Developer holds media tour of new mall in Kapolei
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Members of the media were given a tour Thursday of Ka Makana Alii, a new shopping center in Kapolei. The walkway past Old Navy leads into the open-air shopping center.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
One of the suites is shown in the Hampton Inn by Hilton, which is located at the end of the center.
The developer of Ka Makana Alii, a 1.4-million-square-foot regional shopping center under construction in Kapolei, held a media tour Thursday as the mall tenants slowly begin opening to the public.
The state’s first Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton opened Wednesday at the mall, and California Pizza Kitchen will open its newest Hawaii location today at the center.
The CPK opening is part of a statewide expansion expected to more than double the number of the pizza chain’s restaurants in Hawaii in the next five years. The CPK at Ka Makana Alii is the sixth for the chain.
Macy’s, the anchor tenant of the estimated $800 million center, started doing business on Sept. 1, and will have a grand opening today.
At least half of the more than 100 planned stores at Ka Makana Alii will open in October, with the rest coming online in 2017, representatives of Florida-based DeBartolo Development, which is building the project, previously told the Star-Advertiser.
Among the businesses opening Oct. 21 are an upscale Consolidated Theatre with luxury recliners, H&M, Forever 21 and Old Navy.
“It’s been an over 10-year journey to this moment,” Rich Hartline, DeBartolo’s vice president of development, said Thursday during the media tour. “We’re super excited. Construction has been a journey not without its challenges and trials and tribulations.”
Originally, DeBartolo anticipated opening an initial phase in 2009, but the project was delayed several times due to permitting, lease negotiations with the landlord, the state Department of Hawaiian Homelands, and other development issues. The project is expected to generate more than $1 billion in revenue over the life of a 65-year lease agreement with DHHL to support the construction of thousands of new homes for Native Hawaiians.
Tenants anticipate substantial sales in Kapolei.
“We think this is going to be a really strong location for us,” CPK President Chris Morris said Wednesday night at a friends-and-family preview dinner. “It’s a market that’s been on our radar for quite some time.”
He said the corporation likes to position new restaurants in bustling retail developments, and sees the potential of being in a mall with a movie theater and a large Macy’s. “We think that’s going to create a lot of traffic.”
Other tenants include Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Skechers, Foot Locker, Kay Jewelers, 24 Hour Fitness, Hoala Salon and Spa, Applebee’s, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Luibueno’s, AT&T, Zales, Zumies, Rix Island Wear, Town & Country Surf Designs, Famous Footwear, PetSmart, Reyn Spooner, Plus Interiors, Bonchon, Sura Hawaii, Jollibee, Da Cove, Magnolia Ice Cream, Papa John’s Pizza, Infinitea, Yummy Korean BBQ, Nagoya Ramen, Kickin Kajun, Koa Pancake House, Wendy’s, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Panda Express, Subway, Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon.
Betty Shimabukuro contributed to this story.
12 responses to “Developer holds media tour of new mall in Kapolei”
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No reason for westsiders to come town. Stay off the roads, give everybody else a break.
Thank you for your aloha!
yes ma’am.
That was the plan. Peasants stay west and leave Ala Moana to the tourists and temp residents wit da multi million $$ condos in Krakaako.
Oahu does not need another mall, developers especially those from the mainland have card blanche and they are killing this island with the blessings of state and local government. There are other ways to expand the tax base besides overdevelopment and low paying service jobs.
Such as???
Let me guess . . . you don’t live on the Leeward Coast/Westside.
Which begs da question…why da RAIL FAIL need go Ala Moana den????
shopping centers are old school..many are closing nationwide.when this site was under planning 6 years ago, the internet sales was starting to take off and now will continue to increase market share and take away from storefront retail…restaurants should do ok (but remember 90% fail rate for restaurants after 3 years)and theater is good way to bring folks to mingle…Maybe a bowling alley nearby? Good luck Debartolo Family… and hope DHHL gets paid their annual lease payments…
Oh, right, Ala Moana keeps growing because nobody’s shopping there.
Just have to wonder: Why was a Hilton Hampton Inn built in Kapolei? What type of visitors would opt to spend a night there? Tourists, no I don’t think so. Business folks, maybe.
Doesn’t make any sense but maybe I’m wrong.
A lot of ‘tourists’ have banked tons of Hilton points and want to use them. I am sure the conversion rate will be much less than the Waikiki properties. Plus, not everyone wants to stay in Waikiki… and who could blame them. But places such as in Ko Olina or Turtle bay have astronomical pricing. Keep in mind most visitors are repeat visitors so they already know the island well enough to steer clear of tourist traps. The Hilton Hampton banner is also sufficient advertising power to attract people worldwide without too much effort.