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Hawaii Pacific University, Hooters file lawsuits against one another

Two lawsuits have been filed over Hawaii Pacific University’s relocation into Aloha Tower Marketplace.

HPU announced a lawsuit against Hooters for not paying its portion of rent and failing to fix a faulty exhaust system. Hooters fired back, filing a lawsuit against the university for breach of contract, KHON-TV reported.

According to HPU’s claim, Hooters is in default of the lease as of July 22 for failing to pay rent and other charges, owing more than $31,400. The complaint also says Hooters is in breach of contract for not repairing an exhaust system that has been broken since September.

Hooters claims HPU entered a contract ensuring that the recent construction at Aloha Tower Marketplace to install an education center and dorm rooms would not affect business but that it did.

The lawsuit says Hooters lost, and continues to lose, income and revenue, which is affecting its ability to pay bills. An amount for those damages will be set at trial.

Janet Kloenhamer, HPU executive vice president for administration and general counsel, said in a statement that the lawsuits come after a long series of notices and talks with the company over payments and maintenance.

HPU acquired Aloha Marketplace under Hawaii Lifestyle Retail Properties LLC. Kloenhamer said the university was prompted to take action as residents begin to move into the Waterfront Lofts in the next few weeks and thousands of students, faculty, alumni, staff and community members arrive on the premises daily.

“It became imperative from a safety standpoint that we take formal action to ensure that HLRP is meeting its responsibilities to all tenants and customers of the Aloha Tower Marketplace,” she said. “HLRP and HPU have continued to try to work collaboratively with Hooters over the course of the necessary and beneficial $50 million renovation of Aloha Tower Marketplace.”

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