PAHOA, Hawaii – The Puna district is abuzz over a planned 9.93 acre shopping center development planned to open in Pahoa in 2017.

According to Gary Pinkston of Meridian Pacific, Ltd. – the company acquiring the commercial project from landowner B.T. Kuwahara – Puna Kai will offer 103,600 square-feet of gross leasable area. The shopping center will be anchored by a new, 35,000 square-ft. Malama Market, and McDonald’s and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf are already on board.

Puna Kai will be located at the intersection of Pahoa Village Road & Kahakai Blvd next to the current Malama Market and across from the Long’s Drugs and Burger King.

In a recent phone interview, Pinkston explained how the shopping center is needed in the fast-growing Puna district, and how the development will be a good neighbor in terms of downtown Pahoa Village, which recently suffered a devastating fire that claimed the popular Luquin’s Restaurant and Akebono Theater.

Meridian Pacific has had hand in the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, Koko Marina and Windward Mall, and also owns and manages the Waipahu Town Center on Oahu.