Temporary stores a big hit at Kukui Grove Center

LIHUE — Emerson Keahi of Hanalei has been following Erika Kleinfeld of Pacific Fireworks for the past 17 years.

He was purchasing his firecrackers — the maximum amount allowed by his permit from the Kauai Fire Department — from the shop that opened Tuesday at Kukui Grove Center.

“I’ve been coming here for 17 years,” Kleinfeld said. “There was one year we came for Fourth of July, too. But this is a New Year’s tradition for us. We’re here — more wrinkles, a bit more weary, but we’re here.”

Kleinfeld is the latest pop-up to appear on the Kukui Grove mall, said Melissa McFerrin-Warrack, Kukui Grove Center special events coordinator, opening Tuesday and remaining through Sunday, New Year’s Eve.

“The last day for people to get their permits is by Friday afternoon,” Kleinfeld said. “The permits are needed to purchase the firecrackers. Once the county offices close, that’s it. People can choose from the fireworks that don’t require permits to get. We even have a mix-and-match box. We’ll be following the mall’s hours, but usually are here for about a half hour after closing.”

McFerrin-Warrack said Pacific Fireworks is the latest addition to the list of growing pop-ups and permanent tenants that filled the mall in time for holiday shopping.

The permanent tenants include Women In Theater; Pacific Martial Arts, owned and operated by Kenn Firestone; and Cricket Wireless located near Times Supermarket.

“We had some really good feedback about the pop-ups from shoppers,” McFerrin-Warrack said. “The idea of having the pop-ups is to support our tenants, add some excitement to shopping at the mall.”