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International Market Place Will be horribly razed |
christiki295
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3616
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is
|  Posted: 2011-08-31 08:07 am Permalink
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On 2009-04-05 11:22, christiki295 wrote:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 | Modified: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
New plan for International Market Place announced
Pacific Business News (Honolulu) - by Janis L. Magin
For the second time in five years, the Queen Emma Land Co. on Tuesday unveiled plans to redevelop the 50-year-old International Market Place in the center of Waikiki.
The nonprofit landowner, which was created to provide funding for The Queen’s Medical Center, is seeking a master developer to redevelop 6.48 acres along Kalakaua and Kuhio avenues into a “contemporary mixed-use resort destination that includes shopping, dining and entertainment.”
The organization hopes to generate funds to continue and expand operations at The Queen’s Medical Center, the largest private hospital in the state. The company is the real estate arm of The Queen's Health Systems, which owns some 12,000 acres statewide, including 18 acres beneath hotels and the International Market Place in Waikiki.
In September 2003, Queen Emma announced plans for a $100 million renovation of the International Market Place with construction to begin in 2005.
But there were internal disagreements over the scope of the plans and their cost, as well as changes in management of the then-Queen Emma Foundation.
The latest plans call for the redevelopment of the 2.9-acre International Market Place, the 75,000-square-foot Waikiki Town Center retail building on Kuhio Avenue, as well as the Perry’s Smorgy Restaurant and Food Pantry on the mauka side of Kuhio.
The plans may also include the Miramar Hotel property on Kuhio Avenue.
Retail ground leases at the properties expire in 2010
“You want to create a thriving center where future generations will be able to enjoy the rich heritage of these properties while maintaining a Hawaiian sense of place,” said Mark Yamakawa, president of Queen Emma Land Co., in a statement. “We recognize that we have a responsibility to do our part to help enhance Waikiki for both locals and visitors, not only for the obvious benefits to the community, but also to enhance Waikiki as a destination and strengthen Hawaii’s economy.”
The Queen Emma properties are next door to Kyo-ya Ltd.’s Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel, which is slated for redevelopment in the next several years.
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But the good news is that this development does not appear to be moving forward.
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4814
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2012-02-27 08:56 am Permalink
Talking to Robert Van Dorpe this weekend he mentioned the International Market Place. He said the current developers had submitted a plan that was rejected. I think he said it was a mid-western located group and they had no clue about Hawaii. The place must retain a spirit of Hawaii for their plan to be accepted. He mentioned Queen Emma, saying they would never sign off on a plan that was not "Hawaiian" in theme. They were so clueless that much time was spent tracking him down to ask if he would get involved to put them on the right track.
Bob was close friends with Donn Beach and used to have his own key to the Tree House. He has done may projects on the islands. But he is 84 years old!
So, they are coming to Hawaii to show their presentation to his colleague and maybe he can help them.
[ This Message was edited by: Swanky 2012-02-27 08:58 ]
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Kaiwaza
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 06, 2003
Posts: 411
From: Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
| Posted: 2012-02-27 12:46 pm Permalink
There have been quite a number of plans presented in the local news during the past five or six years for the International Marketplace & every one of them has fallen through. There was ONE plan that was actually good..keeping everything open aired, building a large stream, a sunken "hula performance' garden, and an increased 2nd level boardwalk. Every other plan has basically STUNK of an upscale California mall-ish nightmare. We have ENOUGH "upscale" in Waikiki now people..ENOUGH!! I don't mind a "remodel" if they must, but PLEASE...I think the kiosk, marketplace has works for decades here..it is the center of Waikiki and one feels like one is in a tropical jungle...enough said. I don't need another freaking GUCCI or PRADA, OK??? It's sickening.
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Phillip Roberts
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 09, 2003
Posts: 1496
From: OAHU, Hawaii.
| Posted: 2012-02-27 10:37 pm Permalink
Aloha,
What the International Market Place needs is a Preservationist. Someone that knows the past of the space and has a vision for the future...
I do know such a person...
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christiki295
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3616
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is
| Posted: 2012-03-04 12:39 pm Permalink
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On 2012-02-27 12:46, Kaiwaza wrote:
. . . . There was ONE plan that was actually good..keeping everything open aired, building a large stream, a sunken "hula performance' garden, and an increased 2nd level boardwalk. . . . I think the kiosk, marketplace has works for decades here..it is the center of Waikiki and one feels like one is in a tropical jungle...enough said. I don't need another freaking GUCCI or PRADA, OK??? It's sickening.
