After years of anticipation, developers and vendors with the Waipahu Festival Market Place Business Incubator and Job Training Center will have to wait a bit longer before they can open the doors and begin offering a new venue for West O'ahuans to purchase everything from fresh fish and cut-flowers to the latest new drink craze.

Because of a few technical glitches, project organizers were not able to obtain an occupancy permit in time for tomorrow's pre-scheduled blessing ceremonies, said Wayne Ogasawara, president of the Waipahu Community Association, which is developing the site. With its vendors ready for business, the association hopes to be able to open by next week, he said.

Along with a vibrant new retail outlet boasting about 30 vending stalls and kiosks, the marketplace hopes to form yet another cornerstone in the slowly emerging revitalization of the plantation town that was once the center of commerce for the West O'ahu region.

"We want a vibrant town core bursting with activity and excitement," Ogasawara said. "We think that this marketplace can do it for us."

Vendors are expected to sell a variety of items from produce to baked goods, snacks to souvenirs.

Sam Trejo, owner of Sam's Flowers and Imports, said the shaky future of the Kamehameha Drive-In swap meet operation was one reason she decided to set up a permanent stall at Waipahu Festival Market Place.

Besides that, "we have so much change happening over here in Waipahu," said Trejo, whose business specializes in anthuriums, orchids and other flowers, as well as Thai silk flowers and souvenirs.

Mary Daos said her company has been looking for a second location for its popular Hula Boba store in Chinatown, which specializes in snow ice, a new form of shave ice that's originally from Taiwan. The store also sells tapioca drinks and other snack items.

The Waipahu Festival Market Place offers a perfect fit, she said. "There's parking and the location is convenient," Daos said. "And because we've got a new product, I think it's a good addition to the community."

Johnny Sanidad, president of Rainbow Farm and Produce, will offer fresh fish and produce out of his two stalls.

Sanidad and his brother are fishermen while his parents are farmers. Up until now, the operation has been running out of open markets and swap meets, Sanidad said.

"Now's the time," he said.

Kula Abiva, marketplace marketing director, said the site, with 6,300 square feet of leasable space, will offer a "Chinatown feel" with its diversity of ethnic offerings.

The goal is not only to draw locals, but "visitors from Ko Olina to Waikiki," Abiva said. The marketplace hopes to bring entertainment and other activities to help attract visitors.

Ten kiosks at the marketplace are being set aside for the business incubator and job training center, which are designed to help budding entrepreneurs develop their own micro-enterprises. The marketplace is working with the nonprofit EmpowerOahu on that venture.

The center cost $3.7 million, including $1.25 million to buy the property and $2.38 million to refurbish the older supermarket, believed to have been built in the 1970s. A grand opening event is set for Nov. 19.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.