A proposed shopping center the size of Kahala Mall in the Royal Kunia area is being cut in half after objections in the Central O‘ahu community.
Landowners HRT Ltd., Honolulu Ltd. and 300 Corporation earlier proposed a shopping center for 41 acres of vacant land along Kunia Road.
Yesterday, consultants Keith Kurahashi and architect Lloyd Sueda told City Council members that the developer has agreed to scale back to building on 20 acres.
Councilman Gary Okino, who represents the ‘Aiea-Pearl City-Waipahu area, hailed the compromise as "a victory" for those who had questioned the community impact of a much larger mall.
Struggling businesses in nearby Waipahu complained the development would kill their businesses and worsen traffic problems in the Royal Kunia area.
In answer to questions, Sueda said he could not say exactly what the new plan will look like since the compromise proposal was worked out just recently. He said the owners will need to "see what demand will be."
The original proposal called for two large anchor tenants, a supermarket, drugstore, entertainment center with theaters, bowling alley and arcade, as well as financial and medical offices.
The Waipahu Neighborhood Board had earlier supported the development, believing it would be a small neighborhood center.
Councilwoman Rene Mansho, who represents the area, had favored the larger development but held a meeting to hear from the community about the proposed 396,000 square feet of floor space.
Residents said the Waipahu community is still reeling from Safeway closing its store Nov. 30 and the aftereffects of competing with the Waikele outlet mall since 1996.
The city Department of Planning and Permitting also expressed reluctance to back so large a project.
The scaled-down proposal goes before the full City Council at the March and April meetings.
