Earlier this year we announced that a co-branded Foodland & Aloha Petroleum gas station is coming to the Laie Shopping Center.
In late September, Aloha announced that it was being acquired by Texas-based Susser Petroleum. Foodland and Aloha have both confirmed that the acquisition will not change plans for the new Laie gas station and convenience store kiosk.
In fact, building permits for the new Laie station were filed early this month with construction targeted to begin in the first quarter of next year.
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| Image from Laie gas station building permit application |
Commenting on the recent acquisition, Aloha's President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Parry said, "Aloha Petroleum has a long history in Hawaii, and the expertise and financial strength that Susser brings to the Company will allow Aloha to better serve our retail, wholesale and fuel terminal customers."
Architectural renderings for the gas station released in July illustrate how the station will match Laie Shopping Center decor, including the shake roof material, pitched roof design, and exterior color.
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Front and side elevation renderings
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"Foodland and Aloha Petroleum are committed to serving the Laie community with a brand new fuel station opening next year," said Jenai S. Wall, Foodland Chairman and CEO. "The building permits have been submitted and we plan to open our new station in early summer 2015," continued Wall.
"Foodland customers will be able to enjoy a fuel discount when they present their Maika'i card and will be able to participate in other gas promotions throughout the year for even greater savings."
Drainage Study Update
Our April 10, 2014 newsletter reported on a planning summit, or "charrette", in Laie to kick off the next phase of the Wailele Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study. The historic planning summit was organized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Hawaii Reserves, Inc.
Completing the study is the first step in solving flooding in Laie that is caused primarily by the overflow of Wailele stream and its inadequate outfall.
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Laie flooding is due primarily to inadequate capacity at Wailele
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In addition to USACE and HRI officials, charette participants included representatives from the City & County of Honolulu, the Laie Community Association, BYU-Hawaii, and the Polynesian Cultural Center.
The charrette involved discussion, analysis and a number of on-site visits in the Laie area. (For more information about the drainage summit, click here.)
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| Charrette site visit to the Pounder's Beach bridge outfall |
In the last several months, USACE staff has been evaluating options to prevent community flooding from the Wailele Stream and developing initial alternatives.
By January 2015, USACE will recommend the best solution that meets all flood risk mitigation requirements. It will then go through a review process with the USACE.
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| Wailele Study general timeline |
USACE project manager, Deborah Solis remarked, "We look forward to identifying the best flood risk mitigation plan for this community."
If the proposed project is authorized for construction, the next steps include securing funding for the proposed project and engineering design.
We'll continue to provide updates as these projects and others move forward.
Mahalo,
