Whole Foods’ Kailua Plan Also Means Bank Upgrades

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Keeping to a health theme, the old Straub Clinic will become a major organic food store for Kailua within the next three years.

Whole Foods Market and Kaneohe Ranch announced last week their plans to open a “Kailua-sized” outlet for the national chain’s natural and certified organic products in Kailua Town Center. The project is expected to break ground next year and be completed in the first quarter of 2009.

“This is a huge opportunity for local farmers, especially us,” said Dean Okimoto, owner of Waimanalo’s Nalo Farms. Whole Foods had previously revealed plans to erect larger supermarkets at Kahala Mall and on Maui, and has already contracted with some local vendors.

First Hawaiian Bank, meanwhile, will remain open throughout the Kailua construction, and a larger state-of-the-art branch will go up within the same shopping complex, located on Kailua Road between Longs Drugs and McKenna Ford.

“First Hawaiian Bank has served the Kailua community for over 65 years,” said the bank’s CEO, Don Horner. “We are excited to offer Kailua a beautiful, newly designed branch within the same convenient location.” The new bank building will have a drive-through teller, private banking services and an expanded staff, he noted.

Landlord Kaneohe Ranch will help current tenants relocate within Kailua. The tenant factor is one reason the Whole Foods announcement came so early in the planning process, according to Kaneohe Ranch CEO Mitch D’Olier, who said other retailers will also open in the complex.

“Ultimately these new additions to our community will add to the rich pedestrian experience that Kailua residents have desired for years,” he said.

The company will preserve all of the monkeypod and kamani trees that are in the present parking lot, he said, although some will be moved to nearby land - an arrangement being worked out with advice from Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle.

Kailua currently has two other health-food grocers within a few blocks of the Whole Foods site: The Source Natural Foods on Kainehe Street and Down To Earth Natural Foods & Lifestyle on Hamakua Drive.

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