Hilton said construction of the new tower isn't scheduled until next year and wouldn't be complete until 2008 under a timetable that could change, according to the association of apartment owners in the neighboring Renaissance 'Ilikai Waikiki.

A Hilton spokeswoman yesterday said a construction schedule is still being finalized and company officials were not ready to discuss why they are moving ahead and whether plans have substantially changed.

The Waikikian tower would be Hilton's seventh at its Hawaiian Village site.

Hilton initially projected its Waikikian project would open in late 2005, according to its 2001 draft environmental impact statement.

The $80-million-plus project remained idle after the City Council in August 2002 gave its unanimous approval to the plan that also includes a wedding chapel, swimming pool and restaurant.

Hilton had previously said a construction timetable would be determined in part by the pace of time-share sales at other projects, including its neighboring Lagoon Tower, which inspired the Waikikian development plan.

The Lagoon Tower opened in January 2001 following conversion from an apartment building. By late 2001, about 30 percent of Lagoon Tower time-share blocks had been sold.

Hilton added more time shares to its Waikiki property about a year ago, converting 72 rooms on six floors at its Kalia Tower following the reconstruction of the inside of the building to eliminate mold.

In 2001, Hilton projected Waikikian time-share sales of $474 million over six years based on one-week interval prices between $21,000 and $47,000 for the project's one- to three-bedroom units.

Hilton has faced some community opposition to the Waikikian plan since it bought the narrow 1.9-acre strip of land between its property and the 'Ilikai for $20 million.

The Waikikian project drew complaints mainly from owners of condominiums with ocean views that would be obstructed by the proposed 350-foot building. Other concerns were over anticipated increased traffic and use of public parking near the beach.

Hilton responded by changing the diamondhead-ewa axis of the building to a mauka-makai axis, reducing the number of ocean-view units and sale prices but preserving more ocean views from other buildings along Ala Moana.

Hilton also committed to adding a traffic signal at Dewey Lane and Ala Moana, widening Dewey Lane and creating a public pedestrian plaza providing access to the beach.

Other improvements include cleaning up Hilton's man-made lagoon and restoring a continuous sandy shore around the lagoon by removing the Lagoon Tower pool.