Hotel rooms require North Shore hospital

I'm sorry to hear of Kahuku Hospital's possible demise. I had two children there in the 1980s. One delivery required an emergency C-section (God bless Dr. Ben Branch). I might not have made it to another facility in time.

My story is only one among the thousands of people who needed medical attention immediately, not later with having to travel to Castle Medical Center or Wahiawa hospital. It's still only a two-lane road, one each way.

Everyone better think again about the possibility of five more hotels -- what's up with that? Come to Hawaii, but don't have an emergency on the North Shore, because it will take an hour to get to the hospital in an ambulance.

Momi Greene
Keahole-Kona, Hawaii

Health care essential to Kahuku community

Having medical care is essential to the well-being and peace of mind for those of us who live in the Kahuku community. As employers with a total of 665 employees (85 percent of whom live here in the area) and 300,000 guests per year, access to healthcare is one of our top priorities.

Turtle Bay Resort and Kuilima Resort Co. have been working closely with those involved with the effort to save Kahuku Hospital and ensure continued emergency care in the community. It is a complex process and will take some time for us to determine the best steps forward. We, like many of the North Shore and Ko'olauloa community leaders and representatives, are extremely committed to finding a solution.

Unfortunately, in the opinion of some, this seems to have been reduced to a simple matter of healthcare versus resort development.

This couldn't be further from the truth; in reality, we are mutually dependent upon each other. Having adequate healthcare services for the community and the resort is essential, and building a strong economic driver helps to sustain healthcare services for our community.

All of the components to building a strong, flourishing community are important. At a critical time like this, we need everyone's kokua. We invite others to join with us to help find solutions for our community.

Nicola Jones, chief executive officer, Kuilima Resort Co.
Bob Boyle, managing director, Turtle Bay Resort

Turtle Bay CEO to answer some questions

On Monday, Nov. 27 from 12 Noon - 1:00 p.m., Nicola Jones, the CEO of Kuilima Resort Company (the affiliate of Oaktree Capital Management which is planning the expansion of Turtle Bay) will be available live to answer your questions at the Honolulu Advertiser's "Hot Seat" Blog. We encourage everyone to ask questions and post comments regarding the hotel's proposed expansion:

http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com

Please, keep the country, country

We the good people of the North Shore have a history of resisting — and stopping — large development.

Just in my lifetime, we have stopped the quarry, the hotel at Pua'ena Point, the Obayashi development in Pupukea, the mall at Sharks Cove and the condos in Waimea Valley. We love where we live for a reason — it is the country.

Today the good people of the North Shore are resisting, but not stopping, the Turtle Bay development. Why?

What hold does Oaktree have over our elected representatives? Why are 20-year-old Environmental Impact Statements valid "with prejudice?" Why does it move forward against the people's will?
Garrett McNulty
Waialua

New hotels will only add to bad situation

I am utterly amazed at Circuit Judge Sabrina McKenna's decision that Kuilima Resort Co. does not have to do a new Environmental Impact Statement on the planned expansion of hotels on the North Shore of O'ahu. I have lived on the North Shore for 36 years and the traffic has become an enormous problem.

I invite McKenna, the City Council, mayor and anyone in a position of power to drive to the North Shore and experience the weekend traffic snarl from Hale'iwa to Turtle Bay. (Weekdays aren't much better.) Nowadays, there doesn't have to be a surf meet or a holiday to cause congestion. It is an everyday occurrence. Obviously, 3,500 more hotel rooms will increase the headaches. It will be intolerable.

We need to remember to respect the land and our residents and visitors as well.
Jan Olson
Hale'iwa

Country better than chaos in North Shore

The idea to expand Turtle Bay onto Kawela Bay and extend toward Kahuku is one of the worst ideas I've ever heard. The claim is that there will be more jobs available to residents and more business for store owners. But who are they really trying to please here?

Building more hotels will not only cause even more traffic and congestion, but it will mark the end of the North Shore, as we know it. The country will no longer live up to its name. The locals will no longer be locals, but rather outsiders who can afford higher rents.

All I am asking is to keep the North Shore true to its roots — a beautiful, laid back, humble stretch of coastline free of the everyday chaos caused by big buildings and thousands of people.

The citizens of Hawai'i are more important than the interests of far-off companies; most North Shore residents would much rather drive to town for work than to allow the building of these hotels and see the disappearance of one of the last places of genuine local life.
Rebecca Fonoimoana
Hale'iwa

Hawaii firm tapped for Turtle Bay Resort Expansion web PR

As mentioned in a post a few days ago, the Turtle Bay Resort Expansion has a teaser site for their PR. It's unknown if this is for investors or for an upcoming foray into smoothing relations and informing the public.

However, in checking the status of the site www.kuilimainfo.com, I found it to be deactivated. It was registered Oct 19, 2006. It seems that the resort is not quite able or willing to share their plans with the public. Investigating it further, I found that local web development company - Firefly, based in Honolulu, is the registrar.

Hospital closure: Crazy

To close the one and only hospital that serves the entire North Shore of O'ahu and much of the Windward coast is absurd. It's also foolish, dangerous and, if stupid is different than absurd, then it's stupid as well.

To build several new hotels and condos on the North Shore, an area that can ill afford any increase in traffic, is moronic and just seems to have the unmistakable stench of greed. To do both is simply beyond words!

Have the powers that be totally lost their minds and sense of perspective?
Wayne Pearce
Hale'iwa

Big Resort, No Hospital: Where's Our Priority?

I am truly amazed how misplaced our priorities are. We may end up with a large resort-type development taking place on the North Shore near Turtle Bay, yet we are losing the only hospital on the North Shore.

The idea of building more, increasing the population and then taking away a basic service such as a nearby hospital just doesn't make sense!

How is it that there is support to develop the North Shore, but no money to keep emergency medical services close by?

If this development is allowed to proceed (against the many wishes of the North shore community) I would hope that Kuilima Resort Co. could find a way to financially assist Kahuku Hospital.
Dee Montgomery-Brock
Mililani

DOC is Disappointed but the fight goes on!

From the Defend Oahu Coalition newsletter

You may have heard that the judge ruled against the Keep the North Shore Country in the lawsuit calling for a supplemental EIS for the Turtle Bay Expansion.

We are very disappointed, there are still many issues to address and we will continue our vigorous opposition to Oaktree’s proposed expansion!

We call on all concerned community members to join us on November 18th at 4:00 p.m. at Kahuku High School or Pupukea Rec Center. (two meetings going on at two places at the same time - chose the location most convenient to you! ) Come join a committee and help us win the fight:

http://defendoahucoalition.org/calendar.php

Hum along and 'Keep the Country Country'

Hum Steve Miller's "Going to the Country" and sing:

People on the island know where to go,
Up to the country where life is real slow,
We like green space with some elbow room,
But now the natural coast may soon be doomed

Chorus: Hey ho, no more condos, save some green space for our keiki to know

Hey ho, do what's right, keep the country country is everyone's fight

From Kawela to Kahuku and down past Laie,
Condo commandos are stalking on their prey
They'll give us some parks at a few select spots
Where they'll pave paradise and put up parking lots

(Chorus)

Developer folks got one thing on their mind
That's make a lot of money and leave the islands behind
But then the kamaaina are stuck forever more
With condo-fed traffic jams and tourist shops galore

Pat Caldwell
Kailua

Judge throws out Turtle Bay challenge

A Circuit Court judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit against Kuilima Resort Co. that would have required the developer to conduct a supplemental environmental impact statement to expand on the 880-acre Turtle Bay resort on the North Shore of Oahu.

