Kukui Grove Shopping Center

Kukui Grove Shopping Center, generally known as Kukui Grove Center or simply Kukui Grove, is an open-air shopping center in Lihue, the principal commercial area of Kauai, Hawaii. Positioned as a regional retail destination for the island, it combines national chains, Hawaii-based retailers, restaurants, services, and community-oriented commercial activity in a roughly 50-acre complex. The center is described as Kauai's largest mall and its only regional mall, giving it a role that extends beyond neighborhood shopping for residents and visitors across the island. The center's tenant mix has changed significantly over time as national retail formats have entered, consolidated, or left the Hawaiian market. Major or historically prominent anchors and large-format tenants have included Macy's, Ross Dress for Less, Times Supermarkets, Longs Drugs, Kmart, Sears, Sports Authority, and Target. The center also contains a broader collection of local, regional, and national shops and restaurants, with the referenced retail description identifying more than 55 tenants. Its open-air design and concentration of essential retail categories make it an important everyday shopping destination rather than a purely luxury or tourism-focused center. Kukui Grove's history reflects broader shifts in American department-store and discount retailing. A former Liberty House location became associated with Macy's after Liberty House was absorbed into the department-store landscape. The property once contained two Sears stores, both of which closed in 2013. One Sears location had originally operated as an F. W. Woolworth Company store. After the Sears closures, one space became a Ross Dress for Less and the other was occupied by Sports Authority. Sports Authority later shut its store in 2016 following the company's bankruptcy. Kmart closed its Kauai location in September 2018; that store had been the last remaining Kmart in Hawaii. Target subsequently entered the Kauai market by opening at Kukui Grove on October 19, 2021. The retailer took over the former Kmart building and occupies approximately 122,000 square feet, creating one of the center's most prominent contemporary anchor uses. The arrival broadened the center's general-merchandise offering and replaced a departing discount chain with another large national retailer. The Festival Companies manages Kukui Grove. Following a change in ownership associated with the company, the center received a refreshed appearance, including painting across the mall. Leasing materials have also identified Tractor Supply Co. as a prospective or planned tenant in the former Sports Authority space, although the referenced material states that this had not been confirmed as of October 2025. Macy's was reported on January 18, 2024, as part of a plan to close five U.S. stores, placing another major anchor's future at the center under review. The available material does not establish the mall's original opening date, founding developer, current legal owner, or the ultimate outcome of the Macy's announcement.

Kukui Grove Center developed as a major open-air retail complex in Lihue, Kauai's principal retail district. The available reference material does not provide a confirmed opening year, original developer, or detailed construction chronology. It does establish the center's importance as Kauai's largest mall and only regional mall, with a site of approximately 50 acres and a tenant base exceeding 55 local, regional, and national shops and restaurants. The center's anchor history illustrates the evolution of department stores and large-format retail in Hawaii. A Macy's store at the property formerly operated under the Liberty House name. Kukui Grove also contained two separate Sears stores, one of which had earlier been an F. W. Woolworth Company location. Both Sears stores closed in 2013. Their replacement uses reflected the movement away from traditional department-store retail: one became Ross Dress for Less, while the other became Sports Authority. Sports Authority's tenure was short-lived. The retailer closed its Kukui Grove store on July 28, 2016, as the company entered bankruptcy and exited its store network. The former space later became associated with a possible Tractor Supply Co. tenancy in leasing materials, but the available information does not confirm that a store opened there. Another major change occurred in September 2018, when Kmart closed its Kauai store. Because it was reportedly the final Kmart location in Hawaii, the closure ended the chain's presence in the state. The former Kmart building was subsequently reused by Target. Target opened its Kauai store at Kukui Grove on October 19, 2021, occupying approximately 122,000 square feet and becoming a major general-merchandise anchor. The Festival Companies manages the center. Material concerning a change in ownership associated with the company says that Kukui Grove received a visual refresh, including painting throughout the mall to improve its appearance. The center continues to serve a broad island market through a combination of national anchors, Hawaii-based businesses, restaurants, groceries, pharmacy services, apparel, and general merchandise. Kukui Grove's recent outlook has been shaped by continuing anchor turnover. Macy's was included in an announcement dated January 18, 2024, concerning the planned closure of five stores in the United States. The supplied references do not specify the final closure date or confirm the store's subsequent operating status. Likewise, the possible Tractor Supply Co. replacement for the former Sports Authority space remained unconfirmed in the material available through October 2025. Ownership details, the original opening date, and a complete current tenant directory require additional verification.

• 2024

  Macy's closure plan announced

  [1]Kukui Grove Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Macy's was identified as one of five U.S. stores included in an announced closure plan.

• 2021

  Target opens

  [1]Kukui Grove Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Target opened on October 19 in the former Kmart building, occupying approximately 122,000 square feet.

• 2018

  Kmart exits Hawaii

  [1]Kukui Grove Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Kmart store closed in September, ending the chain's reported presence in Hawaii.

• 2016

  Sports Authority closes

  [1]Kukui Grove Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Sports Authority store closed on July 28 amid the retailer's bankruptcy and liquidation program.

• 2014

  Former Sears spaces receive new tenants

  [1]Kukui Grove Centeren.wikipedia.org

  One former Sears space became Ross Dress for Less and the other became Sports Authority.

• 2013

  Both Sears locations close

  [1]Kukui Grove Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The center's two Sears stores closed. One former Sears location had earlier operated as an F. W. Woolworth Company store.

An island-wide, open-air regional shopping center serving Kauai residents and visitors through a mix of essential retail, general merchandise, groceries, pharmacy services, apparel, dining, and local businesses.

• General merchandise · 2021

  Target

  Target opened at Kukui Grove on October 19, 2021, in the former Kmart building. The approximately 122,000-square-foot store provides general merchandise and household retailing and serves as one of the center's principal contemporary anchors.

• Off-price apparel and home goods · 2014

  Ross Dress for Less

  Ross Dress for Less took over one of the former Sears spaces after the Sears closures in 2013. It contributes off-price apparel, footwear, accessories, and home merchandise to the center's value-oriented retail mix.

• Grocery retail

  Times Supermarkets

  Times Supermarkets is a grocery anchor identified in descriptions of Kukui Grove. Its presence supports the center's role as an everyday shopping destination for Kauai residents rather than solely a discretionary retail venue.

• Pharmacy and health retail

  Longs Drugs

  Longs Drugs is identified as one of the center's anchor tenants. The format combines pharmacy services with health, personal-care, convenience, and general drugstore merchandise.

• Department store

  Macy's

  The Macy's location occupies a historically important department-store role at Kukui Grove and formerly operated under the Liberty House name. Macy's was included in a 2024 announcement concerning planned U.S. store closures; the supplied material does not confirm its final status at the center.

• 2024

  Address potential Macy's anchor closureOther

  Background

  Macy's was included in an announcement dated January 18, 2024, listing five U.S. stores planned for closure.

  Action taken

  The planned closure was announced as part of Macy's broader store-closure program; the center's independent action and the final local outcome are not established in the supplied material.

  Aftermath

  The announcement introduced uncertainty around one of Kukui Grove's department-store anchors.

  Source

• 2021

  Replace Kmart with TargetProduct launch

  Background

  Kmart closed its Kauai store in September 2018, leaving a large former-anchor building available at the center.

  Action taken

  Target opened a new Kauai store in the former Kmart building on October 19, 2021, using approximately 122,000 square feet.

  Aftermath

  The opening restored a major general-merchandise anchor and expanded the center's national retail offering.

  Source

1. 1Kukui Grove Centeren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Kukui Grove Center official websitekukuigrovecenter.com