The openings were welcomed by residents who had watched sadly as Lindy's Foods closed after 37 years in the community, leaving the shopping center barren for so long, said Ken Furukawa, a Hau'ula resident.

"We've been trying and trying to find creative ways to get some kind of stimulation out there," Furukawa said. "It's wonderful, especially Tamura's because I know a lot of local people there who go to Wahiawa to the other Tamura's."

Winston Watarai, general manager of the new store, said Tamura's wanted to serve an under-served community and give residents another option in grocery stores. Other than mom-and-pop mini-markets in the Windward communities, the nearest full grocery stores are a Foodland in La'ie and a Times in Kahalu'u.

Watarai said the store will cater to local taste, expects to be competitive and is known for its poke section that can make 20 different kinds of poke. He said the poke maker is already learning about tastes that residents like, including one that uses coconut milk and lemon juice mixed with fish.

"We'll cater to the local clientele," Watarai said. "We'll try to give our customer the best prices."

Tamura's is a family-operated business that also has a Tamura's Fine Wine and Liquor store on 10th Avenue. The Hau'ula store opened Dec. 28 and has been adding departments slowly, expecting to be fully operational by mid-January. The store is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and has hired 55 employees, most of them from the community.

Magoo's Pizza in Hau'ula, owned by Sheldon Lau and Edward Kam II, saw an opportunity in Hau'ula with construction in the Windward area up, tourism on the rise and the economy improving, Lau said, adding that the nearby shopping center in La'ie is closed on Sunday.

"We felt Hau'ula is a good location where we can be open on Sunday," he said. "We thought we could get an edge there."

The passing tourists, Brigham Young University students and local residents visiting area parks are all potential customers, he said.

"We hope we can cater to everybody," Lau said, adding that Magoo's will deliver from Kualoa Ranch to Kahuku.

Magoo's has hired eight to 10 people, all of whom live in the community, as does co-owner Kam, who lives in Punalu'u, Lau said.

The shop will serve pizza, submarine sandwiches and gourmet pizza, said Kam. "Our gourmet style pizza is $10 cheaper than gourmet pizzas in town," he said.

Barbara Kahana, a Hau'ula resident, said the two new businesses give the appearance that the center is booming.

"I'm happy that they have confidence in our little community to think they could make a go of it," Kahana said. "And I hope that's the beginning of more businesses and stores opening in the shopping center.