The owner of Nohea Gallery said she will close the Ward Centre location on May 15 after five years there because the lease has expired.

Owner Gail Baron said the move will allow the gallery to focus on other stores — the flagship location at nearby Ward Warehouse, and a new gallery in Kailua, Nohea Island Arts.

She said the family-owned company had opened down the street from its main location because of redevelopment plans that had been announced five years ago.

"There was an announcement in 2002 that Ward Warehouse would be torn down on a certain day," Baron said. So she and her daughter/partner, Laurie Baron, opened the Ward Centre store next to Paul Brown Salon.

"We wanted to be in the Ward area," she said. "We found what we thought would be a good solution."

When plans to demolish Ward Warehouse didn't move forward, Baron said, they decided to shift emphasis to their other stores.

Nohea has been at Ward Warehouse for 17 years. Baron said some items will be discounted at both Ward locations from 10 percent to 50 percent, and remaining items from Ward Centre will be distributed to other locations. Nohea also has a gallery at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider.

Nohea features works by more than 500 local artists with a focus on made-in-Hawai'i items, although it does carry some works created out of state, she said.

For customers, Baron said the move means easier parking options at Ward Warehouse.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.