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That sounds like a good plan.
The trick is to maximize revenue by charging astronomical rents by making the IMP a destination, like the Ala Moana.
My personal thought is that the IMP needs to have Hawaiian themed restaurants, with free torch lighting and hula shows,
and then carve out part of the space for a high-rise condo/timeshare development.
It would seem tmere already is too much commercial on Kalakau Drive for the IMP to compete.
Not every shop/restaurant on Lewers Beachwalk survived which suggests that there has to be an additional draw, in addition to shopping,
but shopping is the draw at the Ala Moana.
I was astounded a few years ago when I was catching a taxi at the Royal Hawaiian that almost each of the 5 taxis ahead of me was going there.
I couldn't comprehend why anyone would leave the old school, magical Pink Palace to go to a mall. But they did.
Maybe everyone went to Ala Moana because the Royal Hawaiian mall was under construction.
Now, the Royal Hawaiian features 110 shops and restaurants and is one of Hawaii's largest shopping malls.
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msteeln
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 24, 2008
Posts: 236
From: Ka'a'awa, HI
| Posted: 2012-03-05 4:21 pm Permalink
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On 2012-02-27 12:46, Kaiwaza wrote:I think the kiosk, marketplace has works for decades here, it is the center of Waikiki and one feels like one is in a tropical jungle. |
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It's 'worked' for these recent decades only as a shadow of it's former '50s/'60s glory. Once it started transforming from it's golden era style into the kiosk era, that was the beginning of the end, as locals started staying away from the new age sham and leaving it to the tourists who mostly had no clue of what once was. Even tourists that returned decades later and couldn't wait to see it again came away disappointed and disgusted, having their memories of the glorious acreage spoiled. Those amazing days are gone. Even reinstituting an Ulu Mau Village experience would most likely be a futile attempt, as the vast majority of locals have long stayed away and will continue to no matter what is done. The old Hawaiian style that attracted billions of dreamers to Hawaii starting 100 years ago is no more, no matter how hard it's tried to reenact it. Trust me, I live the dream to this day, and know when it rarely succeeds, or comes close, and when it falls flat. The old Hawaiian minds and hearts are too far removed to bring it back, no matter how much the the silly 'sense of place' buzz word is used to try.
Ala Moana Center? While millions of Hawaii's citizens still go there per year, just as many find little to no use for it now, and increasingly havn't for a long time. They usually go out of habit and concentrated ease of shopping, but that's lessening greatly annually. If it wasn't for tourists mindlessly flocking, it would have collapsed financially a long time ago. Charging rediculously higher and higher and higher rents chased out the small time opperators that gave the earlier AMC local flavor and being worthy of shopping there. We're now seeing even SEARS succumbing to the financial pressure and closing, but also due to bad local business decisions as well. The corporation that runs AMC says that space will now be filled by small shops, but who thinks it will be of the kind that will be anything but even more junk that's common now? Corporate mind sets just don't get it, and we've been on the losing end of all that for decades, with no end in sight.
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hang10tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 18, 2010
Posts: 2070
From: Las Vegas
| Posted: 2012-04-12 12:49 pm Permalink
My wifes Grandparents went to Oahu multiple times over the years
and recently sent me this photo they took.
It's dated May 1966
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[ This Message was edited by: hang10tiki 2012-04-12 12:50 ]
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Phillip Roberts
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 09, 2003
Posts: 1496
From: OAHU, Hawaii.
| Posted: 2012-04-12 5:25 pm Permalink
Aloha,
Yup, that temporary barrier was probably for a floral parade... You can barely make out the Brownlee carvings (my primary interest in photographs of the Kalakaua side) from your photo.
UPdate: Look's like they are Serious this time. This can't be good.
Nope. Better come to Hawaii soon if you want to see it.
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Available now from Bess Press Hawaii.
