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Media & Events

This page contains Media and Event information pertaining to the potential development of the open space in Princeville, Kauai HI, by the private investment firm, Starwood Capital Group.

Meetings & Events

12/19/20 - Summary Notes from 12/17/20 PHCA Board Meeting
The PHCA survey results were presented showing a very large percentage of the 782 respondents supporting keeping existing open space (no glamping) that way. The Board noted they had received a letter from SDCA's attorney and had decided not to respond to any questions regarding "glamping" or the survey.
NOTES FROM PHCA BOARD MEETING – December 17, 2020

The following are our notes from the PHCA Board Meeting of December 17, 2020, documenting the December 4-11, 2020 key survey results and community comments. There were at least 127 participants for this Zoom meeting.

President Sam George stated that PHCA had received a letter from SDCA’s (Sunset Drive Community Association) attorney Teresa Tico a day earlier stating SDCA’s opposition to the glamping project. The letter noted the Board’s fiduciary duties and indicated that there is a potential of diverging interests between PHCA & SDCA if PHCA were to support the proposed glamping/resort expansion project. On the advice of PHCA counsel, Mr. George stated the PHCA Board would take no questions on the glamping project or the survey. No PHCA community questions/concerns on those topics were answered, but they are noted below. Mr. George did direct the community to ask any questions about the project to East West Partners, Mark Hall (mhall@eastwestpartners.com) and Will Little (wlittle@eastwestpartners.com).

The Survey results were presented by General Manager, Maylette Garces. There was a large response - 782 people responded out of over 2500 email deliveries. The results were presented as numbers & percentages only – nothing was said about any comments that were received and how or if they were taken into account in any way. It was apparent that:

  1. the Board got more responses than it anticipated; and
  2. over 94% of the respondents said “ZERO development on open space in Princeville is important, fairly important or very important”.
The responses were clearly in favor of NO development on the Makai Woods course, even if there was a guarantee to maintain Makai Ocean and Lakes as open space for 30 years. The Board will make the presentation available to PHCA owners via its www.princevillecommunity.com website.

Princeville residents expressed the following questions/concerns:

  • Is there a place where PHCA members can go to find ALL the relevant PUBLIC documents? Maylette said they would work on that as it presently does not exist on the PHCA website. SOSHui.org already has a number of these documents available in the “Documents” tab.
  • What was the composition of the survey results – single family, condo, etc.? PHCA would only be able to discern this manually, so that will be difficult to report.
  • There were concerns expressed about the zoning, the proposed development’s effect on zoning and density, and the potential depreciation of real estate values.
  • Concern was expressed by a couple of people as to the safety of homes. Since there is no barrier between the proposed project and the nearby homes, it would be very easy for guests to wander onto adjacent properties. Another safety issue is the potential of severe damage from flying tents and their contents blowing into nearby homes during high wind events. Based on the recent design offered by East West, it does not appear that the developers/designers have experienced a serious hurricane or other high wind/rain event. However, several of the participants were here through Hurricane Iniki in 1992 or its aftermath.
  • What about parking – the new drawings have no solution for that. And what’s the proposal for evacuating guests & tents in case of a tropical storm event? One of the attendees noted that there are currently no safety shelters on Kauai.
  • Several participants mentioned infrastructure concerns. What’s the adequacy of all the utilities – sewer, water, electrical, trash/garbage, TRAFFIC, PARKING for 50-100 more cars (guests and workers), and the strain of another 150+ guests in Princeville every day?
  • Who will pay for the use of Princeville roads and facilities, expanding them and the rest of the infrastructure as necessary to accommodate another 50 hotel/glamping units above and beyond the original master plan?
  • Given Kauai’s strict building requirements, how could SCG/EWP get through the Planning Department/Commission with the proposed glorified tents?
  • Will the added security and noise issues, plus the overall change in Princeville’s open environment result in a decrease in real estate values? One gentleman said it could actually be considered a “taking” of sorts.
  • What’s next in the process for PHCA Board?
“We are not answering any questions on that subject tonight. Thank you very much.” And with that, the meeting was effectively ended.

SOSHui.org will keep the website updated as more information is received.

Mahalo nui loa,
SOS Hui.

10/23/23 - Results and Thoughts on the 2023 PHCA Board Elections
The property owners of Princeville 1 voted for this year's 2 open positions on the PHCA Board of Directors. Find out who won and importantly where the source of the votes came from.
1/5/23 - Kaua‘i Mayor Derek Kawakami's inauguration speech held Dec 1, 2022.
"Gone are the days of parading around paradise to one and all. For those of us who are privileged enough to call this island home, we have a responsibility to care for it. And for those who wish to visit, there will be ground rules. Because here on Kauai, we take our shoes off at the door and we leave a light footprint."
3/31/22 - Summary of the 3/17/22 PHCA Board Meeting
J.D. Hansen chosen as new BoD member, Starwood Capital transplanting Kukui trees to 1Hotel entrance, Michael Cole's presentation regarding ongoing Hawaiian Village (Waimaumau park) alternatives.
12/7/21 - Mayor Kawakami signed Bill 2838 on Dec. 2, 2021 into law. Glamping is no more!
Mayor Kawakami signed Bill 2838 on December 2, 2021 resulting in Ordinance 1105 prohibiting Developed Campgrounds (ie. glamping) on Open & Ag lands across Kaua‘i. Read about the details behind Bill 2838.
12/1/21 - The Kaua‘i County Council unanimously passes Bill 2838.
Having passed Bill 2838, the next step is for Mayor Kawakami to sign it into law. Once in law, it will prohibit Developed Campgrounds (ie. glamping) on zoned Open Space across all of Kaua‘i. This stops glamping in Princeville. Click this event's title to play a short video of the actual vote and passage of Bill 2838.
12/1/21 - Starwood Capital Group is planning on withdrawing their glamping permits application.
We received news Tuesday morning that Starwood Capital Group is planning to withdraw their glamping permits application on the Open-Zoned land, on Princeville’s Makai Woods Golf Course holes 1-3.
11/21/21 - Summary of 11/19/21 PHCA BoD Mtg & BoD petition to be "Intervenors" at Starwood's 12/14 Commission Hearing
PHCA decided to petition the Planning Commission to be included as “Intervenors” in Starwood Capital Group’s application to build the Developed Campground (aka “glamping”) on the Makai Golf Course. There's also a link to the full "Notice of Public Hearing Before The Planning Commission" letter sent to property owners within 300 ft. of the proposed "glamping" site by Starwood’s lawyers, Belles Graham LLP.
11/14/21 - PHCA Annual Mtg summary, Bill 2838 progress & Starwood/Planning Dept update
Here is the summary of the Saturday, November 6th PHCA Annual Meeting – a quick update on the legal side of the glamping/resort expansion, news on Bill 2838, Starwood Capital Group’s latest submission to the Planning Department, and filing of a Petition to Intervene in the fight against this proposed glamping development.

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Published Articles (The Garden Island, CivilBeat.org, Etc.)
4/24/21 - Celebrating Mother Earth
Written by a Princeville resident celebrating Earth Day, 2021.

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Past emails sent to the SOS Hui News email list

Email Templates for quickly sending emails
11/29/21 - Email Template supporting the 12/1/21 County Council's passage of Bill 2838
The Kauai County Council will have its second and last reading of Bill 2830 on Wed. Dec 1st, 2021 and voting to move it forward for signature by the Mayor. This is a template you can use to submit your support of the Council's voting for passage of Bill 2838.
9/5/21 - Email Template for the 9/14/21 Planning Commission expressing your support for Bill 2822.
The Kauai Planning Commission will hear public testimony on the merits of proposed Bill 2822 on Tuesday 9/14/21. The SOS Hui fully supports the Bill as it better defines "Developed Campgrounds" and specifically states that they are NOT ALLOWED in Open or Residential zoned areas. If Bill 2822 passes into law, it will make "glamping" illegal on Open zoned lands, which includes the Makai Golf Course. We have created an email template you can use to email your comments to the Planning Commission and the County Council.
7/1/21 - Email Template to the County Planning Commission expressing your support for Bill 2822.
The Kauai Planning Commission will hear public testimony on the merits of proposed Bill 2822 on 7/13/21. The SOS Hui fully supports the Bill as it better defines "Developed Campgrounds" and specifically states that they are NOT ALLOWED in Open or Residential zoned areas. If Bill 2822 passes into law, it will make "glamping" illegal on Open zoned lands, which includes the Makai Golf Course. We have created an email template you can use to email your comments to the Planning Commission.
7/1/21 - Email Template to the PHCA Board of Directors requesting they support County Bill 2822.
Please fill out the short email template and send it (or create your own) requesting the PHCA BoD support County Bill 2822 at the 7/13/21 County Planning Commission public hearing where it will be discussed and open to public testimony.
6/13/21 - Email Template to the PHCA BoD before their 6/16/21 Execute Meeting.
We believe the PHCA Board of Directors is planning to vote soon on whether to support Starwood Capital Group’s plans to expand the 1 Hotel resort onto the Makai Woods golf course and elsewhere. We ask all concerned Princeville citizens (PV-1 and PV- 2) to contact them asking them to save all Open Space and oppose this development plan. Use this short email template or write your own email to send to the PHCA Board of Directors before their 6/16/21 Executive Meeting.

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Surveys
1/1/21 - Results from the Dec 2020 PHCA Homeowners' Survey.
View the responses to each of the survey's questions. It appears to this writer that those willing to take the time to fill out the survey (782) are very much opposed to losing existing open space in Princeville. The final tally of (782) respondents exceeded by almost double what PHCA President Sam George noted at the prior meeting as being statistically significant to be a valid response. Take a moment and review the details.


Tourism & County Council Information

Tourism on Kaua‘i
2/5/21 - The Kaua‘i Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP)
The DMAP is a community-based plan, divided into three, year-long phases. There are 9 high-level actions with 34 sub-actions in Phase 1. This report highlights the collective initiatives in Phase 1.
11/8/16 - Don’t Ignore The Latest Version of Kauai’s ‘Bible’
The island’s proposed new General Plan is required reading for anyone truly interested in the future of the place.
By Luke Evslin (Civil Beat)
10/7/16 - Time To Put The Brakes On Tourism
With an economy predicated on the unlimited growth of tourism, we will never be able to take the hard steps necessary for economic diversification.
By Luke Evslin (Civil Beat)
9/28/16 - Excessive Tourism Seems To Be A Taboo Topic
Just one person — and not who you might expect — seemed willing to address the issue at the World Conservation Congress.
By Luke Evslin (Civil Beat)

Nov. 2022 County Council Candidates
9/17/22 - Nov. 8, 2022 Elections Guide (Civil Beat)
Hawaii’s 2022 Nov. 8th elections are right around the corner. Honolulu's Civil Beat magazine put together an election guide to help with candidate positions and more. Click the Election Guide to review Kauai's County Council candidates and their responses to a set of questions posed by Civil Beat.