Wal-Mart's planned store in Kapolei will feature a traditional format — not a "supercenter" with a full grocery selection — and likely will open in 2008 to coincide with major traffic improvements in the area.

The retailer yesterday announced the new details for the proposed store, and confirmed that the project site is between H-1 Freeway and Farrington Highway 'ewa of Makakilo Drive and Kapolei Shopping Center.

"We believe in Kapolei's future as O'ahu's Second City and we want to be a part of it," Wal-Mart spokesman Kevin McCall said in a statement. "At the same time, we also understand that traffic is a major issue for people who live and work in the area, so we are timing the project with consideration to the next round of regional traffic improvements that are scheduled to be completed."

Wal-Mart said the store is slated to open in 2008 after expected completion of major state improvements to area roadways, including new freeway access from H-1.

The retailer also said it is working to design access to the planned store to keep traffic moving smoothly.

Traffic and suspicion that the Kapolei Wal-Mart would be a Supercenter competing with area grocery stores were among chief concerns raised about the retailer's plan in April when it confirmed its intent to develop a store in the area.

At the time, Wal-Mart said it could not identify a store site or say what format the store would resemble.

Yesterday, Wal-Mart said the planned Kapolei store would be similar in size and format to its Pearl City store, which opened in January and is about 150,000 square feet.

The larger Supercenters have been the focus of Wal-Mart's expansion strategy in recent years. Since 2004, they have been the predominant type of store the company operates.

Hawai'i, Alaska and Virginia are the only states without the Supercenters. The larger stores average about 85,000 more square feet and carry about 53,500 more items than the smaller variety stores familiar to local shoppers.

The United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 480, earlier this year launched a campaign to organize opposition to the Supercenter format possibly being introduced to Hawai'i. The union represents about 2,300 workers at local grocery stores.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.