Kahala Mall rides
economic rebound
Kahala Mall has been ringing up record sales as it continues to benefit from the rebounding local economy.
Ron Yoda, general manager of the East Oahu shopping complex, said yesterday that sales were up 10 percent in 2003 from the previous year and ahead 11 percent in January of this year from the same time a year ago.
"We don't have a real big tourist component. I think the local market has been fueled in the last year by tax cuts and the lower interest rates that created all of this refinancing, " he said.
Kahala Mall, which has been at or near 100 percent occupancy for the last several years, reached that level again in February when Ritz Camera replaced Nicole's shoe store.
The mall also is completing an 8,500-square-foot expansion on the second level, which will increase the total space in the complex to 465,000 square feet.
The space has been leased to Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties, which will use it for sales and training when it is completed in April.