The store will stock about 200,000 book, music, DVD and magazine titles and include a café serving Starbucks coffee.

The public is invited to a Preview Night Party at the store from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 18. A portion of the Preview Night sales will benefit Read To Me International.

Singer Natalie Ai Kamauu will provide Hawaiian-style music. For children, a story time will be held at 7:30 p.m. by local members of Read To Me International. Costume character, Clifford the Big Red Dog, also will be on hand.

At 8 a.m. on opening day, a Hawaiian blessing ceremony will be performed by Kahu Auli'i Mitchell. The store will employ about 100 workers.

Loans finalized for Maui Hawaiian Home Lands project

Hawaii Community Lending, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting homeownership in Hawai'i, has announced the closing of the last of 66 loans in the Hawaiian Home Lands Waiehu Kou 3 project on Maui.

HCL originates a variety of loans, including Federal Housing Administration, Rural Development and Conventional loan programs for purchase, construction and refinancing. The staff of HCL has a particular expertise in working with loan programs for Hawaiian Home Land properties, a federal trust established by Prince Jonah Kuhio in 1920.

"I never would have reached my goal of buying my own home if Hawaii Community Lending did not believe in me and give me a chance," said Sharon Awai, a single mom and one of the newest homeowners in Waiehu Kou 3.  "I probably would have been passed over like others in our family; however, the service and commitment provided by Winona and Michelle at Hawaii Community Lending enabled me to be a homeowner for the first time."