In an era of rising loneliness and digital disconnection, Hawaiian is proving that neighbourhood shopping centres can be so much more than places to shop. Under the leadership of CEO Richard Kilbane, the Western Australian property group is redefining its centres as true community hubs — spaces where everyday encounters foster belonging and wellbeing.
In today’s fast-paced, digitally connected world, many people are feeling more disconnected than ever. Research shows that loneliness is on the rise globally, with one in three Australians reporting feelings of social isolation.
The health effects of loneliness have been likened to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, highlighting how essential a sense of belonging and connection is to our wellbeing.
In this context, the role of physical spaces, particularly neighbourhood shopping centres, has evolved. Once seen primarily as places of convenience, they are now becoming places of connection. Everyday moments, like a chat with a barista or a smile from a local, can foster a deeper sense of place and wellbeing.
As a proud Western Australian property group, at Hawaiian, we have fully embraced this evolution. With a portfolio of 10 neighbourhood shopping centres, Claremont Quarter and office and hospitality assets, we take a people-first approach to everything we do.
With 650,000 people living within a 10-minute drive of our shopping centres, we’re deeply rooted in our local communities. This connection inspires us to continually reflect on how we can positively impact people’s lives. It’s a philosophy that shapes how we engage with others and create meaningful experiences within our spaces.
At the core of our approach is the belief that when people are placed first, everyone can benefit. Stronger communities emerge, experiences become more meaningful and positive commercial outcomes follow.
This idea inspired the creation of ‘Centre of Our Neighbourhood’, a brand platform launched across 10 of our shopping centres, reflecting Hawaiian’s evolving mission and values. Celebrating the everyday elements that help communities thrive — people, places, and pets — brings warmth and a sense of belonging to the way our centres are experienced.
In 2024, Hawaiian’s brand platform was nationally recognised by the Shopping Centre Council of Australia for its creativity and impact, demonstrating that emotional connection and commercial performance can be powerfully aligned.
This mindset continues to guide our work and was reflected in the recognition we received at the 2025 WA Property Awards by the Property Council of Western Australia, where Hawaiian was honoured across three major categories.
While it’s a privilege to receive these accolades, looking beyond the trophies reveals something more important: a clear direction for the future and a deeper understanding of what our communities truly need.
Award-winning projects
The common thread that runs through these projects is the power of people coming together with communities placed at the heart. This focus is not only enriching lives and strengthening deeper local connections — it’s driving meaningful social and commercial outcomes.
Hawaiian’s Forrestfield: A Community Anchor
Hawaiian’s Forrestfield was recognised as Best Retail Development or Redevelopment at the 2025 WA Property Council Awards. Located in the Perth foothills, it’s the largest retail destination in its catchment.
In 2024, we redeveloped the centre to become a true community anchor — meeting not just retail needs, but also civic and social ones. This included relocating the local library and introducing a civic hub with services like pet registration and rates payments.
After just one year, the results have been significant.
The relocated library has transformed a quiet corner into a vibrant community hub, with memberships up 385% and visitation rising 111% — a testament to the power of thoughtful, community-first design to drive both social and commercial outcomes.
Between 2 Floors: Placemaking in Action
This philosophy also came to life through our ‘Where It’s At!’ campaign, awarded Best Marketing Campaign at the 2025 WA Property Council Awards. It redefined the centre as a vibrant hub of community connection. By highlighting our diverse dining offerings, we united people with our retail partners and created a compelling experience.
We reimagined our rooftop car park as an exciting cultural venue, hosting ‘Between 2 Floors’ — a high-energy hip-hop dance event co-created with Perth’s dance community and recipients of our Neighbourhood Champions grant program.
As a first-of-its-kind activation in the WA shopping centre space and serving as the launch event for ‘Where It’s At!’, ‘Between 2 Floors’ showcased how retail environments can be transformed into platforms for cultural expression, community connection, and placemaking.
We are proud of what was achieved. It stands as a reminder of the powerful outcomes that emerge when care, creativity, and collaboration lead the way.
SmartSparks by Hawaiian
Another powerful expression of our community-first approach is ‘SmartSparks by Hawaiian’, which received the Best Community Activation or Engagement award.
As the largest schools’ outreach program of its kind by a property company in Western Australia, ‘SmartSparks’ delivers free, high-quality educational incursions to primary schools within 5km of our centres.
Through strong partnerships with local not-for-profits and organisations, we’re removing barriers for teachers and giving students access to enriching programs they might not otherwise experience.
Beyond the awards
This same philosophy is guiding our work across our centres like Claremont Quarter, where since becoming sole owners in October 2024, we’ve focused on strengthening community ties while also delivering strong commercial outcomes.
In June, we partnered with Melbourne-based art studio ENESS to bring Airship Orchestra to the centre — another WA shopping centre first. This immersive and sensory installation of towering, inflatable characters transformed the centre into one of wonder and imagination.
To deepen engagement, local public primary school students were among the first to be invited to explore the experience and contribute to a six-metre colouring-in community mural, which was extended due to overwhelming participation.
While full campaign data is still being compiled, early results are promising, with daily visitation up to 25% higher than the same period in 2024.
Across our portfolio, we will continue to invest in initiatives that bring people together and create places that matter. They reflect who we are: We are a property company with a difference — one that places people at the centre, sparks imagination and creates places with lasting impact.
As we look to the future, this will continue to guide every decision. From major redevelopments to everyday activations, we are committed to weaving community into all that we do.
This article by Richard Kilbane, CEO, Hawaiian, is published in the latest edition of SCN magazine.
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