My answer:
That would totally disregard his story on Hawaii wouldn't it?
My guess is that
the mallers started taking people after the "War". They lost a ton of people plus they wouldn't have tried to take the building with all the slaves. No room. Plus
Durai was all Mr. Nice Guy.
They had to have given
the mall the heave ho shortly after that and found another spot. Something larger and safe enough to plan, build, continue looting and capture survivors.
Kalani was the last of a group prior to Sam being taken.
I think his relationship with them is far more.. was far more complex. The name drop at the end of the episode was a KC Juke!