where's the "development"?

[wax]

There are actually increasing numbers of small local businesses even in established areas. For instance in Keaau you have many small vendors selling a variety of products in the Village Market and in the Keaau Plaza (previously home of Verna's). You can find independent businesses in Pahoa (i.e. the surf shop). It depends on what you are looking for. For instance across the country small retailers of electronic products have largely gone out of business because they cannot compete with Costco, Walmart, Target, Sears, etc. Even Best Buy struggles to compete. As for clothing - there are a few unique boutiques but they have to have unique products to compete