More at Pacific Business News

The North Shore is a very different place

By guest contributor Joni Shiraishi

The North Shore is a very different place than it was a few years back. The Haleiwa bypass road has brought with it a huge increase in North Shore visitors. Traffic lights have been added at the end of the bypass and by Pupukea Foodland. Where no lights were necessary in the fairly recent past, it is now difficult to cross the road during many hours of the day. Promotion of Laniakea's turtle population causes frequent traffic jams along Kam Highway. New toilet facilities at Sunset Beach have made that a major North Shore relief station for the passengers of an endless stream of tour busses. A little Ala Wai Canal has formed on the low land on the Mauka side of the parking lot. The movie industry is now fanatically promoting Hawaii where large corporate landowners are trying to unload vast acreage that was once zoned for agriculture. Worldwide promotions are bringing hordes of people to Hawaii's delicate ecology.

During last years flooding, the Ala Wai Canal had huge quantities of raw sewage dumped into it. The rains also caused countless sewage spills from overflowing cesspools throughout the island. This was not only repulsive, it created a very dangerous health hazard, islandwide. The effects on public health were not clear because they took many forms, as they do in third world countries where refuse, sewage and poor health are rampant.At a recent North Shore meeting in which representatives of Turtle Bay promoted their development plans to the public, they discussed their planned "wastewater management".

There are no sewage treatment facilities on the North Shore and inadequate cesspools are all that keeps the growing sewage in check. According to the Turtle Bay plans "wastewater" (sewage) is to be pumped uphill into reservoirs above the new developments. The "wastewater" will require electric pumps to keep the system operational. Most wastewater" systems use gravity to their advantage. Otherwise they are subject to the mechanical and electrical whims of the pumping system. Sunday's earthquake and subsequent power outage caused sewage to be spilled into Lake Wilson, Kailua and Sand Island facilities. Because they use gravity to their advantage they only spilled several hundred thousand gallons of sewage.

The Turtle Bay development plans will initially allow roughly half of the units to be designated condominiums. These residents will seek all the advantages of modern suburbia. They'll want nearby Costcos, Walmarts, McDonalds, 7-elevens, car dealerships, etc., etc. and they will dramatically change the face of what we once called "Country". Surfing was once the main focus of the North Shore. Now it appears to be Real Estate speculation. I guess there are no serious North Shore surfers running for public office, are there? At least if such candidates existed, there might still be a glimmer of hope for the North Shore's real value.

North Shore surfing spots are unique and fragile ecosystems in which value is inversely proportionate to population. Crowds curtail movements that are necessary for surfing's all important positioning. They make already dangerous surfing conditions ridiculously dangerous. More clueless people mean many more problems. Promotions have become a major detriment to the sport and art of surfing on the North Shore. Surfing is what has made this location desireable and unique. Ruin that and this becomes just another overcrowded Honolulu suburb.

Community must demand open discussion on project

Your recent article on the expansion of the Turtle Bay Resort (Oct. 13) suggests that the Kahuku community is divided on the issue, when it is clear the only support for the project is coming from a handful of individuals — most of whom were personally involved with the agreement 20 years ago.

The board of the Kahuku Community Association voted to endorse this plan without prior community discussion. Several members of the board are employed by either Turtle Bay or Kuilima Resort Co., and there is no indication these board members recused themselves from deliberations or the vote.

There has been overwhelming community demand for input at every Kahuku Community Association meeting since the board endorsed the development, but the board has refused to put the item on the agenda.

As a small business owner, homeowner and community member, I am disheartened that my community board members and elected city officials are turning a deaf ear to our concerns, and are ignoring the pleas of the community to allow open discussion on this issue.

I understand that 20 years ago the prevailing concern was for jobs for the workers of the recently closed sugar mill. But, that is not the Kahuku of today. My Kahuku neighbors are worried about traffic, affordability and availability of housing, the destruction of our countryside and loss of the local feel of this area.

Before it's too late, we need to push our officials to get involved and take the steps necessary to ensure that any development abide by standing requirements to protect the environment and preserve our natural resources.

Can we afford to lose the North Shore? Ask your friends and neighbors whether they would rather have preservation of the North Shore, its beaches and landscape, or a tidy profit for Mainland developers.

Does our entire island have to be for sale to the highest bidder?
Virginia Abshier, MD
Kahuku

City officials must stop outdated plan

The time has come for the mayor and City Council to acknowledge that 20 years ago the council blundered. A compromise with the developer should be sought. Single-family homes, rather than hotels and condos, would reduce the impact of developing this property.

It is the duty of our elected officials to listen to the voters, make appropriate decisions and defend, or modify their decisions as circumstances change. The developer's job is to maximize return for their investors, so a change in plan could lead to the city paying damages in a lawsuit. However, permanent damage to our marine resources and traffic gridlock requiring new roads and bridges would cost far more.

The existing hotel's seaward expansion shows no concern for the ocean environment and no respect for the beachgoing public. This new construction, so close to the ocean, shows what will happen to the rest of this coastline unless the mayor and council act.
Sally Youngblood
Hale'iwa

Simultaneous protests against Oaktree Capital's Massive Turtle Bay Expansion

Defend Oahu Coalition is holding simultaneous protests against the tentative permit approval for mainland-based Oaktree Capital Management’s proposed 3500 unit expansion of Turtle Bay Resort from Kawela Bay to Kuilima Point. DOC is also calling on elected officials to speak up and represent the North Shore residents interests. Resolutions that could stop or alter the
proposed development have remained frozen in City Council Committees. DOC is calling upon the Mayor and City council to represent their constituents and taxpayers against the 20 year old plan, calling for new Environmental Studies and holding new hearings with public participation.

Protests are occurring Wednesday Oct. 25 from 4-6 pm in front of Honolulu Hale (City Hall) and in front of the Turtle Bay Resort.

Also of note is the continued silence of the Turtle Bay Resort management. The resort website has no information of expansion or intentions of expansion. Likewise, Oaktree Capital Management and Benchmark Hospitality websites offer no information on the expansion.

Kahuku needs, wishes should be addessed

Your recent article on the expansion of the Turtle Bay Resort (Oct. 13) suggests that the Kahuku community is divided on the issue. But it is clear that the only support for the project is coming from a handful of individuals who were involved in the unilateral agreement negotiations more than 20 years ago.

When the agreement was negotiated, the Kahuku sugar mill had just closed and jobs were an important consideration in the community. Today, those who represented Kahuku in the original agreement are retired, and their children's children are going off to college. Their world, and ours, is very different.

With statewide unemployment under 3 percent and a number of jobs available at the resort, this community is more concerned about affordable housing and traffic than the creation of hundreds of non-living-wage service jobs and the desecration of some of the last open spaces on the North Shore. As evidenced by recent protests at Honolulu Hale and the resort, this is an islandwide issue with people across O'ahu opposing the expansion plans.

The decision by Oaktree Capital to act on the decades-old permit indicates that its view of the economic landscape in Hawai'i has changed. Similarly, the needs and wishes of the Kahuku community have changed. It is incumbent on the developers to stop moving forward on their plans and first address the needs of today's community.
Kevin Kelly
Kahuku

Do what is pono, keep the country country

I would like to express my concern regarding proposed development at Turtle Bay. Any further development would certainly destroy what still remains of the natural ambiance, warmth and beauty of our rural North Share community.

The aloha spirit that was once prevalent here has all but disappeared as our way of life is being severely challenged.

It is imperative that the powers that be curtail any further large-scale development such as that proposed by the Kuilima Resort Co. before it is too late! It is unconscionable that our way of life and the beauty of the North Shore be jeopardized any more. Once it is gone, it's gone for good. It is our kuleana to do what is pono and keep the country country!
Jimmy Cullen
Hale'iwa

Residents plan to protest Turtle Bay expansion

By Marisa Yamane

They're not going down without a fight.

Dozens of people against new development at Turtle Bay spent the day gearing up for a protest.

This comes just days after the city tentatively approved an expansion plan at Turtle Bay Resort.

Residents opposed to the plan say the fight's not over.

