Tenants, Residents, Eager to Know Plans for Center

Unsubstantiated rumors circulate about Aina Haina Shopping Center's future

by PAULA BENDER
Sun Correspondent
Archived April 2008 article

The mystery doesn't keep tenants and residents from speculating, however.

"Everyone wants it to stay as it is," said Mrs. Lee from behind the counter at Hi Ho Liquors. Lee, who said she has a lease that extends to 2010, has been at the shopping center for 25 years. She said she wants to talk to CBRE about the impending changes. "We've got everything here. There's Chuck E. Cheese, Japanese and Korean food, Subway, a coffee shop, sushi and cupcakes. We have a barbershop, a grocery store and a pottery shop. All my customers want to know why it has to change."

Fred Noa, senior vice president in CBRE's Retail and Investment Advisory Services division, said no decisions have been made regarding the center just yet. "It's amazing what people make up," Noa said. "I am hearing inaccurate information, and I am hearing people's different theories. What we're planning to do is strengthen the center and provide the community with something they can be proud of. Aina Haina Shopping Center is a neighborhood center. My partner and I grew up near there."

Established in 1950 by the Hind ohana of Aina Haina, the seven-acre property is described as the first commercial center in East Oahu, as the primarily agricultural area gave way to a variety of bedroom communities from the 1950s to the present.

According to Bob Chuck, Kuliouou Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board chairman, there is a strong bond between the center and the bedroom community in which it exists. There is also strong interest in the future of the center, which is zoned to accommodate heights of 60 feet or five stories. The concern is that the center will become less of a neighborhood stop for groceries, gas and postage stamps, and more of a tourist destination with high-end shops few community locals would frequent. The center includes the Aina Haina Professional Building, McDonalds, Foodland, the Aina Haina U.S. Post Office station, American Savings Bank and First Hawaiian Bank as its larger tenants.

"We are very much interested in working closely with the owners as they formulate their plans for additions and modifications," Chuck said. "We would like to be kept informed at an early stage and we desire to have input in the plans such that our shopping center needs are satisfied."

It's confirmed that Chuck E. Cheese and the Union 76 service station will lose their leases. Establishments such as Ryan's, which caters to collectors of anime and miniature sports car memorabilia, and the coffee shop Jake's, are on month-to-month leases.

Mallory Churchill, Chuck E. Cheese manager, who said she was limited by her corporate office in what she could say, did comment that her company realizes the demand for the establishment's services, such as hosting birthday parties and serving pizza in a safe, family friendly video-arcade atmosphere. It's losing its lease in 2009.

"Chuck E. Cheese is definitely looking for another location in East Oahu," Churchill said. Parents are suggesting that Kalama Valley Shopping Center might have the square footage Chuck E. Cheese needs.

Valerie Cameron, a saleswoman at the florist Flowers & Sunshine, said that she had heard rumors indicating that Aina Haina Shopping Center was to become an upscale tourism-oriented destination. Such rumors, she said, worry many of the existing tenants who are concerned that they won't be considered a good fit and possibly face eviction.

"If they are to make this an upscale mall, many of us are wondering what will happen to us," Cameron said.

CBRE's Noa said that he's heard the same rumors and says they cannot be substantiated. At this point, they haven't even worked out plans with the architect.

"We have some thoughts and ideas, and when it is appropriate and when we have something viable to share, we will share it," Noa said. "We believe the neighborhood board and its constituency of residents will be really pleased. We're all about being transparent, but, until we can start articulating what the plans are, it's just way too premature."