Posted at 9:53 a.m., Monday, October 29, 2001

Wal-Mart to open on Maui

Advertiser Staff

Wal-Mart will have a presence on every one of the four major islands when the company opens its first store on Maui on Wednesday.

The Kahului store will be the discount retailer's sixth in the state. O'ahu and the Big Island have two stores each, while Kaua'i has one.

With nearly 142,000 square feet of retail space, the Maui Wal-Mart will be the biggest in Hawaii. It's located off Dairy Road near the Kahului Home Depot store.

Store manager Ted Sells said 95 percent of the store's 475 employees are from Maui.

Sells said he expects strong sales despite the current economic downturn, as Wal-Mart has the bargains many shoppers are looking for.

At Wednesday's grand opening, the company will donate $18,000 to 22 community organizations.