Pier 1 Imports Opening in Kona

Pier 1 Imports will officially open its first store on the Big Island at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 22, at the Kona Coast Shopping Center on Palani Road in Kailua-Kona.

Kahu Kealoha Kaopua Coleman, the reverend of the Calvary Community Church in Kona, will conduct a traditional Hawaiian blessing ceremony prior to the store’s opening.

To celebrate the opening, the first 300 shoppers on June 22 will receive a free signature reusable bag and a Pier 1 Imports backscratcher.

“We’re thrilled to bring our first Pier 1 Imports store location to the Big Island of Hawaii and hope that our new Kona location will introduce customers to the eclectic and fun merchandise unique to Pier 1 Imports,” said Alex W. Smith, president and chief executive officer of Pier 1 Imports.

“We look forward to sharing our unique shopping experience with the residents of Kona and the Big Island of Hawaii,” Smith said.

The Kona store, the fifth in the state for the national retail chain, is located in the space previously occupied by Ross Dress for Less. It encompasses 8,448 square feet and is the first Pier 1 Imports in Hawaii to feature Pier 1’s new store concept.

Rolled out last fall across the country, Pier 1’s new store concept helps customers visualize the end-use of the products within their own home with new floor and ceiling décor, as well as new lighting and display features.

On average, the store will employ approximately 40 part-time employees to support the new store opening. Workers’ hours fluctuate based on the needs of the business and the season, company officials said.

Grand opening festivities are slated for the following month on Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22, and will also feature free product giveaways and gift cards.