Question: Is H Mart still planning to open a location on Keawe Street in Kakaako?
Q: What is the status of the H Mart that was supposed to open in Kakaako? It’s been over a year since the news came out, and every time I walk past I don’t see any development or progress going on.
Answer: Yes, the Korean supermarket chain so popular on the mainland still intends to open at 458 Keawe St. but can’t predict when because it awaits permits to proceed with an extensive remodeling of the two-story building, said Sam Q. Kim, executive director of H Mart Cos. Inc.
The general contractor is “ready to go once permits are issued,” he said.
The building’s foundation must be reinforced to accommodate the heavy equipment, such as refrigerated cases and commercial ovens, used by grocery stores and restaurants, Kim said. “Before, it was just an office building,” he said.
You are one of more than a dozen Kokua Line readers who have asked about this project, which was announced Feb. 25, 2018. The original plan was to open later that year, according to the news release.
Plans still call for H Mart to have a supermarket specializing in Asian food and products on the ground floor and a dining hall called Market Eatery on the second floor, which would feature about 10 food stalls, including Sunday BBQ (Korean barbecue) and Sunday Bird (Korean fried chicken), in collaboration with Korean chef and author Deuki Hong.
The building at the corner of Keawe and Pohukaina streets (across from the Down to Earth Organic and Natural grocery store and cafe) was built in 1928, according to city property records. Since it is more than 50 years old, proposed alterations are subject to review under a state law intended to protect historic properties and cultural artifacts.
The reviewing authority, the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, “has received the permit from HCDA for this project. An archaeological inventory survey has been completed and is under review. An archaeological monitoring plan (AMP) will be required. The project proponent will have to have the AMP prepared and submitted to SHPD for review,” Dan Dennison, a DLNR spokesman, said in an email.
The HCDA is the Hawaii Community Development Authority, the state agency that oversees development in Kakaako.
HCDA, not SHPD, determines whether and when to issue a permit allowing construction to proceed, he said. Our inquiries to HCDA near closing time Friday were not answered, so we’ll follow up this week.
To answer other readers’ questions, no, H Mart did not decide to open in Kalihi rather than Kakaako, Kim said. The H Mart at 1010 Kaili St. in Kalihi is a much smaller franchise outlet not owned and operated by the family corporation, he said.
There has been a Korean grocery store at that address for years; most recently it was Queen’s Supermarket. Around 2016 it was re-branded as H Mart “under our franchise banner,” but it is not a substitute for the Kakaako location, Kim said.
Auwe
Auwe to the heartless jerk who sped up and purposely aimed for the two ducks walking across Keolu Drive on Friday afternoon. You succeeded in murdering the Muscovy one. Unbelievable. Are you even human? — Disgusted in Kailua
Mahalo
It is with grateful hearts that we remember Feb. 21, when three young men from different vehicles came to our rescue. It was more than difficult to push our car from the entrance of the H-1 freeway on Harding and 11th avenues into the Texaco service station. It was almost worth this trauma to experience the generosity of these young guys. We are most heartened and grateful. We wish them all good things. — Two Kailua seniors
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