Whether to surf or sightsee, thousands pass through Oahu's North Shore daily.

The North Shore has always been an area where Oahu residents come to play," said Toby Morris of the Defend Oahu Coalition.

It's a way of life many have grown accustomed to, and are now afraid to lose.

"By setting it up as a resort development they're taking away our playground," said Morris.

Members of the Defend Oahu Coalition spent the day gearing up for the fight.

"They're fighting one extreme so we gotta fight the other extreme," said Janna Bills of the Defend Oahu Coalition.

A fight against expansion at Turtle Bay Resort.

This week, the city gave tentative approval to Kuilima Resort Company, to build five more hotels at Turtle Bay and Kawela Bay.

"It's like a kick in the gut and it really hurt," said Mark Manley of the Defend Oahu Coalition.

The expansion plan is based on an agreement made in 1986 between the city, state, developers, and community.

The agreement does not have an expiration date.

"I wish 20 years ago there was as strong a push as we're trying to make now. I don't think this is over-reaction at all," said Katye Killebrew of the Defend Oahu Coalition.

Not all residents are opposed to the plan. Those in favor see the potential for economic benefits, like more money coming into local businesses and thousands of new jobs.

This topic has certainly divided the community.

"Putting a development of this magnitude out in this area with poor little two lane Kamehameha Highway to support it in the guise of creating jobs for the people out here is irresponsible," said Killebrew.

Sunday, dozens of members of this grassroots group will protest in front of Turtle Bay Resort.

"Just making the public aware. And let all the politicians know we're out here and don't want this," said Manley.

Keep in mind, nothing is final yet.

Under the tentative approval, Kuilima Resort Company must submit final development plans to the city by the end of the year.

The city will then review those plans then decide whether to issue a building permit.

Officials Need To Better Explain Kawela Stands

The developers behind the expansion at Kawela Bay have been granted a tentative permit to continue their master plan of building four additional hotels. During this time there have been numerous protests questioning the need for this development, the impact it will have on the North Shore and future ramifications.

Although there is little community support for this development, we have seen very few of our elected leaders explain their position. Moreover, officials must explain to the public what obligations they are bound to concerning the 20-year-old agreement and obsolete environmental impact statement with the developers.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann talks about how Hawai'i is such a special place; however, I have not seen any action on his part regarding this development. The same could be said for members of the City Council.

It would be nice if the public were more informed as to their positions on this issue, or better yet their support to block this expansion at Kawela Bay.

The North Shore is used by all of us, and the lack of acknowledgement and support by our leaders is an indication that they are not listening to their constituents.
Matthew Tuthill
Honolulu

Resort expansion will destroy Oahu

I have heard the North Shore residents' concerns about the effect the Turtle Bay Resort expansion project will have on the environment, traffic, infrastructure and quality of life. I have participated in the sign-waving and presentation of 5,000 signatures on petitions to review, amend or modify the 1986 Special Management Area Permit for the project. Even though I do not live on the North Shore, I believe all of our communities on Oahu are interconnected and that this development will drastically affect our neighborhoods.

The City and County of Honolulu must recognize that we live on an island with finite land where proper land use planning and growth management are essential. The county is entrusted with protection of our watersheds, wetlands, shoreline and open spaces, as well as enforcement of our laws when developers come before it, but it has failed miserably in its duty to be a watchdog for the public. I have grave concerns that there is a lack of oversight by the Department of Planning and Permitting if it allows Turtle Bay Resort to build five new hotels with 3,500 more condo, timeshare and hotel units on Kawela Bay based on a 20-year-old agreement and land use permit.

Is the mayor's vision to pave over all that we love and ruin our quality of life? Or does he have a vision of conservation and possess the leadership necessary to listen to the people?

Jeannine Johnson
Honolulu

Community groups blast city leaders for the move

"Despite overwhelming opposition, the city and county has chosen to ignore the voices of the people and is allowing an outdated development plan to proceed unchecked," said Kevin Kelly, a Kahuku resident and member of the Defend Oahu Coalition.

The coalition is planning another campaign of sign-waving along Kamehameha Highway this weekend, along with candlelight vigils in front of Honolulu Hale and the resort later this month.

With the tentative approval in hand, Kuilima has a year to comply with the city's remaining concerns and recommendations before getting final approval. That deadline could be extended anywhere from two to six months.

More at the Honolulu Star Bulletin

Turtle Bay expansion tentatively approved

KAHUKU — The city has given tentative approval to an expansion at Turtle Bay Resort that could transform the North Shore.

Although limited to such matters as the establishment of lots and easements for the project, development officials said the city's action allows them to move forward with further planning.

"We are very pleased that they granted the approval, but the tentative approval is just a small step in the whole process," said Nathan Hokama, spokesman for Kuilima Resort Co., which is developing the project. "It's an important step, but it's very small."

Tentative approval requires Kuilima Resort Co. to submit development plans by the end of the year. They may, however, seek an extension. The city Planning Department must then review and approve the plans before any actual building permit is issued.

Go to the Honolulu Advertiser for their full story

Petition of 5000 Signatures Delivered to the Mayor's Office

Defend Oahu Coalition recently brought more than 50 people and a petition containing 5000 signatures to Honolulu Hale and the Mayor's Office to protest the expansion plans at Turtle Bay. While at least two television news teams covered the event, both major newspapers failed to report on it. Curious, isn't it? The petition says:

"As a resident of Oahu, I am concerned about the proposed expansion of Turtle Bay Resort. This project was designed and approved for conditions that existed twenty years ago. Times, conditions and communiy needs have changed. I am concerned that another development on the North Shore would be detrimental to the entire island - taking away valuable recreational and cultural space as well as exacerbating problems such as traffic, waste management and affordable housing."

More at Keepthenorthshorecountry.org

New Turtle Bay Hotels should not be allowed

Are we comatose? All of us, be it Hawaiian, haole, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, or any other ethnic background who live in Hawai'i, have pride, aloha for this 'aina, our home. We have a stake in its future. We know the injustices that have happened throughout Hawaiian history, where the people were taken advantage of. It's imperative that we don't let history repeat itself.

We are letting hotel developers play a game of economic terrorism with us, "No hotel, no jobs." We cannot allow them to hold us hostage. The hotels that Turtle Bay Resort has planned present more problems than solutions.

If they are allowed, we will have failed to ensure the quality of life that future generations deserve. Wouldn't it be more sensible to address issues that already threaten this rural community?

We should applaud those who have the courage to say "'a'ole" to developers who bring negative impact, not only to this community, but to the entire state of Hawai'i.
Paul Kawaia'olaloa Lindo
'Alewa Heights

Turtle Bay issue to get candle light vigil / 11,000 and counting...

On October 25, 5:00 pm, Defend Oahu Coalition will have a candle light vigil at Honolulu Hale, the same night that the City will be meeting to discuss the Turtle Bay issue.

During the recent Koolauloa Neighborhood Board meeting Chair Dee Dee Letts commented that City Corporation Counsel stated the community has no say since City Council left the permits in question open ended with no time limits.

Other comments at the board meeting include:

"Board member Kathryn Heath reported that several members of the Koolauloa Board had attended the Hawaii 2050 Task Force Kick off Conference on Sustainable Communities and listened to former Governor George Ariyoshi speak. The former Governor went ahead and spoke about working on plans from the 1970's for the future and upon review of these plans; the comment was that much of what he and his associates had not come to pass. Ariyoshi cautioned that past plans should be revisited and Heath stated that with the community and other leaders, it would be time for the community to revisit the past plans made for Turtle Bay."

"DPP declined a public meeting but advised written statements would be taken in for consideration."

"Choon James stated that over 11,000 people through petition supported the revisiting of these plans...."

Governor supported supplemental EIS

Connie S. Patton (Letter, Sept. 17) erroneously wrote that Gov. Linda Lingle supported development of 5,000 hotel rooms on the North Shore despite overwhelming opposition.

