, setting up and launching in areas designated by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

» Restricting recreational stops by tour buses, vans and other vehicles to a turnaround area next to the main restroom facility in the Kailua Beach Park parking lot.

Anderson said the reaction from the community to Bill 11 has been a call for a complete ban on all activity.

Hawaii News Now - article

April 18, 2012

Kailua Shoppers enjoy Whole Foods, wonder about Target

by Brooks Baehr

KAILUA (HawaiiNewsNow) – Thousands of shoppers crowded into Whole Foods Market for its grand opening in Kailua Wednesday. And while they enjoyed the vast selection of natural and organic products, some expressed interested in an update from Target Corporation about its planned Kailua store.

The Kailua Target was originally scheduled to open in July of this year (2012) but construction has not begun.

Hawaii News Now called and wrote Target asking for a project update, but Target has not answered.

David Tanoue, Director of the city's Department of Planning and Permitting, told Hawaii News Now Target is still in the process of acquiring needed permits.

"They are going through their grading permit process and pretty much the last thing they need to resolve is working with the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) in ensuring that they can address all the concerns with the possibility of uncovering any kind of archaeological finds or iwi (bones) on the site," Tanoue said.

SHPD is a division of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).

A SHPD review is triggered by any permitting activity by the city or state. In this case the SHPD review was triggered by the request for a grading permit.

SHPD asked Target for an archaeological inventory survey plan which Target submitted. SHPD then asked for additional subsurface test trenching based on a review of old maps provided in the survey plan.

In response to an inquiry about SHPD's work with Target, the DLNR wrote, "Kailua was inhabited for centuries before Captain Cook "discovered" Hawaii and there is subsurface evidence of their lives all over Kailua. The archaeological inventory survey may find burials, but that is not its primary purpose. The purpose is to adequately document any historical or cultural sites," the DLNR wrote.

"We have asked Target to revise their survey plan, and are waiting for the revision," the DLNR concluded.

There is no new "official" target date for opening Target's Kailua store. But it will not open any time soon. Target still needs to resolve its business with SHPD. Once that it finished it needs to secure the grading permit. It also needs a building permit. To secure a building permit Target must satisfy the city's concerns about traffic. And Target's web site puts estimated construction time at 10 to 12 months.

It now looks like Target will not open until the summer of 2013 at the earliest.

Pacific Business News - article

February 16, 2012

Whole Foods Market to open third Hawaii store April 18

Whole Foods Market has set April 18 as the opening date for its thrid Hawaii location in Kailua, and plans to hire about 140 people to staff the 32, 000 square-foot store.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports landlord Kaneohe Ranch spent about $12 million developing the kailua Town Center site for the new store, demolishing a collection of smaller buildings and building one large retailer center on Kailua Road anchored by Whole Foods market (NYSE: WFM), and that includes tenants Executive Chef and Fighting Eel.

The newspaper notes that Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) awaits building permits to break ground on a 130,000 square-foot store several blocks from Whole Foods on the site of the former Don Quijote store and hopes to open later this year.

Whole Foods Market's other Hawaii stores are in Honolulu at Kahala mall and on Maui.

Ku'ulei Road Community Meeting

Star Advertiser - Kokua Line

January 17, 2012

Kokua Line

Question: Where are we on the construction of the new Target in Kailua? There is no activity going on behind the screening.

Answer: Last September we were told the retail chain was going through the permitting process and looked "forward to bringing Target to Kailua residents in 2012."

We checked again last week, and a spokeswoman told us, "Unfortunately, I do not have anything new to share. We continue to move through the permitting process and look forward to bringing Target to Kailua."

Asked whether a 2012 opening was still on the books, she repeated that she had no other details. Kaneohe Ranch sold the 311,000-square-foot former Don Quijote site to Target last year.

Star Advertiser - article

(please note our corrections/comments in RED per conversations, meetings, & facts we have collected)
July 31, 2011

A new emerging Kailua town

Anchor tenants Target and Whole Foods Market are part of a contemporary-looking redevelopment

Some major new developments are blowing into Kailua town as construction continues for two major new anchors: Target and Whole Foods Market.

What once used to be a sleepy beach town (population: 55,000) with clusters of old, single-story buildings is now being redeveloped into a newer, more contemporary-looking destination — with an artsy touch.

