Ekolu Mea Nui, featuring Sonny Lim, Kunia Galdeira and Kevin Kealoha, headlined the grand opening of Kona Commons celebrations Saturday. (Hawaii247.com Photo by Karin Stanton)

Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.com Contributing Editor

Kona Commons had its official kick off Saturday.

The center, on the corner of Makala Boulevard and Queen Kaahumanu Highway, offers 130,000 square feet of shopping and dining. 

The gala grand opening included special displays at stores, restaurants and non-profit groups and ended with fireworks. Drawings for $250, $500 and $1,000 Kona Commons shopping sprees also were on offer.

Following a blessing, an oli by the keiki of Ke Kula Ehunuikaimalino and a torch-lighting ceremony,  entertainment included Polynesian drummers, a lion dance and music by Ekolu Mea Nui — Sonny Lim, Kunia Galdeira and Kevin Kealoha. 

Four non-profit groups erected information booths to sell Kona Commons coupon books featuring offers from the center’s stores and restaurants. 

Profits from the sale of coupon books benefit Hawaii Island Humane Society, Big Island Pop Warner football, Friends for Fitness and Hawaii Community College Palamanui Campus.

Kona Commons is the first part of a multi-phase project being developed by MK Kona Commons LLC, a joint development of the MacNaughton Group and Kobayashi Group, of Oahu. 

An central piece of the Queen Liliuokalani Trust’s master plan for its Kailua-Kona property, Kona Commons boasts an 803-kilowatt photovoltaic system on the mall’s roof.