Shimogawa Scoops

A hotel could be in the works near the University of Hawaii Manoa campus in Honolulu, which would be the first of its kind in the area. Public records show that a Kamehameha Schools development executive has filed public documents this week for the long-planned redevelopment of Puck’s Alley, which includes a 180-room hotel.  Kamehameha Schools, the state’s largest private landowner, owns Puck’s Alley and other nearby properties, bounded by South King Street and University Avenue. Other proposed redevelopment plans of Puck’s Alley include some 23,000-square-feet of commercial space and about 34,000-square-feet of restaurant space, as well as multi-family residential units.  Plans for adjacent parcels include more redevelopment of existing buildings into new retail businesses and restaurants.  Kamehameha has had several plans to redevelop this area of Moiliili during the last several decades, although nothing has made it to the development finish line just yet.

Raising Cane’s and its famous chicken fingers will be opening another location in Hawaii, this time in the state’s tourism mecca of Waikiki, public records show. The popular fast-food restaurant is opening in the former Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese Cheesecake space at the second level food court at the Royal Hawaiian Center. The Panda Restaurant Group is the Hawaii franchisee for both Uncle Tetsu and Raising Cane’s. This was Uncle Tetsu’s first location in the United States. Raising Cane’s has been on an expansion tear by quickly opening several locations in Hawaii.  Counting its Waikiki eatery, it will have five spots in Hawaii. Thus far, all are located or opening on Oahu at Hawaii Kai, Mililani, Ala Moana Center in Honolulu and its original location on King Street near University of Hawaii Manoa.  It was only a matter of time before Raising Cane’s  found its Waikiki location. It’s sure to be one of its more popular locations because of its popularity with Mainland travelers....

  Former Major League Baseball MVP Jeff Kent has purchased an oceanfront Hawaii estate on Oahu’s eastern coast, public records show. The 2000 National League MVP second baseman with the San Francisco Giants paid $4.5 million for the 14,250-square-foot estate that includes a 2,805-square-foot four-bedroom, five-bathroom home and a guest house. The pristine Waimanalo property has a total assessed value of about $3.4 million, according to tax records. It is located not too far away from the property that is reportedly being built for former President Barack Obama and his close friend Marty Nesbitt, a Chicago private equity firm executive. Kent, a five-time All-Star and all-time leader in home runs among second basemen, also played for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers.