In Kealakekua, life moves at a steady pace framed by green landscapes, cool mountain air and the familiar buildings along Hawaiʻi Belt Road. But often, these buildings themselves, and the stories behind them, matter just as much as the people and businesses that bring them to life.
Just outside Kainaliu, one such group of buildings remained largely unchanged for years as longtime tenants went about their daily business. When a decades-long ground lease ended, the buildings returned to their owners, who needed to repair them. What followed was a careful reinvestment that created space for a growing family business entering its next chapter.
But getting there would take time, so, in 2024, the property’s owners, a local family with Hawaiʻi roots, turned to Big Island Commercial Properties (BICP) for help. The property already housed a mix of retail, office and other businesses. The owners wanted to improve the buildings so those businesses could continue operating successfully. BICP, which has a history of helping clients turn properties around, crafted and proposed a multi-year improvement plan that focused on what needed immediate attention while laying the groundwork for long-term stability. The first phase covered essential maintenance and infrastructure, including a new roof, with additional improvements planned and phased over time.
The owners also contributed directly to some of the work and remain actively involved in the property's care and upkeep. Just as important, BICP collaborated closely with both ownership and tenants to renegotiate leases, creating consistent rent structures, clarifying operating expenses and stabilizing cash flow for their client. By the end of 2025, the property had renewed momentum, which ultimately led to the grand opening of its newest tenant: L.H.L. Feed Store, a company that supplies feed, hay, fencing, medical supplies, and everyday essentials for livestock, pets, and small farm animals.
“Everything just fell into place,” says Rachel Loando, who, along with her husband Tony, opened L.H.L. Feed Store just over 13 years ago. This second location opened almost to the day of that original anniversary. “It felt like it was meant to be.”
“There were a lot of moving parts,” says Tashanna L.K.O. LoSasso of BICP, who helped the Loandos find their space. “The timing had to be right. The Loandos needed to make feed and supply orders by a certain date, and everything had to align.” BICP worked closely with both the landlord and tenants to coordinate the transition, including helping the existing tenant, whose needs had changed, to vacate the space. “We got it done just in time.”
On the eve of their grand opening, Rachel wondered who their first customer at the new location would be, a simple question carrying the same mix of hope and resolve she felt when she and her husband, Tony, opened the first location in Kona all those years ago. At the time, they were
raising their family, with their boys competing in high school rodeo. Caring for horses and livestock took time, and sourcing feed locally often meant long drives and limited options. “We saw a need in the community,” Rachel says. “Back then, we took a chance, and now we’ve opened our second store.”
Today, three generations of Loandos move through the second L.H.L. Feed Store. The scent of fresh hay hangs in the air, and the space feels alive. Feed lines the walls, ropes and collars are within easy reach, and a newly built, family-made farm-style stand anchors the area where customers gather. The shelves hold medicine and feed for just about anything. Rabbits, horses, sheep, goats, chickens. Hay, shavings and straw sit stacked and ready to load. There’s feed for parakeets, parrots, wild songbirds and even turtles. If they don’t have it, they’ll bring it in.
Rachel loves spending her days working alongside her kids and grandchildren. “Nothing matters more than family,” she says. “To have them here, wanting to be part of this and wanting to serve the community, it really touches my heart. Our kids work here, and during the busy times, nieces and nephews jump in. Even the grandkids help. It’s unbelievable what my family is capable of.”
For customers in South Kona, the Kealakekua location means fewer long drives and easier access to the feed they rely on every day. It remains a local effort at every step: a property owned by a local family, leased to another local family, guided by a locally owned brokerage, all serving a community made up largely of families like their own. That approach reflects Big Island Commercial Properties’ philosophy of working with owners who see their property as an asset to be actively managed rather than passively held. “This was about stabilizing the property and positioning it for long-term success so that it can continue to support the community,” says James Augustine, owner and principal broker of BICP.
For the Loandos, that kind of support matters. Running a feed store comes with its own challenges, especially in Hawaiʻi. Shipping costs continue to rise, and keeping feed fresh requires careful planning. “Getting product to Hawaiʻi is expensive,” Rachel says. “We have to be smart about the way we order.”
Looking around the Kealakekua store, Rachel reflects on what she and her family built together. “Seeing what my family can do makes me so proud,” she says.
On the day of the grand opening in Kealakekua, the store was just about to open when the first customer pulled into the lot. They had driven from South Kona to pick up hay, feed and a few medical supplies for their horses. It was a simple stop, but a meaningful one.
"Nothing matters more than family. To have them here, wanting to be part of this and serve the community, it really touches my heart." —Rachel Loando, L.H.L. Feed Store co-founder.
We took a chance, and now we’ve opened our second store. It felt like it was meant to be.