Shopping Center Planned For Kapolei Should Benefit DHHL
Kapolei soon will be the site of Oahu’s third largest shopping mall with the forthcoming Ka Makana Alii.
Earlier this month, more than 150 people gathered at the site of the planned facility, at the corner of Kualakai Street and Kapolei Parkway, for a ground blessing ceremony.
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State Sen. Mike Gabbard (left), DHHL director Jobie Masagatani, Gov. Abercrombie, DeBartolo Development president and COO Ed Kobel, retired NFL star Jerry Rice and DeBartolo Development vice president Rich Hartline untie the maile lei at the blessing. Photo and rendering courtesy of DeBartolo Development.
The 1.4-million-square -foot shopping complex and community gathering spot will be constructed by DeBartolo Development on 67 acres of land leased from the state Department of Hawaiian Homelands.
It is estimated that the center will create about 3,000 construction jobs, as well as 6,500 full-time jobs. The first phase, which will span 700,000 square feet, will feature more than 90 shops and restaurants, a department store, a cinema and a hotel. Phase two will include 200,000 square feet of LEED-certified office space.
“This project is going to produce revenue and be a revenue stream for DHHL and its beneficiaries for decades to come. That’s what this is all about,” stated Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who attended the blessing.
“We have been especially grateful for the relationship with DHHL. During the life of this project, it will generate almost a billion dollars for the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, and that will equate to thousands of homes for native Hawaiians, and that is something that we consider a legacy and is very, very key to us,” stated DeBartolo Development chief operating officer Ed Kobel during the ceremony.
Per the land lease agreement, the project will generate more than $140 million over 65 years. The funds will benefit programs for Native Hawaiians, as well as new homes for Hawaiian homesteaders. Currently, DeBartolo
Development is finalizing its permitting for the project. The company anticipates that construction will begin at the end of the year and that phase one should open in 2016.