[ This Message was edited by: Phillip Roberts 2012-04-13 17:50 ]
[ This Message was edited by: Phillip Roberts 2012-04-13 17:53 ]
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christiki295
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3616
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is
| Posted: 2012-04-18 12:50 pm Permalink
The Queen Emma Foundation has more than enough $$$ for this foolhardy development, immediately to be in competition with
yet another large scale commercial development:
"If the Queen Emma Land Co. and TRG complete all the required planning and permitting on schedule to start construction in 2013, the project will happen at the same time Kyo-ya Co. Ltd. is expected to start work on its $700 million redevelopment of the neighboring Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and Westin Moana Surfrider hotels."
The dismissive reference to the beloved tropical environment and huts is abhorrent:
"The EIS preparation notice for the International Market Place project makes clear that the dated, obsolete structures need to be replaced in order “to be competitive in today’s dynamic retail and hotel markets serving Oahu and Waikiki generally."
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christiki295
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3616
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is
| Posted: 2012-04-18 12:57 pm Permalink
How many shopping malls can Waikiki tolerate?
It already has:
1. Ala Moana
2. Royal Hawaiian Center
3. DFS Galleria
4. Waikiki Shopping Plaza
5. Beach Walk
6. Kahala Mall
Not to mention that Waikiki is merely two miles long and a little over a half mile at its widest point.
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Phillip Roberts
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 09, 2003
Posts: 1496
From: OAHU, Hawaii.
| Posted: 2012-04-18 8:36 pm Permalink
Aloha,
Quote:
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On 2012-04-18 12:57, christiki295 wrote:
How many shopping malls can Waikiki tolerate?
It already has:
6. Kahala Mall...
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Is in Kahala... and technically, Ala Moana is (just) outside of Waikiki. Right on the border, if you consider the Ala Moana Hotel and the Hawaiian Hut the dividing line as I do...
Once, I think in the 1950's Donn Beach proposed Waikiki should be it's own city, but the city council wouldn't allow it.
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Available now from Bess Press Hawaii.
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2677
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2012-04-23 3:48 pm Permalink
So, how long before they close it to the public and start ripping it all down ?
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Phillip Roberts
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 09, 2003
Posts: 1496
From: OAHU, Hawaii.
| Posted: 2012-04-23 4:15 pm Permalink
Aloha,
All I can really get out of them is "Early 2013."  If anything changes, or I find out more, I'll post it here.
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Waikiki Tiki; Art, History, and Photographs.
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Tiki Trev
Tiki Centralite
Joined: May 17, 2011
Posts: 11
From: Michigan
| Posted: 2012-04-24 07:08 am Permalink
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2011/12/27/large-part-of-waikiki-will-be-razed.html
Lines that broke my heart:
- "... three-level retail, dining and entertainment center" (aka, a big damn building)
- "...including a seven-story structure... that will consist of several retail levels and five levels of parking"
Don't get me wrong, I have no delusions about Waikiki being some sort of "authentic Hawaiian experience", and I fully understand the irony of a haole mainlander grieving over the loss of a few acres of one form of tourist dominated space to another form of tourist dominated space. I just prefer the more primitive aesthetic to what I fear will be put in its place.
Have there been any concept drawings or layouts released to the public yet?
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AceExplorer
Grand Member (2 years) 
Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 327
From: Deep in the Jacksonville Florida jungle.
| Posted: 2012-04-24 09:09 am Permalink
The loss of the International Marketplace would truly be tragic. Sure, it's a hodge-podge of stuff. But it's also the BEST place I found to get Hawaiian shirts, leis, jewelry, kukui nut necklaces, and many other great things we all love and need in our lives. This place is "it" - quick and efficient and inexpensive one-stop-shopping for the Hawaii visitor. And the food court offers a very diverse selection of fast food, not to mention the very rare and hard-to-find Dole Whip. I spent more time eating and shopping here than in all of the other higher-end shopping and dining places in Waikiki combined, bar none. There is a very important place for what I would call "lower-end shopping and dining" in Waikiki, and the International Marketplace nails it. Where else can you actually haggle for your souvenirs and tiki memorabilia? And take nice photos too? And eat well for cheap, and fast, before moving on to your next destination? They've been talking about razing this place for a long time, and honestly, I hope it NEVER happens. It's time for someone to find a "secret and long-lost Hawaiian burial ground" in the middle of the property to prevent the loss of this great place. Loss of the International Marketplace could potentially anger the gods to the point that Diamond Head may erupt again, and then where would we be? Not good... 
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