Two dominant wedding companies in Japan are proposing to establish a new wedding venue in Hawaii along with a restaurant and bar overlooking Kewalo Basin Harbor in Kakaako.
The two companies, Goodluck Corp. and Take and Give Needs Co., are seeking to lease land fronting the harbor from the state.
The Hawaii Community Development Authority, a state agency that owns the harbor, recently received an unsolicited bid to lease an area once occupied by McWayne Marine Supply. On Wednesday, the agency’s board agreed to let staff negotiate terms for a potential lease.
Any approval of a lease, however, would not be considered until a more detailed presentation by the companies, two public hearings, an environmental review and community consultations are completed.
If approved and developed, such an operation would join a growing business for harbor-front weddings operated in Honolulu by Japan-based firms catering to Japanese visitors.
Last year the $16 million wedding venue, restaurant and bar 53 By The Sea was built in place of the old John Dominis Restaurant near the entrance of Kewalo Basin Harbor on land leased from HCDA. Before it was demolished, John Dominis also had expanded its facility to hold weddings.
Another Japanese company, Honey Bee USA Inc., is building a similar $20 million operation at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor on land leased from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Take and Give Needs Co., a firm listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, operates 88 wedding halls in Japan and held 15,000 weddings last year.
Goodluck Corp. claims to be the second-largest domestic and foreign resort wedding company in Japan. The firm said it also owns hotels in Hawaii, Guam and Bali.
The two companies are seeking a 25-year lease and propose building a 25,000-square-foot operation that also would include parking. The rough area being proposed for development is occupied by about 70 parking stalls for harbor use.
The City and County of Honolulu is interested in establishing a base for lifeguard operations in the vicinity, though HCDA said it isn’t sure whether the wedding venue and lifeguard operations can both be accommodated in the area.
Wayne Takamine, a representative of the Kakaako Makai Community Planning Advisory Council, said the proposed commercial project is pretty consistent with the council’s vision for the area.