Ms. Patton needs to get her facts straight.

First, the proposed development on the North Shore would allow 3,500 rooms/timeshare/condo units, not 5,000.

Second, Rep. Colleen Meyer and I introduced a resolution at the 2006 Republican Convention calling for a supplemental environmental impact statement and a re-evaluation of the Turtle Bay project.

The resolution passed due in part to the strong support of Gov. Lingle. What Ms. Patton needs to do is come to the North Shore and see how much we are striving to "Keep the Country, Country" and to share our gratitude that our governor is on our side.
Carol Philips
Candidate, State House 46

Let's pretend it is 1997 and YOU are Mr. Oaktree

Note: I am unable to verify the identity of the writer. Scott/Moderator

By Togee-Jon Midpoint, Keep the North Shore Sane

(the scene) 1997 - The real estate market in California and Japan is bleak. Both bubbles burst in the early 1990's and the casualties from the fall out include the Pacific Northwest, California and in the pincher of both recessions - Hawaii.

Hawaii's economy is hurting, home prices have declined for at least 6 years and the factors that drove it up - Japanese and primarily California visitors and investors have much larger issues to deal with than leisure market investment options.

Turtle Bay since the big marketing bang of the late 1980's - PGA and LPGA golf tournaments, Jazz Festivals, lavish parties, big plans for expansion has been steadily declining and the place is gradually starting to resemble its nickname "Beirut". Chunks of concrete are falling off the building, the roof leaks, the keiki playground is closed due to hazardous equipment, there is no maintainence budget and both golf courses are suffering from lack of money to take care of priorities. The Japanese owners are out of money, can not execute their development plans because they have no dough, the market is awful and they are doing NOTHING to make the place better. They cut spending to pretty much $0 and put the property up for sale.

YOU are Mr. Oaktree with offices in L.A. and N.Y. sees something come across your desk. "800 plus acres on Oahu for sale. Distressed owner from Japan, needs fixing up, with approvals to build 4 more hotels and 2 condos developments. 27 holes of golf, with potential to have 36 holes".

Interesting.

At this point in time, you Mr. Oaktree have a number of big things to consider. How much do I pay? Can this place be fixed? How much will it cost to be fixed? Will Oahu be an attractive destination again? If I fix it will people come and pay what I need them to pay to make money?

You do not consider that if you do everything you need to do you might not be able to build out the Resort.

We know how this story plays out. You Mr. Oaktree buy the Resort in 1998. It takes 2-3 years to get approvals to start the massive remodeling of the hotel. In 2001, there are cranes in the air and work is going full blast. 9-11-01 is another blow to Hawaii's tourism industry, people are afraid to fly and the economy nose dives.

Mr. Oaktree keeps going, by time he's done. Essentially a new hotel is done, new pools, Lei Lei's, Ola, new 9 holes of golf, 2 remodeled courses, Ocean Villas condos, hiking trails, etc. etc. etc. - $100,000,000 plus in investment.

Now Mr. Oaktree wants to put in infrastructure to build more stuff. The infrastructure will deliver to the 6 zoned parcels water, power, cable, sewer, etc.. The maximum combined number of units is 3,500 as the Unilateral Agreement states. Those are the conditions that he bought the property under, in full compliance with all laws.

In January 2006, UNITE HERE Union Local 5 who was in a labor dispute and boycotting Turtle Bay notifies and starts organizing some North Shore people against Oaktree. Which brings us to today.

Turtle Bay Opponents - Do the Ends Justify The Means? (Part 2)

(the scene – 2006) UNITE HERE Union Local 5 who was in a labor dispute and boycotting Turtle Bay notifies and starts organizing some North Shore people and organizations against Oaktree and the plan to proceed with the development at Turtle Bay.

The information from Local 5 is distributed and a campaign starts to block the development.

The main point of Defend Oahu Coalition, Keep The North Shore Country and others is that “20 years is too long for a plan to exist. It needs to be reevaluated. It needs a new EIS. Oaktree is dusting off a 20 year old plan. Etc. etc. etc.” The summation of the views of this are expressed by KK in the video of the demonstration from KHON at Turtle Bay 0n 9-5-06 - KHON Monday 9-5-06 "We don't think you just dust off a 20 year old plan and to ahead with it."

Ironically the “20 Year” argument presented in the guise of rationality by Turtle Bay opponents is the most inaccurate and dangerous statement they make.

The facts as they were outlined in part 1 show, this plan has been actively going by the current owner since 1997 at the latest.

Turtle Bay’s most current plans started in 1997. That was about 10 years after the Unilateral Agreement was unanimously approved by City Council and 9 years ago. That is actually a small time for a project like this. Any large scale real estate project that requires investment, commitment, plans, construction, engineering, permits, conditions, planning dept. approvals, zoning, architecture, design, etc. has a timeline that resembles Turtle Bay's project. In Hawaii things take even longer than most places. For example, K.K. knows how long academic projects that merely move minds, people, paper and computers take. Would 3-5 years from conception of an academic project at the University level to starting the program be considered too long? Absolutely not. With Turtle Bay, where the project is infinitely more complicated, are we to believe this timeline is less complicated than a research project?

The people who are opposed to further development at Turtle Bay are so adamant in their desire to stop them that they will do anything, say anything, try anything, partner with anyone and in general resort to any means possible to try and stop Oaktree.

I think that the renunciation of reason, truth and honest/open dialogue over ANY issue is harmful to the future of the North Shore.

There are so many other distortions out there.. If the end justifies the means, I guess people feel like they can say and do anything to get their way. I think that is wrong.

If you oppose Turtle Bay let's know the truth, learn the truth and tell the truth.

Those opposing Turtle Bay, what are your ideas about the property rights that Mr. Oaktree has?

Complaints of Low Flying Helicopters from Resort

A North Shore resident living close to the Turtle Bay Resort pointed out concerns of an increase of low flying helicopters from the resort. Recently the resort has started short scenic flights highlighting the North Shore area. Currently there is no restriction on how low these tours can fly. Officials at the North Shore Neighborhood Board advised concerned residents to call the FAA state hotline and report the air and sound nuisance. The number to call is 1-888-697-7813.

Important Community Hearing September 26 at Honolulu Hale

Defend Oahu Coalition will deliver their petition calling for the city council to review, modify, or amend the 20 year old SMA permits at a special community hearing on Tuesday September 26 at Honolulu Hale. Supporters are encouraged to bring signs for sign waving at 9:30 am. The meeting will occur at 10:00 am.

This is another step in an effort organized by Defend Oahu Coalition (DOC) and North Shore community members to stop efforts by the Turtle Bay Resort to go ahead with expansion plans. The expansion is based on approvals by the city council made over 20 years ago. The coalition reports that October 26 is the Department of Planning and Permitting's (DPP) deadline. Community involvement and islandwide attendance is encouraged at this hearing.

Check out the Defend Oahu Coalition website for more details.

Residents protest Turtle Bay expansion

Kahuku resident Mark Cunningham said he believes the beauty of O'ahu's North Shore is something to be shared, but that building more hotels and condos in the area goes too far and will threaten what people enjoy about the area.

More about this at the Honolulu Advertiser

Grass roots effort opposes Turtle Bay expansion

The Defend Oahu Coalition rallied in front of Turtle Bay Resort Monday after collecting more than 4,000 signatures against expanding the resort.

The signatures, many of them collected over the weekend at the Hawaii Healing Garden event at Waimea Valley, went on a petition asking the Honolulu City Council to reconsider the approval of Turtle Bay building five more hotels.

