Laie Community Updates

New Laie hotel: Work continues on the new Laie Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, with an official opening date still listed as “mid-summer” this year. Meanwhile, Lodging Dynamics, the new hotel’s managing partner, recently announced its executive team — almost all of them PCC alumni — for the Laie property:

• David Betham of Laie, General Manager, was named several months ago. The BYU-Hawaii graduate has 30 years of hotel operations and finance experience, and is a former PCC Reservations manager.
  
• Micah Casey of Hauula, Assistant General Manager: He was born and raised in Punaluu, graduated from Kahuku High and BYUH, and has worked in various management positions at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa over the last seven years.
  
• Uheina “Heina” Hanohano of Laie, Executive Housekeeper: The Kahuku High and BYUH grad, and former executive assistant housekeeper at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, has over nine years of management experience.
  
• Lafeta Sao of Hauula, Director of Maintenance/Engineering: Sao, a BYUH graduate, previously worked in facilities management for the university and is a graduate of the APPA Institute of Facilities Management.
  
• Milton Lafitaga of Kahaluu, Director of Sales: The former BYUH student has 15-plus years of experience in the hospitality industry.

Site prepared for new Laie gas station and convenience store: Construction crews have demolished the former L&L Drive Inn building at Laie Shopping Center and are reconfiguring the site into 33 new parking stalls and traffic islands.

Site preparation for the new Laie Gas Station

When the appropriate building permits are obtained, they will begin work on what will eventually become a new co-branded Aloha Petroleum and Foodland gas station featuring eight fueling spots and an 850 square-foot convenience store. The new gas station, which is expected to take about four months to complete once work begins, will be built over what are currently parking spaces at the Hauula end of the shopping center.

There’s no telling when this phase might begin, however, as the permitting process in Honolulu County moves at it’s own pace.

FYI, L&L Hawaiian Barbeque moved months ago into part of the Laie Shopping Center space previously occupied by a Bank of Hawaii branch. Old-timers may remember the demolished building previously hosted a restaurant, service station, Jack in the Box and an A&W Root Beer stand.

For more information…click here.