Our Story
Meridian Pacific’s Hawaii Beginnings
We began our Hawaii business model in 1985 with our first office in Honolulu. Over the ensuing years, we acquired and redeveloped Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, Koko Marina Shopping Center, Mililani Shopping Center, Windward Mall, and Waipahu Town Center, located on Oahu. In addition, we served as real estate advisors for the Hawaii Carpenters Union from 1993 to 2009. During that same period, we were also active in the purchase, redevelopment, and sale of retail properties in California, Nevada, Colorado, and Texas. Our Oahu roots have now sprouted to the Big Island of Hawaii and Kauai.
Pahoa, Hawaii
In 2017, Meridian Pacific made a shopping center investment in an under-served, under-appreciated rural area at the single entrance to one of the most visited tourist attractions on the Big Island. This 9.93 acre investment is known as Puna Kai Shopping Center, a 113,425 sq. ft. retail commercial shopping center anchored by Foodland Supermarket’s flagship Malama Market. Construction was completed in 2021 and includes both local and national tenants. Puna Kai is owner operated by Willow Plaza, L.L.C./Meridian Pacific, with an on-site staff which includes Adam Page, Property Manager and Emma Bennet, Assistant Property Manager.
Breaking Ground
The Ground Breaking Ceremony was held on 10/12/17, and construction started immediately thereafter. The concept in building Puna Kai Shopping Center, was to create and promote a community with a sense of place, reminiscent of historic Pahoa town which was accomplished by building false-front facades, canopies, shed-style roofs, metal kick plates, wood framed doors with glass inserts, along with a great layout that allows a shopper to experience a bit of “old Hawaii charm”, and avoiding the concept of being a strip mall. The focal point is a park that is located in the center of the Shopping Center where community events take place. The layout design of the Shopping Center includes two main streets and parking in front of stores. It offers five entrances, two of which are on Kahakai Blvd. and three on Pahoa Village Road.
Giving Back to the Community
We are grateful for the support received from the local community, and to those patrons who drive several miles to shop at Puna Kai Shopping Center. Giving back to the community plays a major role here in Pahoa, as evidenced by several events hosted by our Shopping Center such as Toys for Lahaina, Movie Nights, Halloween and Christmas, and will continue to host in the future.
Visit our Events page for more information.