LIHU’E — The ground shook Wednesday at the blessing of the Home Depot site near Kukui Grove Center. But it wasn’t due to the words of the Rev. Richard Kamanu, pastor of the Kapa’a First Hawaiian Church. It was because
LIHU’E — The ground shook Wednesday at the blessing of the Home Depot site near Kukui Grove Center.
But it wasn’t due to the words of the Rev. Richard Kamanu, pastor of the Kapa’a First Hawaiian Church.
It was because heavy equipment was already at work preparing the site for the store’s 120,000-square-foot footprint, though the event was the groundbreaking and site blessing for Home Depot’s fifth Hawai’i location.
Actually, site-preparation work, by Goodfellow Brothers, Inc. under general contractor Maryl Pacific Construction, Inc., has been underway for some time now, at the 9.8-acre site of the former Puakea Golf Course driving range.
The store is scheduled to open in October, and there could be between 200 and 300 workers here for the 20 to 30 subcontractors on any given day during the construction, said Jeff Bettendorf of Maryl Pacific.
The $7.9 million construction contract will include a huge, pre-engineered metal roof, which will sit on concrete walls.
The store will employ around 125 people, and hiring will begin in July or August, said Bill McKale, general manager of the Honolulu Home Depot store.
The store will sell 35,000 items, including plants, flowers and other items purchased from local producers, he said.
Representatives of Maryl Pacific and Goodfellow Brothers, along with Administrative Assistant Gary Heu, representing Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste; Allan Smith of Grove Farm; Diane Kodama of M & E Pacific, the civil engineering consultant; and Mamo Cummings, president of the Kaua’i Chamber of Commerce, participated in the traditional turning of dirt.
McKale said he and the company have learned much about the islands, and important traditions, as he turned over the ceremony to Kamanu.
Kamanu said he has been waiting a long time for Home Depot to arrive on Kaua’i, and that the blessing of the ground is to give thanks to both the community and Home Depot.
The traditional blessing uses water to signify the washing away of the old spirit of the land, and salt to preserve the new spirit, he explained.
Native Hawaiians long ago didn’t feel they owned the land, that the land wasn’t part of them, so offered similar blessings of parcels so they could become part of the land, he said.
When construction is complete, another blessing ceremony will be for the store itself, Kamanu said.
There will be 435 parking stalls.
“We are truly excited to open a Home Depot store on Kaua’i,” said Kim Curtain, Home Depot regional vice president. “We’re looking forward to providing customers on Kaua’i with our brand of home-improvement products, and to become an active member of the community.”
“We’re excited to be part of Kaua’i’s robust and caring community,” added McKale.
“We’re looking forward to providing Kaua’i residents with exceptional customer service and a wide selection of home-improvement products at very competitive prices.”
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