More at Pacific Business News

'Defend Oahu' organizes Labor Day rally

With concerns by North Shore residents and increasing concerns in mind by Oahu residents at large, Defend Oahu Coalition has organized a Labor Day rally to voice against the proposed Turtle Bay Resort expansion. Caravans will start at 9:30 am from Temple Valley (Ahuimanu) and Haleiwa Surf Center (Haleiwa). The two caravans will converge and meet at the entrance to the Turtle Bay Resort. The rally will run from 10:00 am - 12 noon.

The rally is the result of the proposed Turtle Bay Resort expansion. Expansion plans call for an additional 3,500 hotel/condo units on the surrounding property.

Rally organizers are stressing safety for the participants as well as pedestrians and other motor vehicles on the journey.

For more information, consult the Defend Oahu Coalition website.

Keeping the Country Country

Carol Philips, Candidate State House 46

One of the most important issues now facing our community is the 3,500 new hotel rooms being proposed by the Turtle Bay Corporation for Kewela Bay. I first learned of this in December of 2005 and I’m very concerned about its potential impact. Whatever the arguments by those in favor, common sense suggests that we simply don’t have the infrastructure to support such a mammoth project. Traffic is already unbearable; often near gridlock, and property taxes are already too high. I say enough already! Lets Keep the Country Country!

Although stopping a multi-billion dollar corporation from turning the North Shore into the next Waikiki may seem impossible, we have a lot of support. Rep. Colleen Meyer and I introduced a resolution at the State Republican Convention requesting that the project be re-evaluated and the reso passed because of the strong, personal support of Governor Linda Lingle. Many local organizations and individuals have taken formal positions against the project and there are several law suits pending as well. Re-examining and re-evaluating this huge project is the only reasonable course of action for our community. It is vital that we all stick together and not allow ourselves to be divided as some are working to see happen.

The North Shore as it exists today, and the general welfare of our residents are far too valuable to allow another mainland developer to exploit us; take the money and run. I support carefully-considered development and job creation, but I am strongly against a project of this magnitude that could destroy our country lifestyle in one fatal swoop.

Turtle Bay expansion is an islandwide issue

Honolulu Advertiser

Lynda Arakawa's article last week alluded to the fact that since the labor dispute has been resolved with Local 5 and Turtle Bay the discussions involving Turtle Bay's expansion plans would be softened.

This is wrong. These are two entirely different arguments. Congratulations to Eric Gill and Local 5 for finally getting what they deserved. But now that they have their contracts they are in no way, shape or form in support of the expansion.

You, as well as Advertiser reporter Mary Vorsino, state that "some residents and others" are opposed to the project. That is a gross understatement. This is not a North Shore issue but an islandwide issue. We can't even figure out what to do with our current level of garbage. How can we create more?

We need our mayor and our council members to speak up and represent their constituents. The public needs to know the facts and the severity of this proposal — not a watered-down version.
Katherine Killebrew
Honolulu

Turtle Bay contract signed

Local 5 of the Unite-Here hotel workers union and Benchmark Hospitality, which manages Turtle Bay Resort, signed their new four-year contract Tuesday.

"Our members are happy with the new contract and it is great to celebrate with them," said Eric Gill, secretary treasurer of Local 5. "I believe Local 5 and the resort now have a deeper respect for each other, and there is a much greater sense of trust so that we can move forward together." [more]

Don’t let development kill North Shore paradise

Karl Scott

As an Australian who has grown up on the world-renowned Gold Coast, I have seen firsthand what rampant development and pro-developer local authorities can do to devastate a beautiful area, stretch infrastructure to the breaking point and, despite all precautions and attempts at protection, environmentally wreck an area and burden, not benefit, local residents with poorly controlled growth.

I was a resident of Surfers Paradise for 15 years from 1973, and my mother and many friends still live there. Brisbane is only 45 minutes by car north of the Gold Coast, and I still go there frequently for weekends and holidays. At 35 years of age, I am far from a crotchety old fart who yearns for some long-forgotten ideal age that can never be reclaimed. I am a young father of three who has seen the spread of tourism and unit developments eat up the beauty of the Gold Coast from Surfers Paradise to Coolangatta.

The North Shore of Oahu is a truly amazing place, and I say this as someone who was warned that Hawaii would just feel like Surfers Paradise to me. Waikiki does to a certain degree, but the North Shore is truly unique. Despite its world fame, it is a place that is totally unimpressed with itself, still true in its core to the surfers who made it famous. [more]

Turtle Bay accord can spark progress

The long-awaited settlement of a festering labor dispute at the Turtle Bay Resort is a welcome end in itself and an even more hopeful development if it signals a break in the impasse over the North Shore development's expansion plan. [More]

'Era of openness' for Turtle Bay Resort

The company planning to build five hotels at the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore said resolving a years-old labor dispute with hotel employees last week should help smooth discussions on the expansion plans. [more]

Turtle Bay contract ratified

Honolulu Advertiser

Nearly 400 Turtle Bay Resort employees voted unanimously yesterday to approve a new contract after years of bitter negotiations, gaining a wage increase, better medical benefits and workload standards for housekeepers.

Turtle Bay labor battle may be over

Honolulu Advertiser

The long, bitter labor dispute between Turtle Bay Resort management and the union representing its employees appears to be over, with both sides announcing a tentative agreement yesterday.

Turtle Bay development presented to Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board

Turtle Bay Development Presentation: Keith Kurahashi and Ralph Makiau presented the following Turtle Bay Resort Master Plan:

In 1998 developer Bill Mills and affiliates of Oaktree Capital Management Company bought Kuilima Resort Company the entity that owned Turtle Bay Resort. In 2001 affiliates of Oaktree Capital Management LLC, acquired full control of the Kuilima Resort Company and Turtle Bay Resort.

The following completed improvements were part of the proposed development approved in 1986 by the Zone Change and Special Management Area Permit at the Turtle Bay Resort: a) Construction of the links at Kuilima Golf Course (Palmer Course). b) Punahoolapa Wildlife Preserve. c) Wastewater Treatment Plant. d) Sewer force main along Kuilima Drive (connecting the Estates East and West to the Treatment Plant). e) Phase 1, Opana Well Facility. f) A 12-inch water transmission line along Kamehameha Highway, from Kuilima Drive to Marconi Road completed and accepted by the Board of Water Supply (1991). g) Nine Hole Fazio Course improved to an 18-hole golf course. Planned in the 1985 Environmental Impact Statement, approved in 1986 zone change and Special Management Area Use Permit. h) 2003, a golf course maintenance facility was built for the Palmer Course. i) Development at the project site, in accordance with approved permits, continued from 1986 through 1991 and restarted in 2001 and has continued to date with Kuilima Resort Company working with the State and City to receive approval of traffic improvements at the proposed West Kuilima Drive and Kamehameha Highway intersection. A meeting was recently held with the State Department of Transportation to discuss timing and participation of proposed improvements at the existing intersection mentioned above.

1) A subdivision request is in the process to allow subdivision of three proposed park sites (Kawela Bay Park already subdivided) and creation of three of the five proposed access easements (two already created) and the 100-foot wide public access use easement along the shoreline.

2) The Turtle Bay Resort Development will offer the following community benefits: a) Two public parks and two private parks open to the public. b) Shoreline access through 100-foot easement for public use along the shoreline, including a pathway extending from Kawela Park to Kahuku Park that breaks around the existing Turtle Bay Hotel parking lot and returns to the shoreline on the Kahuku side of the existing hotel development. c) Five easements containing parking for 20 stalls and pedestrian access to the shoreline. d) Resort related jobs for the North Shore Region. e) Affordable Housing. f) Additional improvements at Punahoolapa Marsh. g) Childcare, dedication of 0.5 acre of land.

