BREAKING NEWS!

Posted 3/11/2024

Aloha,

Here is a copy of the Court Order issued today granting a stay against any further construction on the Meridian Pacific development in Poipu on Kiahuna Plantation Drive. The Order is short and the Judge details the four reasons for his order, an interesting read. A real win for the south shore. Gratefully received on behalf of FOM, all its members and supporters. Your donations are much appreciated. They enable us to hire lawyers that are getting positive results for Kauai and the south shore!

Mahalo nui loa,

Bridget Hammerquist, President
Friends of Maha`ulepu, a 501(c)(3)
Kia`i Wai o Wai`ale`ale, Co-founder
PO Box 1654
Koloa, HI 96756
Donate
friendsofmahaulepu.org
friendsofmahaulepu@hawaiiantel.net
(808) 742-1037 home
(808) 346-1973 cell

Posted 3/11/2024

Aloha,

It’s hard to believe but our Planning Director appears to have not spent much time, if any, reading our Petition to Revoke the Coco Palms development permits. It is almost 32 years since Coco Palms was destroyed by hurricane Iniki. Developer after developer has assured the County that they have the where with all and plans to rebuild and restore Coco Palms to “its former glory”. In reality, as the photographs in the following agenda packet demonstrate on page 1410 and thereafter, the Coco Palms was not in very good shape prior to the hurricane. An influx a high water table required 24-7 pumping of the parking garage. The pumped water that accumulated in the parking garage with its grease, oil and rubber was pumped into a drainage canal behind the hotel that drained to the Wailua River and out to the ocean. Pre 1992, there did not seem to be much concern for the contamination caused to the Wailua beach and its ocean waters.

The latest in a long string of developers took over after Chad Waters and Tyler Green, operating Coco Palms Hui, LLC, were foreclosed on by Reef Capital in 2019. They failed to meet or satisfy the County conditions of their March 15, 2015 permit letter. In 2016 and again in 2018, the County Planning Director filed Petitions to Revoke their permits. On each occasion, however, their lawyers begged for more time and asked for modification of the 2015 permit conditions which were granted in December 2018 with the issuance of a new Coco Palms development permit dated December 31, 2018. Here is a side by side comparison of the 7 page permit letters which enable anyone to compare and see that the conditions which they did not satisfy in 2015 were softened for them and some even removed from the conditions of the 2018 permit. What we learned, and what’s really critical, is that neither permit (2015 or 2018) should have been issued because the applicant has never legally qualified to develop the former Coco Palms site. