‘Second city’ vision gets clearer

After nearly a decade of fits and starts, the developer of Ka Makana Alii regional mall in Kapolei is wasting no time in making the right moves toward turning 67 acres of leased Department of Hawaiian Home Lands into Hawaii’s third-largest shopping center.

The project by Florida-based DeBartolo Development LLC stands to become a strong magnet for Oahu’s west side, altering spending habits with nearly 1 million square feet of retail and commercial businesses, plus prominent midpriced hotelier Hampton Inn & Suites making its debut in Hawaii.

Indeed, Ka Makana Alii would significantly transform West Oahu and, on balance, bring many positives.

One of those is the funds it would provide DHHL under a 65-year deal announced this month.

Though less than initially forecast, DeBartolo’s lease for its 1.4 million-square-foot project will generate rent revenue of more than $200 million for DHHL, which can go toward construction of thousands of new homes for Hawaiian homesteaders. The fervent hope here is that DHHL, no stranger to land mismanagement and gallingly lax lease policies in parts of its operation, will use the money well to aid its beneficiaries.

Also in question is how much oversight will come to bear on this project regarding zoning issues such as building heights and density, since it sits on DHHL acreage, which brings unique advantages.

Situated at Kapolei and Kualakai parkways, Ka Makana Alii is well-positioned to be a go-to spot for residents of West Oahu’s many bedroom communities.

Also nearby are the community’s Kroc Center Hawaii and the University of Hawaii-West Oahu, which is seeing an enrollment boom.

And if the rail transit project can overcome current financial woes and start operating as hoped within five years, Ka Makana Alii — the entire west side, really — would benefit.

The $500 million Ka Makana Alii is estimated to create 3,000 jobs during construction and 6,500 permanent full-time jobs when completed.

Already committed in the $285 million, 750,000-square-foot first phase are Macy’s, H&M, Forever 21, the Gap Inc. brands of Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic — plus, just announced Monday, a 175-room Hampton Inn. This first phase is targeted to open 2016.

The arrival of midpriced Hampton Inn would be a relatively new concept for Hawaii, a destination renowned for leisure and resort tourism.

Though not quite limited-service, Hampton Inn is a brand that draws an even mix of business and leisure travelers, and this site at Ka Makana is expected to cater to visitors and residents alike. The project site also allows a second hotel.

In early-2013 City Council debate on a bill allowing "limited-service" hotels, a good case emerged for smaller, no-frills lodging outside Waikiki that would be affordable for UH-WO academics, business travelers and families considering Oahu for youth sports competitions, such as soccer meets at the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.

It makes sense to fill a niche that’s now unserved.

Long before Kakaako, the "Second City" of Kapolei was seen as one huge "live, work, play" district. In the last decade or so, it’s been trending toward that reality, with Kapolei Hale, the Ronald Moon Judiciary Complex and increased retail sites such as Kapolei Commons.

Even humble Kalaeloa Airport is seeing more activity, with Mokulele Airlines in July starting the first-ever commercial airline service there.

Envisioned for more than three decades, a large component of Second City population growth was to include employment hubs that would help divert traffic away from clogged downtown Honolulu. But for decades, the suburban boom has seen more bedroom communities — think Makakilo and Ewa Gentry — than steady new-jobs growth.

That is poised to change, big time, with Ka Makana Alii regional mall. If done well, it would be a welcome change in the right direction — westward.