• Hawaii Department of Health representative on Kaua'i
• Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office
• Derek Kawakami - Kaua‘i Mayor
• Kaua‘i County Council
• Luke Evslin - Hawaii House of Representatives
• Nadine Nakamura - Hawaii House of Representatives
• Ron Kouchi - Hawai‘i State Senator
• Jill N. Tokuda - U.S House of Representatives representing Hawaii
• Brian Schatz - U.S. Senator from Hawai‘i
• Mazie Hirono - U.S. Senator from Hawai‘i
• others

November 18, 2024

Aloha,

On behalf of the 27 homeowners of the Sunset Drive Community Association, we are reaching out to express our strong opposition to the proposed development of the Woods Course in Princeville by Starwood Capital Group (SCG.) In their own public statements, SCG has announced they want to be “shovel ready” to begin construction on the Woods Course, starting March 1, 2026.

We voice two primary concerns regarding this development plan:

• Destruction of the zoned Open Space, as protected by the County approved Princeville 1 Master Plan.
• Release of anthrax that has been historically documented to be buried in multiple sites on the Woods Course.

If left undisturbed, anthrax remains in a dormant condition and poses no threat to public health. On the other hand, if spores are released during the proposed construction on the golf course, it obviously poses a significant risk of harm to the public, the businesses and ranchers of the North Shore, and the entire Hanalei Watershed.

We strongly object to relying on the results of recent soil samples to make informed decisions. SCG hired contractors to bore fifty-eight (58) six-inch wide holes on the Woods Course. This effort only tested one-tenth of one percent of the golf course land proposed for development.

Ground Penetrating Radar Scans also tested only a tiny fragment of the land. There has been no federal, state, or county oversight of this testing for anthrax (designated a Level 3 Bio-safety Hazardous Waste), no warning to local residents of this soil disturbance activity prior to drilling on the land, and no disclosure of possible anthrax presence to workers conducting the tests without appropriate protective gear.

Why would anyone dig up an anthrax graveyard and risk the release of deadly spores? We can only conclude the developer’s greed for investor profits outweighs their responsibility for public safety and the environment.

We urge you to oppose any development of the Woods Course in Princeville to both preserve the zoned Open Space and protect the Princeville community from the risk of releasing deadly anthrax spores which would have a significant impact on public health, the economy, the environment and the Hanalei Watershed.

Mahalo nui loa,

Board of Directors, Sunset Drive Community Association

An earlier version was sent to the Princeville at Hanalei Community Association (PHCA).

• Destruction of the zoned Open Space, as protected by Princeville’s Master Plan.
  
• Release of the documented presence of anthrax buried 4-6 feet below the Wood Course.

• If you are not a registered property owner, you can register at the PHCA Home Page. Scroll to where there are instructions on how to enroll.

• If you are a registered homeowner, first login to the PHCA Home Page then click the drop-down menu Resources which displays Members Only Documents as well as Public Documents.

• 1972 Dedication of Golf Course Property (May 1972, as amended 1980 & 1986)

• 1971 PHCA Protective Covenants Charter of Incorporation (eff 3/1/1971)

Bill 2822 unanimously passed first reading at the County Council meeting and has been referred to the Planning Commission. (County Planning Director Ka‘aina Hull was in attendance at the Council meeting and answered specific questions from the council members regarding the bill prior to the vote). It will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and there will be a public hearing. The bill will require a second reading at the County Council and then there will be a final vote. If passed, it will go to the Mayor for his signature. If Bill 2822 becomes law it will prohibit “Glamping” on the Makai Golf Course and all golf courses in Princeville.

View the County Council web site.
View the County Council Webcast Meetings & Agendas.

For example, page: 95: Sec. 8-9.4 Permits Required.

Draft update of CZO (Phase I) Chapter 8. (Archived PDF - 11/1/20)
This is particularly relevant to proposed Glamping project.

(sub-section of Kauai County Codes document which implements the Kauai General Plan)

• County of Kauai Building Permits Search
  
  Enter: Zone: 5, Section: 4, Plat: 006, Parcel: 003 -- for the tax parcel used for Glamping.
  Or try this approach: check_parcel-5-4-006-003
• Building Permit Quick Start Guide
• Providing testimony to the Land Use Commission
• Planning Department
  FYI: presenting testimony to the Commission:
  All persons may present testimony for or against any application as public witnesses. Such testimony should be made in writing and presented to the Department prior to the hearing. Late written testimony may be submitted up to seven days after the close of the hearing in cases where the Commission does not take action on the same day as the hearing. Any party may be represented by counsel if he or she so desires. Also, individuals may appear on their own behalf, a member of a partnership may represent the partnership, and an officer or authorized employee of a corporation or trust or association may represent the corporation, trust or association. Petitions for intervenor status must be submitted to the Commission and the applicant at least seven days prior to the date of the hearing advertised herein and shall be in conformance with Chapter 4 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Planning Commission. A copy of the proposal will be emailed to any interested person who requests a copy. Please submit your request to the Planning Department. (planningdepartment@kauai.gov)

View the full plan at Kaua‘i Kākou: Kaua‘i County General Plan.

• Click the Parcel Usage to highlight its position on the map.
• Click a Tax Parcel number to display parcel's County Tax information.

Makai Golf Course Tax Parcels on the County of Kauai Tax Website.

View the detail tax records for each of the parcels that came with the purchase of the Makai Golf Course, all 27 holes plus commercial zoned parcels.
Use the following information when performing a search on property sales:
- Neighorhood: 5463-7G
- Sales Date: 11/16/2018

• Tax overview of tax parcel used to justify Glamping.
• Woods Golf links 1-3, Ocean 1, 9 & driving range – tax parcel: 5-4-006-003-0000 – 51.955 acres.
• Taxable value: $2,597,800 (eff: Sep'20)
• Tax info for Makai Woods 1-3, Ocean 1,9, driving range. 51.955 acres.
  
  Click image to expand.