Opening dates set for new Ross stores
The two new Ross Dress for Less stores at Kahala Mall on Oahu and Kukui Grove Center in Lihue will open Oct. 10, the company announced.
The openings are part of the national retailer’s 2014 expansion plan, which calls for about 75 new stores. Ross operates 15 stores in Hawaii, not including the two yet-to-open sites.
Made in Maui County Festival to debut
The 130 vendors participating in the first Made in Maui County Festival have been announced by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Chamber of Commerce. It was initially limited to 102 vendors, but booth space was increased to accommodate high demand. Space is now sold out and there is a waiting list, officials said in a statement.
The festival, which requires that 51 percent or more of a product’s value to have been added within Maui County, will be staged over two days at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.
The event will be open only to invited retailers and wholesalers on Nov. 7, and open to the public on Nov. 8, with a $3 admission for adults, while admission is free for children 12 and under. County officials conservatively estimate that 8,000 people will attend.
More information is available at 244-0081, while the vendor list and information about the festival can be found online at www.MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com/vendors-list.
Cooke Street rental project moves forward
It’s only about as big as many single-family house lots on Oahu, but a small parcel in Kakaako could be developed with 70 units of affordable rental housing in an eight-story building with 300-square-foot studios.
The Hawaii Community Development Authority, a state agency that owns the 10,409-square-foot lot at 630 Cooke St. and regulates development in Kakaako, plans to issue a request for proposals to develop such a project.
The agency’s board voted Wednesday to move ahead with the plan envisioned for low- and moderate-income renters. The agency aims to issue the request for proposals soon and select a developer by February. HCDA acquired the parcel, which is occupied by a parking lot and community garden, in 1990 in connection with Cooke Street infrastructure improvements and expansion of Mother Waldron Park.
MLP sells land to state for $19.8 million
Maui Land & Pineapple Co. has reached an agreement with the state to sell for $19.8 million an unimproved 244-acre parcel of the company’s land on Maui that is commonly referred to as Lipoa Point.
Proceed of the sale are designated for MLP’s pension plans, but the sale is conditioned on the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. providing a release of its mortgage on the property, according to a filing the company made Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The deal is expected to close on or before Thursday.
Royal Hawaiian named best historic resort
The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort in Waikiki, was named Best Historic Resort at the annual Historic Hotels of America 2014 Awards of Excellence gala Thursday in Washington, D.C. Hotels were nominated by fellow members, past award recipients and honorees, and were judged by a panel of experts to determine a winner.
ON THE MOVE
Prudential Locations has announced that Realtor associate Michael Yoshino has joined the firm as an experienced agent. He previously worked for Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties. Yoshino began his real estate career in 2005 and won the 2006 Aloha Aina Award for being an outstanding newcomer.
Bank of Hawaii has promoted:
>> Nicholas Ondrejka to executive vice president and chief technology officer in the operations and technology department from senior vice president and applications manager. He has 16 years’ experience in the financial service industry, including serving as a senior vice president and chief technology officer at Wells Fargo and Co. in Salt Lake City.
>>Brian H. Uemorito executive vice president in the Wholesale Credit Department from senior vice president and wholesale credit administrator. His experience includes serving as a commercial banking loan officer for the Commercial Real Estate Loan Division at Pearlridge Commercial Banking Center and underwriter for Commercial Banking Service and Support.
