Shimogawa Scoops

Nuuanu Okazuya, a popular Japanese restaurant near Downtown Honolulu, has recently expanded into a next door space that now allows the eatery to offer seating, the restaurant’s owner confirmed to Shimogawa Scoops. Located along Nuuanu Avenue, the eatery, which has been around for decades, is known for its traditional Japanese-style okazu including fishcakes, tempuras, teri-hamburger and furikake-crusted garlic chicken, among other tasty dishes. Nuuanu Okazuya now has a separate kitchen area and a seating/serving area in its two spaces. The expansion bucks the trend of okazu eateries across the state closing down or downsizing.

A major solar energy farm, spanning hundreds of acres of land in West Oahu near the University of Hawaii campus that would be the largest of its kind in Hawaii is in the works, Shimogawa Scoops has learned. The project, which was mentioned in last week’s board of regents meeting, would include 244,740 solar panels, totaling about 64 megawatts. By comparison, the largest solar farm in Hawaii is about 27 megawatts, and is located in Waianae in West Oahu. The UH West Oahu solar farm would be located next to a planned 120-acre agricultural and social enterprise project that is located on Class “A” ag lands.

Starbucks Coffee is likely opening a new location near the University of Hawaii Manoa as part of the new student housing project being built across from Puck’s Alley on University Avenue, Shimogawa Scoops has learned. Located at 2615 South King St., the Hale Mahana student housing project also will include numerous commercial spaces on the ground floor. Starbucks fits perfectly, not only in Hale Mahana, but also in the area that’s home to tens of thousands of college students. The Seattle-based coffee giant has more than 100 stores across Hawaii.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has purchased more oceanfront land in Hawaii that’s located within the hundreds of acres he already owns on the island of Kauai, Shimogawa Scoops has learned. The billionaire has been pretty successful in his controversial attempt to gain full control of the oceanfront lands he purchased a few years ago on Kauai’s North Shore. More than a year ago, Zuckerberg, who is one of the richest men on the planet, made headlines around the world for filing lawsuits against small landowners within his hundreds of acres on the Garden Isle to force these landowners to sell their lands to him. However, after much pushback, Zuckerberg decided to drop his lawsuits and proceeded through other processes. One of those main steps, though, includes buying those small parcels from its owners. It’s something that continued throughout last year, including the latest sale happening just a couple of weeks ago, involving a 33,106-square-foot parcel with a 552-square-f...

HomeGoods, the hugely popular home fashions retailer that’s owned by T.J. Maxx’s parent, is opening its second store in Hawaii in the former Kmart space at Waikele Center in Central Oahu, Shimogawa Scoops has learned. The Lowe’s, Petco and Old Navy-anchored center is located directly across Waikele Premium Outlets in Waipahu. HomeGoods also is opening a new store at Kapolei Commons in West Oahu. HomeGoods’ expansion to Hawaii signals a continued interest from Mainland retailers in making the scary jump over the vast Pacific Ocean to the Islands, although there have been many to do so in the past few years, including H&M, Urban Outfitters, Bloomingdale’s and Five Guys Burgers & Fries. Founded in 1992, HomeGoods has standalone and superstore formats that goes along with a T.J. Maxx or Marshalls. Its offerings include giftware, home basics, accent furniture, lamps, rugs and décor. Waikele Center also is home to such well-known brands as Office Max, Gap, Brooks Brot...

There has been a lot of rumors swirling all around Oahu regarding Avalon Group's transformative 7000 Hawaii Kai Drive apartment rental complex in East Oahu. That said, here are the facts...and just the facts: We gave our tenants 120-days advance notice that we will be filing for condos.  There seems to be a misunderstanding that we are evicting tenants. We are not. In fact we are continuing to advertise to lease units here for up to 1 year leases and we are renewing leases up to 1 year. The only leases that we are not renewing are those who have serious problems with paying rent (over 30 – 60 days delinquent in rent and utility payments etc.)  or those who are creating unsafe environment for other tenants. Here are the details: 269 units total project size 54 units were designated for 80% of AMI rentals.  (50 required by zoning, 4 optional) 215 were rented as market units that were generally priced from $2500 - $3800 per m...

June Jones, the former head coach of the University of Hawaii football team during the program’s greatest seasons, is part of a group of local and Mainland investors planning to redevelop the iconic Wo Fat Building in Honolulu’s Chinatown into a 23-room hotel along with retail and restaurants, Shimogawa Scoops has learned. The planned project, which would be the first hotel in Chinatown, is expected to cost about $10 million, according to public documents. The Mighty Union, which does hotels, restaurants, bars and other projects, is expected to be the operator of the new project. The preservation and adaptive reuse project is located near a future rail transit station and will include a restaurant/bar, retail, reception and lobby on the ground floor. The second and third floors will include hotel rooms and there also may be a rooftop bar and equipment room. The project’s design team includes Clayton & Little Architects, Dean Sakamoto Architects LLC and SHADE. T...