Electronics megaretailer Best Buy will be fined for opening its 'Aiea store Nov. 18 without a city permit.

"The opening schedule was a bit aggressive," David Tanoue, deputy director of the Department of Planning and Permitting, said in confirming the city is processing a notice of violation and order against Best Buy Aiea for opening its store at 98-051 Kamehameha Highway in Waimalu without a certificate of occupancy.

Best Buy was not granted a certificate of occupancy because it has not completed improvements to the roadway fronting its store, Tanoue said.

Best Buy could be fined a maximum of $1,000 a day, retroactive to Nov. 18, but Tanoue said it'll likely be $250 a day since the company is continuing efforts to complete the improvement as quickly as possible "as opposed to refusing to do it."

"The building is safe," Tanoue said, "but we need to make sure all the safety issues for the project are met."

Tanoue said Best Buy is working 24/7 to finish the frontage work before the annual mid-December holiday season shutdown of all projects on state and city roads. The lengthening of the left-turn-only lane for westbound motorists on Kamehameha Highway to the Best Buy lot across from Waimalu Shopping Center near Kanuku Street has been completed.

Richfield, Minn.-based Best Buy spokesman Jay Mausolf declined to comment on specifics about the frontage work or when it would be completed. But the work reportedly involves a traffic light, makai-side sidewalk and the median.

There have been no traffic complaints regarding the roadwork fronting the Best Buy store, according to Pearl City police.

"Obviously, why we opened the store first and foremost, was to follow through on a promise to our customers to open on Nov. 18 and a variety of grand-opening events that had been planned," Mausolf said. "We're definitely working toward finalizing the remaining site plan."

Claire Tamamoto, speaking as an 'Aiea resident and not as president of the Aiea Community Association, criticized the decision to open the store since she says Best Buy was aware of the "problems and concerns it had to address prior to advertising the opening (date)."

"Are our laws meant only for the little guys?" Tamamoto said. "Why have them, why have standards of construction? Other businesses and community groups have had to comply with city ordinances so what makes this situation different?"

William Clark, chairman of the 'Aiea Neighborhood Board, said he cannot speak for the board but offered a personal opinion. "Although I may not agree with the present situation, I understand the position of both the city and Best Buy," Clark said.

Best Buy has had to overcome numerous setbacks over the past several years to open its store on the property formerly occupied by the Tony Honda auto dealership.

The original Waimalu design of a 60-foot high structure — a two-story building built over a parking lot — was redesigned to address community concerns about further infringements on the sight line to the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail. The Advertiser reported in 2004 that delays from the redesign increased the cost of the Waimalu venture from $9.5 million to more than $14 million, according to Best Buy officials.

Best Buy, a leading retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers and entertainment software, has another outlet at 478 Alakawa St. in Iwilei.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.