Kalia Cultural Entertainment Venue

HONOLULU (KHON2) — There are new plans for an outdated landmark in Waikiki, the previous Kyo-Ya restaurant closed over 15 years in the past. Attempts to redevelop the positioning have beforehand failed however a gaggle of builders are attempting to get neighborhood buy-in to construct a cultural leisure heart. 

The Kyo-Ya restaurant served its final dish again in 2007. 

Waikiki resident Clayton Ishimoto stated he has recollections of eating on the market. He stated, “Back in the late 90s and early 2000s we’d come here for dinner at least once every two weeks.”

The property was purchased by the Kobayashi Group final 12 months. The constructing itself is locked up and sitting empty, whereas the parking construction adjoining to the property serves as a parking zone for a shared journey service. 

Alana Kobayashi Pakkala is a accomplice with the Kobayashi Group, and she or he stated they plans for the property. 

They are proposing to construct a low-rise and open-air cultural leisure venue that may match about 685 folks. The venue would additionally provide meals and beverage in addition to retail house. 

“Just to be able to have an outdoor purpose-built venue that’s really focused on creating an amazing experience in a beautiful environment,” Kobayashi Pakkala stated. “I mean we’re going to be making a large commitment and investment in making this a world-class entertainment venue.”

The venue would carry on 50 full-time staff, and they’re consulting with cultural practitioners for the humanities and leisure elements. 

The Waikiki Neighborhood Board supplied feedback after reviewing the environmental evaluation report. The board’s vice chair Jeff Merz stated they’re asking the builders to maintain noise at a minimal throughout building and take into account noise when the leisure venue begins working amongst different issues. 

Merz stated, “Lighting could be very disruptive to a neighborhood so we want to avoid that we encourage them to use downward facing lighting, modern lighting with shields.”

Kobayashi Pakkala stated they’re consulting with neighboring companies and residents to deal with their issues. She stated, “We are committed to making sure that we’re good neighbors and that the lighting and the show are not a detraction.”

The building for the leisure venue can be sooner than different initiatives, Kobayashi Pakkala stated they’re planning on finishing the build-out by the summer season of 2025. 

Ishimoto stated he has been involved about a number of the headlines popping out of Waikiki concerning acts of crime. He stated including extra life to that part of Kalakaua Avenue might assist scale back a number of the undesirable exercise. 

Ishimoto stated, “Most of the headlines in Waikiki have been violence and stuff like that so hopefully by bringing a positive energy you know it would take over that negative stuff that’s been going on.”

The environmental evaluation report is predicted to be wrapped up by subsequent month and the builders will then start the Waikiki Special District Permit course of.