Meetings & Events
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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.)
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1/2/23 - Rising rents were a crisis for tenants. For Starwood, they were a gift.
By Peter Whoriskey (Washington Post)
12/1/21 - Controversial Princeville glamping proposal withdrawn
By Sabrina Bodon (The Garden Island)
11/30/21 - Starwood Hits Brakes On Controversial Kauai Glamping Resort
By Brittany Lyte (CivilBeat.org)
11/4/21 - Residents seek passage of zoning bill to halt glamping development.
By Sabrina Bodon (The Garden Island)
9/14/21 - Controversial Kauai Glamping Resort Hits Stumbling Block
By Brittany Lyte (CivilBeat.org)
7/14/21 - Commission defers glamping bill
By Sabrina Bodon (The Garden Island) Archived PDF
6/13/21 - Residents protest glamping idea at public meeting
By Sabrina Bodon (The Garden Island) Archived PDF
4/24/21 - Celebrating Mother Earth
Written by a Princeville resident celebrating Earth Day, 2021.
4/12/21 - Bill seeks to clarify allowed campgrounds. (Bill 2822)
By Sabrina Bodon (The Garden Island) Archived PDF
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Past emails sent to the SOS Hui News email list
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6/9/21 - Starwood Capital's Thur 6/10 Presentation & May 1st Proposal response
Aloha, Princeville Community –
On May 1, 2021, Starwood Capital Group (SCG) responded to a December 17, 2020 proposal sent by Sam George on behalf of the PCHA Board of Directors. SCG is asking PHCA to support the following 3 projects:
- glamping/resort expansion on the Makai Woods Holes 1-3,
- a 2-story, 400-space parking garage on the lowest level of the Makai Club parking, total parking spots approximately 537, and
- another 2-story, 200-space parking garage and either 6 private homes or up to 24 apt/hotel units on current hotel parking lot on the bluff just west of Pu’u Poa. SCG has submitted a Draft plan to the Kauai Planning Department – it has not been accepted by Planning, but it is interesting to note that neither of the last 2 items above is mentioned in the Draft. WHY NOT?
But SCG wants PHCA’s support for all three projects. And it wants to get a final Plan filed with the Planning Department before passage of Bill 2822, which would prevent the glamping development on the Woods.
In exchange for PHCA’s support, SCG has proposed 10 offers for homeowners, delineated below. We believe none of these has any real value to the Princeville Community, especially when compared with the loss of the irrecoverable green/open space.
Come to SCG’s presentation Thursday, 3-5pm at the Makai Club, and voice your objections to their plans for glamping/resort expansion on the Makai Woods.
| SCG’s OFFER | IN REALITY |
| 1. a. Provide a deed restriction on the Woods 4-9 IN PERPETUITY b. SCG implied any money-making effort is “in support of golf” if it pays for the other 18 holes. |
“In Perpetuity” is not a legal construct in HI law for this type of property. b. SO, would a brothel also be a viable business “in support of golf”? |
| 2. Provide a deed restriction on Woods 1-3 IN PERPETUITY. |
Again, “In Perpetuity” is not a legal construct in HI law for this type of property. |
| 3. One-time contribution of $150,000 to extend Shared Use Path. | This is a trivial amount and would hardly cover a fraction of the costs to do this. |
| 4. a. Quiet hours from 10pm to 6am. b. No televisions or speakers in units. |
a. PV currently has weekday work restricted to 7am – 7pm. b. Most devices can stream TV’s and music – how will those be controlled? |
| 5. Fire-related features will be natural gas or LPG. Did anyone tell SCG … there IS no natural gas on the island? |
Options are 50 individual LPG tanks or new piping from 1 giant tank. And fire dangers expand if firepits are used for cooking. |
| 6. Food, beverages, retail, spa amenities, food trucks & luau space – on Lots 5 & 6 or at 1 Hotel location. | Food trucks and luau space? More noise and smells will blanket our neighborhood. |
| 7. To be or not to be – a member of PHCA – or to only partake of the benefits without complying with any of the rules. | Can SCG pay dues, gain full benefits and increased voting rights without complying with the CC&Rs? PHCA’s CC&Rs say no camping. |
| 8. Some number of “fitness memberships” for sale via lottery at Makai Course or 1 Hotel Hanalei. |
How much? For what? The current 300 sq ft fitness area with 5 machines at the Makai Club? Can’t Westin guests use the lap pool? Are memberships useable at 1 Hotel? |
| 9. 24 parking spaces (of 200) allocated to the local community in the new parking garage on the bluff. |
No DRAFT Plan mention of parking garage or up to 6 homes or 24 apt/hotel units submitted to the Planning Dept (not accepted – just step 1 – SCG must come back with a final application). |
| 10.a. SCG agrees to negotiate in good faith*on a potential sale of a portion of Lot 7. b. SCG also agrees to negotiate in goodfaith* for an easement or sale over TMK 5-4-005-022 to provide pedestrian access from Wyllie Road to Anini Beach. *”Negotiate in good faith” is not a known term to any developer. |
Something’s wrong. Is it Holes 1-3 or 4-9? PHCA – please consider purchasing and saving THE WOODS COURSE!! b. Don’t we already have this access? Where did this PHCA “wish” come from? |
| 11. SCG is also asking PHCA to “approve” a 400-space parking garage on lowest level of current Makai Club parking lot. Total 537? | No DRAFT Plan mention of this Parking Garage either – only that they will re-stripe existing parking lot. Total 326. |
This proposal has NO benefit to citizens of this lovely community.
These are empty offers.
For more information regarding Starwood Capital, Open Space in Princeville, Glamping and the history of this resort expansion effort, please visit our informational website, SOSHui.org. You can also view our prior emails.
Mahalo for your continuing support.
SOSHui.org
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Email Templates for quickly sending emails
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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
6/23/22 - Making progress in Kaua‘i Destination Management Action Plan goals
By Scott Yunker (The Garden Island)
10/15/21 - Can Farm Tours, Bird-Watchers and Storytellers Save Hawaii Tourism? (“regenerative tourism”)
By Stewart Yerton (CivilBeat.org)
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.
10/23/20 - Destination Management Plan Committee meet virtually with residents
By Stephanie Shinno (The Garden Island)
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)
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)
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)
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.