Discount retailer T.J. Maxx said it will hold a grand opening May 3 for its planned store in Ward Centers.

That event will be followed up by grand openings May 10 for its new store in Pearl City Gateway and May 17 for its outlet at Pearlridge Center Uptown.

The mainland-based chain announced last fall that it was returning to the Hawaii market after an absence of 16 years. TJX Cos. left the Hawaii market in 1996 when it sold the leasehold rights to six retail locations to Ross Stores Inc.

A blessing will be held at the 35,000-square-foot Ward Village Shops location in Ward Centers starting at 7 a.m. followed by the store opening at 8 a.m.

Special-edition, Hawaii-themed reusable shopping bags will be given to the first 1,000 customers at each of the openings.

The company, which opened its first two stores in 1977 in Massachusetts, has about 1,000 locations nationwide.