The city is negotiating for a site in the Waipahu Shopping Plaza that would house the Honolulu Police Department's Waipahu substation.

Police have been without a substation in the Waipahu area since being booted at the end of last year from its two established substations in the region — at the Don Quijote Waipahu shopping complex and the Gentry Waipi'o Shopping Center.

Police Maj. Dave Kajihiro, who heads the Pearl City station that has jurisdiction over Waipahu, said he anticipates having a substation up in the next two months.

"We're hoping to move in by then," Kajihiro said.

The site is in the shopping center at 94-300 Farrington Highway that is anchored by the Pacific Supermarket. The site being eyed is two doors down from the Golden Coin outlet in a portion of what was formerly a Stupid Prices store, Kajihiro said.

Negotiations are being conducted by the city's Department of Design and Construction with Marcus & Associates, the leasing agent for the landowner of the shopping center.

Peter Lee, a Marcus & Associates representative, declined comment. Officials with the Department of Design and Construction could not be reached yesterday.

Kajihiro said the site is important. Besides providing a police presence in the busy Waipahu region, the Don Quijote substation had also been home to the Waipahu Weed & Seed program.

"Right now, Weed & Seed is cramped into an old office area that used to be the driver licensing section in the Pearl City station," Kajihiro said. The area is slated for a renovation project, he said.

Waipahu community leaders applauded the news.

"It's always a good idea to have a presence in the neighborhood," said City Councilman Nestor Garcia. "Some people might argue that it would be better to have officers out on the beat, out on patrol instead of in an office behind a desk. But this would be out in the community where people can see you, access you."

Richard Oshiro, chairman of the Waipahu Neighborhood Board, said he has kept the subject of a substation on his monthly board agenda because members view it as a priority.

"We need that substation to improve their visibility and presence in the community," Oshiro said.

Kajihiro said if the city can't reach a deal for the Waipahu Shopping Plaza site, two alternative locations have been under consideration. One is the former Happy Dragon Chinese Restaurant and the other is the old Regalo Bakery in the Waipahu Professional Center, he said.

Waipahu community leaders have been holding out hope that a new Waipahu police substation might also be accompanied by a satellite city hall. But the city's financial situation appears to have clipped any possibility of that, they said.

A Waipahu satellite city hall closed in June 2003 due to budget problems. The nearest locations for Waipahu residents in need of city services are Kapolei Hale and Pearlridge.