Six new retailers, including a full-size Borders containing a Starbucks cafe, plan to move into Windward Mall in the latest addition to the Kane'ohe shopping center headed for a major facelift.

Joining the 22,000-square-foot Borders bookstore and cafe will be fashion apparel retailer d.e.m.o., shoe store Journeys, hat retailer Lids, Hello Kitty-brand item store Sanrio and smoothie shop Surf City Squeeze.

Most of the new retailers are expected to open this year or in early 2007.

The new merchants will join other recent and planned store additions including Ruby Tuesday, which opened this year, and Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour, which is slated to open Sept. 1.

The mall, owned by Kamehameha Schools, is also scheduled to undergo a $23 million renovation that will be the first in the mall's 24-year history.

Renovation work will include redesigned entrances, enhanced landscaping, new flooring, lighting, seating, signs, ceiling and an additional escalator between the two levels. About 40,000 square feet of space is also being created under Regal Cinemas for Borders and other future tenants.

Construction is expected to start the first week of September, take place overnight so as not to disrupt business at the mall and last about a year.

Kamehameha Schools said its planned improvements to the center's design and tenant mix are part of a revival effort that has included 14 new stores opening since fall 2005.

"The changes taking place at Windward Mall represent more than a cosmetic makeover," Kirk Belsby, Kamehameha Schools endowment vice president, said in a statement. "These efforts ... will help us to achieve success in today's demanding retail environment, ensuring the highest possible return on our investment to benefit our campuses and outreach programs."

Windward Mall is one of the top 10 assets in the estate's Hawai'i core real estate portfolio. The 530,000-square-foot property anchored by Macy's, Sears and Regal is the sixth-largest shopping complex in the state with more than 100 stores and restaurants.

Jonathan Kim, mall general manager, said the latest additions will reduce vacant space at the center to about 5 percent, which is down from about 15 percent at the end of last year and at times more than 30 percent in recent years.

An IHOP Restaurant had been slated to open at the mall this year, but has been delayed because of franchising issues. Kim said he anticipates IHOP opening early next year.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.