City officials must stop outdated plan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...."