Kailua seeking docents

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward Bureau

KAILUA — Daily requests for facts about this Windward community have prompted the Kailua Chamber of Commerce to open an information center at the local mall.

Visitors, people interested in moving to Kailua, businessmen and local residents inquire regularly for such things as bed-and-breakfasts, housing, economic climate and where to find a repairman, said chamber president Larry Lanning.

"Our phone is ringing off the hook," Lanning said. "It's not that we had to do a marketing survey to decide."

Volunteers are being sought to man the Kailua Information Center, which was made possible by a $20,000 grant from the city Office of Economic Development, Lanning said.

While many other O'ahu chambers of commerce offer support to businesses, the Kailua chamber will be the first to offer general information about a community to the public, he said.

The center, to be located in the chamber's office in Kailua Shopping Center next to Subway Sandwiches and Salad, will have information for visitors, but it's not a tourist-oriented service, Lanning said.

"I don't want people to see it as a visitor center; it's not," he said. "When it's open, they'll see plainly it's for residents."

Not long ago the chamber had announced that it would open a new office on Hekili Street, but that changed when Kaneohe Ranch Co. Ltd., offered the business group a space in the more centrally located shopping center, with a deal "we couldn't refuse," he said.

Kaneohe Ranch provided a 30 percent cut in rent for the 410 square-foot space, said Molly Mosher-Cates, vice president of Kaneohe Ranch.

"The Kailua Information Center is going to be a benefit for the community, and it's a benefit for the center and its businesses," said Mosher-Cates, who is also first vice president of the chamber.

Mosher-Cates said she can understand why people are interested in Kailua. Visitors know that it has one of the best beaches in the United States, it's off the beaten path for around-the-island tours and it's becoming a beautiful town with recent building renovations and city vision projects.

The center, to be open daily, will be manned by trained docents, said Pohai Ryan, chamber executive director.

"Anybody who has an interest in Kailua and a commitment to good service would meet the criteria for a docent," said Ryan, who hopes to attract students as well as adults.

People interested in applying should contact Ryan at 261-2727 by Sept. 26.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5622.