The former Pacific Business News building at 1833 Kalākaua (across the Ala Wai from the Convention Center) is being planned for conversion into a Residence Inn by Marriott.
The 10-story building was bought in 2017 for $14.3 million by Panda Express founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng, who are also tied to the planned $2 billion Atlantis resort at Ko Olina. Permits list the renovation value at $53.5 million, but work hasn’t started yet.
I was skeptical when an old Waikīkī office building was turned into the Hyatt Centric, but I’ll admit, they pulled it off. Except for the lack of lanais, it looks great. Just goes to show what a sharp designer can do with the right budget. When I look at this one, I still can’t quite see it… But who knows?
