CU Hawai‘i has opened its newest location in Honolulu — guests and the community can now find the Korean convenience store at the recently refreshed Pagoda Hotel.
In the 648-square-foot retail space you'll find fresh grab-and-go items, customizable beverages, a ramen bar with various Korean instant ramen offerings, travel and wellness necessities, and a range of Korean and local products, according to an announcement Monday.
"When we started looking at the retail space, we really wanted to bring in something that would be useful not only for our hotel guests, but also for the people who live and work in the neighborhood," Chue Yang, general manager of Pagoda Hotel, told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions. "CU was a great fit because it offers so much more than a traditional hotel convenience store. You can grab a quick meal, snacks, drinks and everyday essentials, and having that right on property is a great amenity for our guests. At the same time, it gives people in the surrounding community another reason to come to Pagoda."
CU Hawai‘i at Pagoda will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
The shop's debut follows a new, property-wide refresh that was unveiled at the Pagoda this spring.
As ASD reported then, citing an announcement at that time, the refresh included updated guest rooms with contemporary island-inspired interiors and upgraded furnishings; in-room artwork by kama‘āina artist Lauren Trangmar; a restoration of the koi pond area; revitalized corridors and updates to the exterior; an art wall in the lobby; and a new snack and retail concept in the lobby.
Yang told ASD that CU is just "another piece of the larger transformation happening at Pagoda."
"We’ve invested significantly in updating the hotel and improving the guest experience, but the goal has always been bigger than just renovating the rooms and lobby," Yang says. "We’re also rethinking the businesses and amenities on the property and how they can better serve both our guests and the surrounding neighborhood. CU is one of those additions, and with Rainbow Drive-In and Paris Baguette still to come, there’s a lot more happening at Pagoda."
Yang says that Paris Baguette, a bakery and cafe that originated in South Korea, is slated to open in 2027, while Rainbow Drive-In, which is set to takeover the Pagoda's iconic floating restaurant, is targeted to debut later this fall.
“In addition to expanding our guest offerings and delivering on our commitment to ensuring the highest levels of service, we’re thrilled to introduce this thoughtful, delighting neighborhood staple to the people working, living and visiting the midtown Honolulu area,” Robert Kurisu, CEO of CU Hawaiʻi, said in the announcement. “This partnership is a natural extension for both brands, and it's exciting to bring CU Hawaiʻi to a property with so much history.”
Located on Rycroft Street near Ala Moana, the 199-room, 12-story Pagoda Hotel, was built in 1964 and is currently managed by Highgate. Kurisu's Rycroft Holdings LLC acquired the hotel in late 2021.
CU Hawai‘i opened its first U.S. location on Bishop Street in Downtown Honolulu last November.
A second location opened in Kāhala in February followed by a third store in Kapahulu in June.
BGF Retail Hawai‘i, the local subsidiary of CU’s parent company, BGF Retail, signed a master franchise contract with Hawaiʻi-based CU Hawaiʻi LLC to bring the convenience store to the Hawai‘i market. CU operates more than 18,500 stores across South Korea and more than 730 stores globally.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
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