Opportunities for redevelopment have arisen in the last five to six years as the land leases for 16 acres of land came up, according to Mitch D'Olier, CEO of Kaneohe Ranch Co., which manages property for the Castle family trust.

"There's improvement and investment replacing blight, and there's modern, energy-efficient facilities replacing 50-year-old buildings that have gone through their useful life," he said. "We've been doing improvements on a project-by-project basis pursuant to the community-based plan we did in 2003 and 2004."

Those plans are being carried out, according to D'Olier.

Fast-forward to 2011, and that means a brand-new building to house Whole Foods Market, along with smaller retailers.

It's all part of Kailua Town Center Phase III (how many more phases do we need?), which is right in the heart of town at Kailua Road and Hinano Way.

Whole Foods Market will measure about 32,000 square feet, and is expected to open in early 2012 between Longs Drugs and Mike McKenna's Windward Ford dealership.

Another 8,000 square feet of retail space is included for smaller retailers. Executive Chef, a local retailer offering high-end cookware and gourmet food, will open a brand-new store at the corner next to McKenna's, while fashion boutique Fighting Eel will occupy space next door to Longs.

What used to be a collection of smaller buildings measuring 70,000 square feet at the site was consolidated to 40,000 square feet in the new building. Parking spaces increased to 209 stalls, up from 167 (a good handful of stalls will be used by the many employees that will be working in the Whole Foods store and little "boutiques" -- So, we aren't gaining many more stalls, are we?).

Just a block away, Target is also being built (not until they get their demolition and building permit!) behind a construction fence at the former Don Quijote site. Target is expected to open a 130,000-square-foot store (including a stockroom) in mid- to late 2012.

Walk around Kailua town with D'Olier, and he'll point out all the ways the place has become more pedestrian-friendly (did he attempt to cross the roads and experience how dangerous this "pedestrian-friendly" town he has created is actually working; or did he mainly just point with fingers?).

The new Whole Foods offers outdoor dining and a shaded walkway above the public sidewalk that will make it easier for pedestrians to travel. A new sidewalk has gone in alongside the parking garage behind Longs Drugs.

Hinano Way, next to the new Whole Foods Market, will now connect Kailua Road to Hekili Street, home to a few new restaurants as well, including the relocated Boots & Kimo's. (adding chaotic mess to the already big traffic problem we are dealing with in Kailua Town)

D'Olier also points with pride at the mosaic art pieces that tie the newer buildings together with the fountain plaza near California Pizza Kitchen. Besides a "living wall," which is basically a garden on a wall, a stone sculpture designed by local artists representing a mo'o, or gecko, will flank the entrance to the new Whole Foods Market fronting Kailua Road.

While Target was welcomed with wide-open arms in communities like Salt Lake and Kapolei, several opposition groups formed in Kailua when the Minneapolis chain struck a deal to take over the Don Quijote lease.

Groups like Keep It Kailua and Choose Kailua started petitions and showed up to protest at public meetings, saying a big-box, mainland retail chain just doesn't belong in Kailua.

Their concerns: mainly traffic and competition for existing small businesses. (and Mitch couldn't explain how he is going to fix these problems??)

Before Don Quijote there was Daiei, and before Daiei there was Holiday Mart, so all along, said D'Olier, "it's been large-format merchandise through that period of time. It was zoned at the time Target bought the site." (Daiei was locally owned!  ...and was less than 90,000 sq ft; not like Target 130,000 sq ft!)

Kailua is still home to a collection (why only a "collection"?  why not more?) of small, locally owned boutique shops, including surf shops, arts galleries and BookEnds, one of the few independent bookstores that still exist on the island.

Many of the businesses are relocated due to new developments, while others, like the popular Brent's Deli, became history (So sad.  We miss you Brent's!).

Still, no changes have been made to Kailua's 40-foot height limit. (and it better stay that way!!!)

There are still remnants of the old Kailua, including Pali Lanes, a dated bowling alley on Hekili Street, which will exist side by side with the newer, more contemporary-looking Kailua. (...this is one of the only "old" Kailua structures that has/will be standing in Kailua, all others has been either facelifted, or demolished -- very sad.  Mitch says that hes keeping the "character" of Kailua Town.  How is this possible if all hes tearing all the buildings down?)

Kailua Neighborhood Board Meeting

Thursday, August 4th

7:00pm
Kailua District Park (Multi-Purpose Building)
21 S. Kainalu Drive