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StorSecure Self-Storage at Hawaii Kai wins the Overall Facility of the Year for 2006, an award that belongs to the Community
Archived December 2006 article

This highly prestigious award is given by MiniCo Publishing, producer of the self-storage industry's leading magazine, MiniCo Messenger. StorSecure Self-Storage at Hawaii Kai will appear on the cover of the December issue of MiniCo Messenger.

StorSecure Self-Storage at Hawaii Kai was selected to be the Overall Facility of the Year Winner for 2006 as the most exceptional self-storage company to win from a field of formidable competitors. The criteria for winning is based on the best in Excellent Design, Aesthetics and Appearance, Community Relations, Landscaping, Occupancy and Performance, Security Access Features, Marketing and Customer Service and Construction difficulties.

Annette Pang, Sr. VP of Marketing and a principal of StorSecure Self-Storage, LLC said, "Our Mission was to develop and design a beautiful building that would win respect from and bring pride to East Oahu and the neighborhood of Hawaii Kai." She said her partners and architect anticipated community resistance because this open space was also displacing a favorite viewing site for the annual Hawaii Kai Marina Boat Day. While her partners' proposed plan satisfied the landlord's requirement to develop a business which would have minimal ingress and egress traffic, low use of parking spaces and decreased utilities and wastewater usage to the fully occupied Hawaii Kai Towne Center, the developers wanted to be sensitive to the community, its architecture and beautiful skyline of landmark marina entry to Hawaii Kai.

To accomplish this goal, they engaged a focus and discussion group campaign to share their elevation plans to hundreds of residents and businesses and community leaders. The Hennigers, father and son architects of the Hawaii Kai Design Review Committee also gave input and suggestions. StorSecure also explained landscaping sketches, building surfaces and patinas, before groundbreaking. Because of the debate and dialogue, the partners and architect Bryce Uyehara, AIA, actually made costly change orders to the building height and roofline slope to integrate this facility to win community support and endorsement. John Morioka, President and General Manager of StorSecure Self-Storage, LLC said, "We wanted to be worthy of being on a visible and landmark location on the marina. As a result, we have a building design that was approved by the community even before we broke ground - so, in effect, this award also belongs to the community of Hawaii Kai and East Oahu."

"StorSecure was also voted the most exceptional self-storage in the world because of the beautiful interiors and security systems. We are the first-ever building to be a 'green' building where electricity is conserved and humidity levels are controlled in a Moisture-Guard® Protected dehumidified environment for our customers' storage items," says Morioka.

To enhance the sincere community relationships, there was a nationwide search to hire the excellent General Managers, Rusty and Linda Bird, who would further demonstrate the commitment to provide excellent services. The Birds rented over 100 rental leases before the formal grand opening in September. Today, many customers and neighbors say they love the beautiful building, and they are pleased with the results. Pang said, "That in itself, is a greater reward because it has always been our goal to become a good neighbor. We are proud to be in Hawaii Kai Towne Center and a member of the community, and we look forward to many more years of providing great services and establishing lasting friendships."