Talk Story with an Advertiser: Kings’ Shops
Kings’ Shops opened in December 1991 as part of development associated with the Waikoloa Resort on the Kohala Coast. It was the first retail center, following the opening of hotels and golf courses. Roy’s was one of the first restaurants, bringing world-class dining to Waikoloa Resort.
Lynn Rostau joined the team as general manager in June, 2016. Lynn shares, “Our current vision is to create a place that offers a great shopping, dining, and entertainment destination in a culturally-rich presentation with a broad array of options—everything from buying a shave ice at Original Big Island Shave Ice, to jewelry at Tiffany & Co. We want to make sure we are catering to everybody, with every different type of desire.
“There was always a great deal of intention to pay homage to the culture and to the kings—the ali‘i—and the land that the center was built on. Two years ago, the shopping center partnered with Bishop Museum to help showcase the cultural aspect of this area, and reignite that part of the intention for the center. As we decided to have a greater cultural presence, we really wanted to go to the authorities on that so we could make sure we were getting it right.”
Kings’ Shops enjoys partnering with local organizations. One of their partnerships is with North Hawai‘i Community Hospital. Ever December they present the Fashion for the Fight fashion show, benefitting and featuring cancer survivors and caregivers from the NHCH cancer center. This year’s event is Friday, December 13 at 6:30pm.
They also help raise funds for the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative by offering their Culinary Arts under the Stars event every February, and they always feature a special garden showcasing dryland plants.
Hawaiian Cultural Center of Hāmākua is another of their community partners. They had a successful fundraiser for HCCH in 2018, featuring Keali‘i Reichel.
It’s clear Kings’ Shops is much more than a shopping center. The management is immersed in community and culture in every activity they share, with events seven days a week: live music on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings; a farmers’ market, beginner ‘ukulele and lei-making lessons on Wednesdays; a cultural “talk story” and Hawaiian mo‘olelo on Thursdays; hula performances most Fridays; hula lessons on Saturdays; guided petroglyph tours, and even daily koi fish feeding. A golf putting course was installed in 2018—check it out, and participate in all the other free activities year-round!
Kings’ Shops
250 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa
808.886.8811
KingsShops.com