3) There will be new Hotel Units - 2,500 and Resort Condo Units - 1,000; Two City Parks – Five-acre Park planned at Kawela Bay and a 33-acre park is planned for Kahuku Point;

Kawela Park 1 with 22 parking stalls and comfort station; and Kahuku Point Park will be developed with 30 parking stalls and comfort station; Shoreline Walkway; Public ocean access; Roadway Access; Approved landscape master plan; and Fazio Renovation

4) The Kuilima Resort Company has been working with the City to ensure that all conditions of approval are met in a timely manner. The City has been requiring updates to the approved wastewater, water and drainage master plans to reflect current Development Plans. A traffic impact analysis report update for the proposed Turtle Bay Resort Master Plan has been prepared in response to a City requirement.

5) The development of an employment center in the resort development would allow employee traffic to flow toward the resort rather than into town in the peak travel direction. Approximately 85% of the existing employees come from the Koolauloa/North Shore communities.

Entire proposal and the lengthy discussion that followed at the Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board meeting can be found at the following link:
June 14, 2006 Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board Meeting

Koolauloa Neighborhood Board requests supplemental environmental impact statement

The proposed expansion of Turtle Bay resort is a statewide issue. Various groups feel that a supplementary Environmental Impact Statement is in order since the original one is now 20 years old. Some of these are the Environmental Council, The Office of Environmental Quality Control, The Republican Party of Hawaii, The Democratic Party of Hawaii, the Hawaii State Legislature, The Chair of the City Council, North Shore Neighborhood Board, Kahalu’u Neighborhood Board, Ko’olauloa Hawaiian Civic Club, Keep the County County Inc., Defend Oahu Collation, Punulu’u Community Association, Hau’ula Community Association, Sunset Beach Community Association, and Laie Point Community Association. As a result, the committee proposes the following motion for Board consideration, “The Koolauloa Neighborhood Board urges the City and County of Honolulu to require a submittal of a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement prior to permitting any expansion of the Turtle Bay Resort.”

Board Discussion: Kathryn Heath commented that she supports the motion. Zenobia Iese added that the Hau’ula Community Association is against the expansion and therefore she supports the motion.

The motion passed 7-2-1(Aye: Letts, Elkington, Heath, Iese, Kahana, Macy, Mattoon, Les Steward. Nay: Hurlbut, Soh.

Koolauloa Neighborhood Board members: John Elkington, Kathryn Heath, Donald Hurlbut, Zenobia Iese, Barbara Kahana, Dee Dee Letts, Patrick Macy, Creighton Mattoon, Warren Soh, Les Steward.

Keep the North Shore Country releases bumper sticker campaign

In a more visual effort to voice the growing concern over announced plans by the Turtle Bay Resort for expansion, the Keep the North Shore Country organization has released a new bumper sticker campaign. You can get a FREE sticker by mail. See their website for details.

Turtle Bay developer seeks expansion partners

Honolulu Advertiser

Turtle Bay Resort developer Kuilima Resort Co. said yesterday it is looking for partners for its planned expansion of the resort on O'ahu's North Shore.

"Kuilima Resort Company is seeking development partners who will work with us to help unfold the community's vision for this crown jewel in Kahuku," the company said in a statement. "These partners will be subject to our design guidelines and to the commitments that we have made to the community."

Turtle Bay for sale, close to settling contract

The 880-acre Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore is for sale.

Oaktree Capital Management of Los Angeles has let it be known in investment circles that the oceanfront hotel and surrounding property is for sale or available for an equity partnership with a company that would develop the area.

More on the story at Pacific Business News

Another project coming to North Shore

It's not 3,500 hotel and condominium units at Turtle Bay Resort or exclusive beachfront homes on agriculture property in Kahuku, but a plan to create 26 house lots on a large family homestead near Waimea Bay is raising more community concerns over development on the North Shore.

Read the story in today's Honolulu Advertiser

Turtle Bay Resort up for sale

Pacific Business News

The Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore is for sale and several prominent entrepreneurs and companies are interested. Meanwhile, labor and management are close to settling a long-running contract dispute. Kristen Consillio and Prabha Natarajan have this exclusive story.

More info as it becomes available. Watch PBN Friday With Howard Dicus on KHET channel 10 to see the story tonight at 7:30pm. Repeat airing on Sunday at 3:00pm.

# PBN Friday With Howard Dicus, KHETOC Jun 23 07:30pm
# PBN Friday With Howard Dicus, KHETOC Jun 25 03:00pm

Community meetings to be forum for Turtle Bay Resort expansion proposal

Defend Oahu Coalition has posted some information about meetings that are involving the Turtle Bay Resort expansion. They include the following:

June 13 (Tuesday): Ka'a'awa Community Association Turtle Bay presentation of expansion project - 7:00 p.m.
Ka'a'awa School, 51-296 Kamehameha Highway

June 14 (Wednesday): Oahu Island Burial Council Meeting - Discussion regarding treatment of Burials at Proposed Turtle Bay Development Sites - 11:00 a.m.
Key Project, 47-200 Waihee Road - Kaneohe

June 14 (Wednesday): Environmental Council Meeting - Discussion Regarding Supplemental EIS -
2:00 p.m. State Capitol Room

June 14 (Wednesday): Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board - Turtle Bay presentation of expansion project - 7:00 p.m. Key Project, 47-200 Waihee Road - Kaneohe

June 19 (Monday): Defend Oahu Presentation to Wahiawa Neighborhood Board, 7:00 p.m. Wahiawa Recreation Center 1139 Kilani Ave.

June 24 (Saturday): Pride Parade Festival Informational Table - Kapiolani Park- Honolulu
Sign up for shifts from 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

July 4th (Tuesday): Kailua Chamber of Commerce 60th Annual 4th of July Parade - Kailua - Sign up to march from 10 a.m. - 12 noon

Ongoing Informational Meetings:
Honolulu:
Friday, June 15 @6pm, Cafe 2600, Puck's Alley, 2600 S. King St. #101, Honolulu, HI 96826
North Shore:
Friday, June 23 @7pm, Tim's House - Sunset Beach - Call 388-0660 for information

For more information and to sign up to volunteer, call 597-8397 or email us at savekawelabay@yahoo.com

Sierra Club Joins in the Lawsuit!

...The Sierra Club joins Keep the North Shore Country in its concerns that the Kawela Bay Project - - now being undertaken 20 years after the original EIS was completed - - will have significant impacts and cumulative effects related to increased visitor trips, increased peak and non-peak traffic, increased demands on water resources, wastewater capacity and infrastructure, sensitive wetland and endangered species habitats, and aesthetics values which were not present in 1985 and which have not been properly evaluated or considered by the County or KRC...

Visit Keep the North Shore Country for the whole story.

Brownouts argue against new building

Honolulu Advertiser

Can we handle more development given the electrical brownouts on O'ahu?

Oaktree Capital would like to build 3,500 hotel rooms and condominiums on the North Shore. This is great for jobs there, but the consequences of this development far outweigh the benefits.

Tourists and locals will be hot during the summer months because HECO is unable to handle the demands now. The rural character of the North Shore will be damaged. The traffic will be a big headache during the large-wave season and weekends.

In addition, Stanford Carr said there is a critical need for family housing in Hawai'i Kai — 200 to 500 million-dollar air-conditioned homes in Kamilo Nui Valley — and Paiko Ridge Partners would like to build and sell million-dollar air-conditioned homes on 338 acres above Niu Valley.

Hawaiian Electric cannot supply the electricity now and in the near future. We need to unite to save the livability of O'ahu and Hawai'i.

Pat Hong
Hawai'i Kai

Another resort plan on the North Shore

Pressure and attention is mounting on the Turtle Bay resort plans but just down the road another resort is quietly being planned. Though initially given media attention, this plan seems to have all but disappeared from the public's view. How or why would the Laie Hotel Redevelopment plan affect the Turtle Bay plans? That's the question.

