Posted on: Friday, March 5, 2004

Maui church rules out school at Niu center

Advertiser Staff

Officials of the King's Cathedral said last night that they have no plans at this time to build a school at the Niu Valley Shopping Center, which the church is in negotiations to buy.

About 50 Niu Valley residents attended the Kuli'ou'ou/ Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board meeting last night to hear plans for the property.

"We plan to turn the (former Times) store into our sanctuary," said the Rev. Ann Fujii, who represented the church. "That is the extent of our plans at this time."

The Maui-based church rented the former Times Supermarket site two years ago with an option to buy the entire shopping center by the end of 2004. The center is owned by the Hawai'i Electricians Pension Trust Fund.

Fujii said the church has just begun negotiations.

By a show of hands, most of the residents at last night's meeting opposed the construction of a school on the property, said Bob Chuck, neighborhood board chairman.

The church hasn't completed renovations of the old store and has been holding services at the nearby Niu Valley Middle School. It hopes to have the renovations completed by the end of summer, according to Fujii.

Fujii said the church has a school and a bookstore on its Kahului property. When it buys the Niu site, it plans to continue the leases with the existing tenants, according to Fujii.