Posts Tagged ‘Whole Foods’

Target has opened two stores on Oahu already and is set to open their 3rd store on the most populated Hawaiian Island. This store is set to take over the spot in Kailua Town that is currently occupied by the Don Quijote right next to the Safeway.

This Target store has come under much scrutiny by some Kailua residents as petitions were passed around, town hall meetings were held, and disgruntled facebook postings littered the walls of a few. But, it pretty much was a sealed deal once they got it in their minds, so all the voicing was for naught.

From a news story on It looks like the store will be opening in July of 2012 (as reported by several local news sources quoting Kaneohe Ranch and Target officials), just after the Whole Foods gets going in Kailua, which is set for Fall of 2011.  The controversy was mainly geared towards the potential traffic problem and the potential closing of local Kailua businesses. While the traffic issue I can see, especially early on, the business closing I can’t totally follow (and no, Don Quijote doesn’t count because that’s a big box store from Japan, like for like).

Maybe hungry ear music, but who knows how they stay open anyway.  I mean, more traffic should mean more customers for non-competing business.   And once Don Quijote is out I can’t find too many comparable business in Kailua (unless they start selling good surfboards to surf clothing, hint it’s national, so not too much of that will happen).

Whole Foods on the other hand, which I didn’t hear any grumbling about, has the potential to force out one of the three supermarkets in town, Safeway, Foodland, or Times, with Times a more likely candidate, although Foodland is right behind it.

But that’s just one opinion, most likely the craze will die down, people won’t travel over the Pali to go to Target, and traffic will resume to normal. I mean, at least in ain’t a Costco.

If you’d like to voice you’re opinion leave us a comment and let us know what you think, or head over to the neighborhood board meeting which will start at 7:00 PM at Kailua District Park.

It’s time to break open your piggy bank!  Don’t worry, it’s for a great cause.  Whole Foods is opening at 7 a.m. tomorrow in Kahala Mall, where Star Market, the Patisserie, and I Love Country Cafe used to be.  After much anticipation, Kahala and Diamond Head Residents will now have fantastic organic products at their fingertips.  Not only is this a great addition to Hawaii, it adds a whopping 130 new jobs for Honolulu residents!

Whole Foods follows a strictly socially-responsible consumer model.  Following its animal compassion philosophy, it does not sell traditionally raised veal or buy tuna from canneries that impact dolphins in their fishing methods.  Its charcuterie will offer specialty meats, imported cheeses as well as local goat cheese from Surfing Goat Dairy on Maui, which recently became the first Hawaii farm to earn the Certified Humane Raised & Handled label.  It will also be stocked with local beers, baked breads from Bale, and local honey ranging from Pele’s Gold from Manoa to Royal Hawaiian Honey from the Big Island.  Other suppliers include Kumu Farms, which grows fresh herbs and fruits on Molokai, Maui Kombucha and Pacific Floral Exchange on the Big Island, and Sumida Watercress Farm on Oahu.

There will be a fully-stocked Whole Body section offering body care goods as well as vitamins and supplements — none of which have been animal tested.  Local suppliers include the Indigenous Soap Co., Hawaiian Bath & Body from the North Shore, and Scents of Knowing from Haiku, Maui.

Those seeking a quick, healthy lunch no longer have to look far either!  The store will have gelato, organic juices, a bakery, pizza oven, two salad bars, Keawe-smoked meats, brown rice sushi, 25 kinds of poke, and a plate lunch station.

Hooray for Whole Foods!