Headed up by Hawaii Reserves Inc. (a private land management company owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), this plan has reportedly had the support of the majority of the Laie community, made mostly of church members. It also significantly increases the capacity of the current hotel accommodations. The Marriott company is a likely candidate to manage this property as it is ajoining and planned to theme in a like manner to the Polynesian Cultural Center, of which Mr. Marriott is on the board of directors.

As a Kaneohe resident who sees the bulk of PCC and tourist traffic headed to the North Shore, not to mention an out-of-control commuter traffic problem, any increase in traffic is going to be a problem. This is more far reaching than just the North Shore.

Keeping the Country, Country

Hawaii Business Magazine
By George R. Ariyoshi, Governor of Hawaii 1973-1986
The public announcement of the plan to build five hotels around Turtle Bay was accompanied by a commitment "to keeping the country, country."

The country’s last resort

As Turtle Bay Resort pursues expansion, the surrounding community already feels the impact

Honolulu Weekly
by Catharine Lo
Apr 26, 2006

In the early- to mid-1900s, life in Kahuku was simple but not easy. Workers spent long, hot days hauling cane from the fields. The regular hum of the sugar mill, the real and representative heart of town, marked the passage of time as surely as the sunrise. Trucks rattled, roosters crowed and dust settled on the modest furnishings in the breezy plantation homes. The community was the product of their collective work ethic: steadfast and tight. The sugar mill had a movie theater, shops and a clubhouse. At the end of the day, people gathered with family and friends. This was life in the country.

People should vote on Turtle Bay expansion

Honolulu Star Bulletin
May 27, 2006
I feel the Turtle Bay 5 hotel project should be decided at the polls. This is an island issue that affects all of Oahu and its people. We are dealing with some very serious issues here that could adversely effect the entire island. Be smart and do what's right for the people of Oahu, not rich developers from the cement jungle of the mainland who care only about filling their bank accounts.

Joseph Grassadonia
Editor in chief
OnFitness Magazine
Part-time Hawaii resident

Nothing means nothing to developers

Honolulu Star Bulletin
May 23, 2006
I learned something interesting from Corky's cartoon of May 21, in which protesters of North Shore development are asked if they live there, and they reply, "Nah, there's nothing there."
In other words, if the land is covered with condos, malls and freeways, then there would be "something" worthwhile. To the pro-development crowd, a natural area is "nothing."

Thanks, Corky, for the education, I always wondered what made developers tick, other than greed.

Pat Caldwell
Kailua

More development will ruin North Shore

Honolulu Star Bulletin
May 23, 2006
I write to voice my deep concern about the proposed development at Turtle Bay. Our island already has been overdeveloped. We need to preserve Oahu's few rural areas. Many visitors now prefer to go to the neighbor islands. Visitors to Oahu (and residents!) want to experience the natural beauty of our island, and the North Shore is one of the last unspoiled places. Not only would this massive development dramatically mar the landscape it also would endanger our wetlands and wildlife.
Some experts believe we already have exceeded the number of cars, sewage, power, etc. this island can sustain. Look around. Do we really need more hotels? Or do we need to preserve the small amount of remaining undeveloped areas?

This is an opportunity finally to do the right thing. Let's think about our grandchildren and the future of our precious island.

Patty Henshaw
Kailua

North Shore Turtle Bay expansion is out of character

Honolulu Advertiser
May 21, 2006
As a longtime North Shore resident, I remember well when Buddy Ako and his group of 50 or 60 pushed through the approvals for expansion of Turtle Bay in the mid-1980s. It was not clear then that his group and its dream represented the majority of North Shore residents. Today, it is clear that they do not.

The North Shore stretches roughly from Kahuku to Mokule'ia and encompasses a diverse population. But the heart of it is the surf and ocean recreation-oriented population that stretches from Hale'iwa to Sunset Beach. These are the people who will be most impacted by the negative side effects of a large resort expansion — increased traffic, rising housing costs, etc. And these are the people who have a very different dream for the future of the North Shore than Mr. Ako.

At every public forum on the issue, the overwhelming opposition to the massive resort expansion has been clear. It is not about keeping people out, it is about sustaining a character and lifestyle that draw visitors from around the world and attracted most of the current residents to live here.

Mr. Ako needs to listen to the broader community and accept the political process, even though that means rejection of his dream.

Jim Richardson
North Shore

Expansion follows pattern for owners

Honolulu Advertiser
Mar 8, 2006
The owners of the Turtle Bay Resort, who said yesterday they plan to develop five new hotels and as many as 1,000 new condominium units at the site, have a history of investing in distressed properties in Hawai'i. More info...

Turtle Bay Resort needs area support

Honolulu Advertiser
Mar 8, 2006
Local tourism executives say the key to success of expansion at the Turtle Bay Resort will be community support More info...

Promise of jobs doesn't sway everyone

Honolulu Advertiser
Mar 8, 2006
For many, reaction to Turtle Bay Resort's expansion plans comes down to two competing issues: the need for more jobs versus the fear of rampant development. More info...

Turtle Bay planning five hotels, 3,500 rooms

Honolulu Advertiser
By Will Hoover
Advertiser North Shore Writer
Developers of the Turtle Bay Resort yesterday outlined plans for five new hotels with 3,500 rooms and condominium units that would transform the area. More info...

Area residents debate Turtle Bay expansion

Posting several articles from the past few months from the local media concerning the Turtle Bay Resort expansion plans and the community response.

Friday, April 14, 2006
Honolulu Advertiser

HAU'ULA — About 200 people filled a school cafeteria last night to hear and discuss plans for a large-scale expansion of the Turtle Bay Resort, with the crowd appearing to be evenly split between supporters and opponents. More info...

Community at large against development

I am compelled to respond to the May 15 commentary, "Keeping it country can mean keep out."

Twenty years ago, the decision-making government agencies focused on the plantation workers and the unions and ignored the input of the community at large. The latter, in a survey conducted five years earlier by SMS Research, clearly supported the preservation of the rural nature and lifestyle of the Ko'olauloa area.

The communities of Hau'ula, Punalu'u and Ka'a'awa as well as Keep the Country Country Inc., a citizens group for sensible growth, presented arguments warning of negative social and cultural impacts of large resort development on the North Shore of O'ahu.

They also cautioned that such development would have serious effects on the two-lane Kamehameha Highway from Kahuku to Kahalu'u and Kahuku to Hale'iwa. They were concerned about impacts on the water supply, on the shoreline and on educational, health, police, fire and emergency services. They were concerned not only for Kahuku but for all the communities from Kahalu'u through the North Shore.

Today, the lifestyle of not only our "new friends and neighbors" but of our families in Ko'olauloa who go back many generations is being threatened. The monetary value placed on real estate is making it more difficult for our people to remain here.

Other developments on Maui, Hawai'i and Kaua'i have been displacing the people of those lands. These areas have new communities with replacement populations.

We should not let this happen in Ko'olauloa.

Creighton Ualani Mattoon Sr.
President, Punalu'u Community Association

'Keeping it country' can mean 'keep out'

Honolulu Advertiser
By Buddy Ako

As a long-time Kahuku resident who has lived my entire life in the area, I think I know something about the country.

Like my friends who have made our homes here for decades, I have seen good times and bad, shared joy and sadness with my neighbors and watched dreams grow and fade away.

My Kahuku neighbors and I had a dream in the 1980s. We dreamed that when Kahuku Sugar Mill closed and hundreds of jobs were lost, Kahuku's future would not be lost, too.

Dozens of us met each month from 1983 to 1986 on a Turtle Bay Resort expansion plan to sustain Kahuku as a place to live, work and play in the country. Fulfilling our dream would be a way to avoid moving to town to find a job.

To us, more hotel rooms meant more jobs —not just in housekeeping, but also in the front office, in restaurants and shops, at the golf course and on the beach. We made sure at least half the new rooms would be full-service units to ensure a certain level of job creation.

