Target’s Kailua store scheduled to open in 2014

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.