A new 76,000-square foot retail and restaurant center in Kakaako is expected to break ground this month.

The project is part of Kamehameha Schools’ master plan for the urban neighborhood. The state’s largest private landowner plans to develop nine blocks over the next 15 years, including seven high-rises. 

The project is also part of the state’s vision for making Kakaako into a vibrant, walkable area of Honolulu. 

The mall, known as SALT, is located on the block bounded by Ala Moana Boulevard and Coral, Keawe and Auahi streets. 

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

The restaurants and stores already there, including Bevy, Paiko and Insomnia Café will stay open during construction. 

The project consists of a new 267-stall parking garage on Keawe Street and a 4,500-square foot building on Coral Street. The existing parking lot will be developed into an open plaza. 

Kamehameha Schools plans to renovate four existing buildings, saying in a statement that reusing the Quonset roofs and steel frames “preserves the area’s mercantile culture and reduces construction debris headed for local landfills.”

“The challenge to reuse these older warehouses and their materials creates an opportunity to build a beautifully gritty shopping and dining experience that can only exist in urban Honolulu,” said Christian O’Connor, the landowner’s senior asset manager in a statement.  “This project is uniquely Hawaii.  It isn’t a cookie-cutter mall that could be imported or transplanted from somewhere else.”  

Here’s more info from the press release: 

Tenants Cocina, LIMB, Quince and PAD HI will be moving from their current locations to vacant spaces along Auahi Street to make way for construction.  Auahi Street tenants Bevy, Paiko, Insomnia Café and ZenBanx will remain open in their current locations.   
INK Architects and Jasper Wong of POW! WOW! Hawaii will be giving the Auahi storefronts an artistic touch-up during the construction period. Outdoor seating and wall plants by Paiko will be added to create an approachable space.
Other businesses on the SALT block, including Hank’s Haute Dogs on Coral Street, the Our Kaka‘ako Information Center on Keawe Street, as well as Sprint, Starbucks, Lanikai Juice, Illest, The Collection sales office and Highway Inn will also remain open during construction.

Photo: Rendering of SALT courtesy of Kamehameha Schools.

— Anita Hofschneider