Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 3, 1 March 2010 — MAKAʻALA CENTER GROUNDBREAKING [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MAKAʻALA CENTER GROUNDBREAKING

Community, government and business leaders gathered on Feb. 3 to break ground for Hilo's latest commercial development on state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands property at the corner of Maka'ala Street and Railroad Avenue. The $60 million Maka'ala Center, the future home of a 61 ,000-square-foot Safeway supermarket and a 1 53,000 square-foot Target store, is projected to be completed in 201 1 . Construction is expected to create more than 200 jobs and, when opened, the stores are expected to bring several hundred longterm jobs to the community. Safeway gave $30,000 to the Keaukaha Community Association at the groundbreaking ceremony and part of the revenues from the site lease will go to Haola, a subsidiary of the Pana'ewa Community Association. Pictured from left are: DHHL commissioner Alapaki Nahale-a, DHHL Director Kaulana Park, Target's Gina Pohlahel, Safeway's David Zylstra, Randy Ahuna of the Keaukaha/Pana'ewa Farmers Association, Safeway's Gerry Wolfe, Hawai'i County Mayor Billy Kenoi, DHHL commissioner Malia Kamaka, and DHHL's Kahana Alhinio. - Photo: ī llihia 6ionson