Richard Vierra, Hawaii Reserves, Inc. director of Property Management who oversees Laie Shopping Center, reported the following changes have recently taken place or are pending:

  • Hawaiian Island Work Force has left.
  • "Dr. Dennis Tiberi [DDS], who has been here for 38 years, left at the end of January. He will be continuing his practice in Kaneohe," Vierra said, explaining that family health issues and the long drive "regrettably" forced the long-time Laie dentist to leave.
  • "Jim Fong at D.A. Pharmacy is retiring. His last day for business was February 9th," Vierra continued, "and he will vacate on February 29th."
  • Vierra pointed out Foodland is currently constructing a pharmacy in the space previously used for photo processing.
  • "We have arranged for a currently short, but potentially long-term lease with United Federal Mortgage to take over the space vacated by Hawaiian Island Work Force. They provide residential mortgages." Vierra added that a man from Utah owns the company, while a woman from the community is the firm's office manager. "If things work out for them, we're going to reconfigure that space; so instead of having one 600 square foot pharmacy and one 1,800 square foot mortgage company, we'll have two 1,200 square foot spots — one of them will hopefully stay with United Mortgage.
  • "The other 1,200 square foot space will likely go to Holly Smith over at Hukilau Surf Shop," Vierra continued. "I'm still waiting for proposals from them; but what they would like to see, and we're supportive of that, is an upscale retail clothing boutique specializing in North Shore wear, priced for the community and BYU-Hawaii students. When the hotel comes in, hopefully in another year or two, they'll also work with that."

Vierra noted the surfboard sales and repair business near Egg Farm Road would then close down, "and as I understand it they would operate that out of another location." He added he is not ready to disclose the plans for that space.

  • Vierra said he's meeting with another dentist who is interested in taking over the space previously occupied by Dr. Tiberi. "We're also possibly looking for an orthodontist to share that space.

"My guess is by the end of March we should have everything pretty much in place, and that would take us to the end of the year," he said.

"We're happy that the community continues to support us. We want to keep our eyes open for opportunities that set us apart from other shopping centers, as well as national lines that attract customers."

"I'm always looking," Vierra said, adding he's open to feedback and suggestions. "If anybody has any ideas that I'm missing, stop by the HRI office, or give me a call at 808-293-9201.