By Chelsea Jensen West Hawaii Today cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com
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KAILUA-KONA — KTA Express Kealakekua opens this morning, providing the area with its own grocery store for the first time in nearly a decade.

Residents and visitors alike will get their first taste of the new store starting at 6 a.m. when store manager Hoku Kamakau opens the doors. A grand opening is planned later this month.

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“I look forward to serving my neighbors, and to introducing visitors who shop with us to the aloha spirit, KTA-style,” said Kamakau, who was born and raised in Kealakekua.

Richard Chinen, vice president of store operations, said Wednesday that community members have been stopping by all week, awaiting the store’s opening.

KTA Express Kealakekua is KTA Super Stores seventh store on Hawaii Island and KTA’s newest opening since KTA Waikoloa Village in 1990. It’s the third location in the North and South Kona districts, adding to stores in Kailua-Kona and Keauhou.

The store occupies the former building that housed Kamigaki Market, which has sat empty since closing in 2009. The 13,000-square-foot building, 81-6602 Mamalahoa Highway, was constructed in 1983-84 by the Kamigaki family.

Since Kamigaki closed its doors nearly a decade ago, residents in the area have had to travel to ChoiceMART in Captain Cook or KTA Super Stores in Keauhou, at the closest, for their shopping needs.

“We at KTA are honored to be able to open our newest location on the site of the former Kamigaki Market, which was an iconic family run business,” said Barry Taniguchi, KTA Super Stores CEO and chairman. “We are happy to expand our presence and be a part of the community.”

The new KTA is branded “express” because its footprint is smaller than the typical KTA Super Store. The store features all the same departments found in KTA Super Stores, including its private-label Mountain Apple Brand and 1916 family of products. The store will also offer AFC Sushi and L&L Mix Plate hot foods.

Future services will include a video kiosk, change-converting kiosk, an ATM, and money order services.

Store hours are from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until the store’s grand opening set for April 14. Thereafter, store hours will be from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

KTA Super Stores was established in 1916 as K. Taniguchi Shoten by Koichi and Taniyo Taniguchi in Waiakea. In the years since, KTA has opened stores in Hilo, South Kohala and North Kona, and with the addition of KTA Express Kealakekua, that list now includes South Kona.