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Mall at Royal Kunia
divides Waipahu

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By Janine Tully
Star-Bulletin

Waipahu residents remain divided over plans for a shopping center at the edge of Royal Kunia.

A planned 41-acre center would be the death blow for already struggling businesses in Waipahu, say opponents, including City Councilman Gary Okino.

The project won't work, Okino told the Waipahu Neighborhood Board last night. It will only derail revitalization efforts by the lower Waipahu community, he said.

"This community can hardly support the small shopping centers near Royal Kunia. How can another development survive? We're still recovering from Waikele," said Okina, a city planner for 33 years.

Unable to reach a consensus, the Waipahu board tabled the matter for next month's meeting.

The board initially supported the plan, but there has been confusion as to the size of the shopping center, which has been compared to Kahala Mall in scope.

"We want to get to the bottom and hear again what we're talking about," said Annette Yamaguchi, board chairwoman.

Keith Kurahashi, consultant to developers HRT Ltd., Honolulu Ltd. and 300 Corp., said the project would look more like a neighborhood shopping mall than a regional shopping center. It would be 395,000 square feet -- smaller than Kahala Mall, which has a floor area of 453,000 -- and 100,000 square feet smaller than Mililani Town Center.

It would include retail shops, a bowling alley, a fitness center, medical clinics, banks and an entertainment complex.

Kurahashi also reassured residents that developers were not out to hurt area businesses or compete with the Festival Market Place, which will feature small spaces and stalls.

Lloyd Sueda, project architect, said a market study will be done to see whether the project is viable. The fact that it is at the end of Kunia Road will not give it much exposure, he said.

"If there's not a population base to support it, they won't build it," he said. "They (developers) can sit on it because the land is debt-free. They are in no rush to build it."

Rep. Nestor Garcia (D, Waipahu-Crestview) recommended that the board wait for the results of the market study to vote.

Sen. Brian Kanno (D, Ewa Beach-Waipahu) said his office phones have been ringing with callers opposing the project.

However, City Councilwoman Rene Mansho said she has been getting calls from constituents asking her to support the project. Residents of Royal Kunia were promised a planned community that included a school, park and shopping center.

"These people have invested in their homes," Mansho said. "I receive calls asking for my support."

Yamaguchi asked residents to think of the district as a whole and not as different communities.

"Royal Kunia is part of Waipahu, and I'm impassioned about not hurting one community over the other," she said, her voice breaking with emotion. "Let's look at what's dying and what's living, and Waipahu is dying. The point is how to revitalize the core of our communities."