We didn't stop there. We guaranteed that the landowner and all future landowners would have to honor a unilateral agreement calling for more beach access than ever — public parks right on the ocean with parking and amenities, miles of trails along the entire 5-mile length of the beach and multiple beach access points.

The agreement guaranteed that new housing would be built at prices many of us in Kahuku could afford. We stipulated that any future developer would have to satisfy our concerns over water availability, sewage treatment, archaeological preservation, landscaping, traffic mitigation and preserving the country character of the project.

We celebrated when first the state Land Use Commission and then the City Council approved measures to allow the resort's expansion. Our group of 50 to 60 — residents from the region, community organizations, businesses and the developer — continued to meet monthly from 1986 to 1995 to keep our dream on track.

It wasn't easy. We all know what the 1990s were like for our entire state. Landowners came and went as the economy suffered, but our dream to eventually enjoy the promised benefits never went away. We nurtured our Kahuku dream through the tough times in that decade and again after 9/11.

Our dream has matured steadily over the past 20 years and today is closer to being realized than most people know. But now, some are telling us our 20-year dream is too old. People who've lived here for fewer years than the dream has been alive tell us we don't need that dream anymore, that our ideas are out of step with the times. I say they're wrong. I say our dream is more alive than ever, stronger than ever and more certain than ever to come true.

My newest neighbors may not like it, but we took steps in the 1980s to be sure our hopes could not be dashed by those with no memory of our hardships.

That was an ordinance the City Council approved in the 1980s. Landowners over the years have relied on it, have abided by its conditions and have invested tens of millions of dollars toward the goal of expanding and improving the resort.

You don't just decide one day that the ordinance our dream created is irrelevant. Like it our not, our Unilateral Agreement is binding and those who worked for years to sustain it are committed to helping everyone else understand that fact.

Kuilima Resort Co. has been making presentations throughout the North Shore about the plan that was approved by the community and city, but almost without exception, audiences rarely have heard what was said. To us, their demand to "keep the country country" sounds more like "now that we're here, keep everyone else out!"

I'd like these new friends and neighbors to know that it's our country, too. They need to know that people were dreaming about economic sustainability long before many of them even knew where our country was.

So I say to our old and new neighbors in a kindly way, let's proceed together. I firmly believe we can preserve what we all love about the country even as our kids and grandkids anticipate a future that allows them to live and work here, too.

Without the people who made Kahuku and the North Shore what it is, the country really wouldn't be worth keeping.

Buddy Ako, a lifelong resident of Hau'ula and Kahuku, is a board member of the Kahuku Community Association and the Elderly Kahuku Housing Foundation. He is a past president of Kahuku Hospital and is employed by Kuilima Resort Company. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.

Second suit filed against Turtle Bay

Honolulu Advertiser
A newly formed North Shore residents group and the Sierra Club's Hawai'i chapter filed suit yesterday - against the city and the company that is planning a major expansion of the Turtle Bay Resort - asking for a new environmental impact statement to add to one done 20 years ago. More info...

Oahu under seige: North Shore being threatened by development

Surfline
Pending official status, the arduous liberation of the Paumalu - Pupukea Bluffs parcel from offshore corporate owners was a monumental victory for the residents of Oahu and surfers from around the globe. All of us who have had the privilege of riding waves on the North Shore must take a step back and fully appreciate the true significance of this event. It took an enormous, concerted effort to prevail and kudos to all who contributed. However, by no means is the battle over.

More info at... Surfline

Tourism sets aside local population

Honolulu Star Bulletin
Cynthia Oi's column ("'Waimanalo Blues' heard all over Oahu," Under the Sun, May 10) should be mandatory reading for all of our elected representatives and all of those in the city and state planning and permitting offices.
Her summary of the Hawaii Tourism Authority survey showing that a "definite majority of residents think that the islands are being run for tourists at the expense of local people" fits to a "T" the current development embroglio here on the North Shore.

My wife and I recently met with some New Zealand friends who have many years in the hospitality business there, staying in Waikiki on their second trip in about 10 years, and listened to their valid complaint that there did not seem to be any bar or restaurant that catered to residents. It seems as though most businesses in Waikiki are devoted to wringing the last dollar from tourists. It seems as though with 7 million-plus visitors each year, it doesn't matter if they don't return.

Now that Waikiki has succumbed to the lure of the dollar, with Kapolei well on the way as a "destination resort" to the same fate, it is imperative that the brakes immediately be placed on all hotel and resort development proposed for the North Shore. The cry to "keep the country country" must be heeded.

Ross McGerty
Waialua

North Shore development: Keep the discussion on civil level

Honolulu Advertiser
After the recent heavy rains, anyone on a peaceful walk up to the falls in Waimea Valley on O'ahu (no more of those ghastly buses) could witness a spectacular cascade of crystal-clear water into the pool below.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is taking title to most of this ancient ahupua'a, with more than a little irony since a Hawaiian entity is having to purchase land that Hawaiians lived on and cultivated for generations.

The most recent North Shore brouhaha over the expansion at Turtle Bay is generating some, though not all, of the usual divisions among residents: comments about the rich fighting the super-rich, local vs. haole transplant, jobs vs. lifestyle, etc. The North Shore "gentrification" that has occurred resulted from a community in decline, primarily due to the closure of the Kahuku Sugar Mill in 1971.

What replaced it and transformed this community is the surfing lifestyle industry. This industry and the people who promoted it have produced the major economic revitalization of the area, centered in Hale'iwa.

The recreational and later professional surfers who moved here were rarely rich, but decidedly middle class and usually from a more urban area. I would argue that most of the evident gentrification of the area was created through sweat equity and community involvement.

When the Ke Ala Pupukea bike path was built, the North Shore Outdoor Circle, with an entirely volunteer force, worked tirelessly to landscape the entire length, an ongoing effort. Arguably, urban transplants are more aware of the consequences of growth that outstrips infrastructure and the concomitant loss of quality of life.

The North Shore has become a must-visit part of the O'ahu tourist industry. Surf contests, Waimea Bay and turtle viewing have all had an exponential impact on the public infrastructure. Few public improvements have been funded in the last few decades.

The city is considering approvals for the Turtle Bay Resort that would immediately permit 4,500 condo and hotel units to be built just five minutes from Sunset Beach. Because of the significant changes to the infrastructure, state statutes require that a supplemental environmental impact statement be produced.

This would allow the community to fairly evaluate the proposal and contribute to the decision-making using current data and disclosures.

Here at the end of the Ko'olau Mountains, our keiki are growing up with trade winds that have largely managed to blow racism out to sea. Each generation is more interracial than the last. Kupuna or keiki, Kahuku or Kaunala, we all have a voice. Let's respect each other. Those who attempt to marginalize people using outdated prejudices of any ilk only discredit themselves.

Ken Newfield
Pupukea

'Waimanalo Blues' heard all over Oahu

TO THE long string of land use conflicts in Hawaii, queue up the one coiling around the North Shore of Oahu.
There on the tip of the island, where the highway curves around the descending ridges of the Koolaus, the 500-room Turtle Bay resort could soon swell to a hotel-condo compound seven times its size.

Read more from Cynthia Oi, Honolulu Star Bulletin staff writer

Is Oahu's North Shore due for expansion?

Recently, there has been increased community efforts and interests due to an announcement made by the Turtle Bay Resorts' expansion proposals. Oaktree Capital Management, owner of Turtle Bay Resort, plans to go forward with a massive expansion plan (3,500+ rooms) that includes the placement of an additional hotel and development of the unspoiled expanse of neighboring Kawela Bay.

This is meant to be a forum for information, facts, news and opinions of North Shore residents, community members, organizations and government agencies. Be respectful of dissenting opinions, but also be clear and concise. We will remove any entries not conforming to a civil manner. Suggestions are welcomed and encouraged. Factual information, as always, will have greater weight for your position.

Mahalo.