New Campus Center Store at UH-Hilo almost ready

HILO, Hawaii: The University of Hawaii at Hilo will soon welcome its new $4 million state-of-the-art College Campus Store, which is scheduled to open in the fall.

We stopped by the construction site on Monday, where things are starting to look a lot like the architectural renderings that were released before work began.

University officials say the one-story addition to the Campus Center spans 8,500 square feet with a configured layout that includes textbook, computer, apparel and café areas. It will replace the existing Bookstore located near the Old Gym as the primary outlet for the sale of textbooks, materials, school supplies, various merchandise including Vulcan logo clothing, sundry items, snacks, computers, and computer accessories.

And it will be open to the public… good news for residents who are still lamenting the departure of Borders Bookstore in Hilo and Kona.

Jason Tanaka, the College Campus Store manager, showed us around.

The store will be centrally located. Right now, its surrounded by the construction that will transform the UH-Hilo campus in the coming months. To the east, a new Student Services Center inches closer to completion … and across Kawili Street, the University Village Phase I is underway, which will feature approximately 300 student housing units in apartments and suite-style residence halls.

The College Campus Store was developed with input from students, faculty, staff and community members and financed through University of Hawai`i Revenue Bonds with debt service supported by Bookstore revenues.

The hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, with extended seasonal hours. An official grand opening is expected to be held in the fall.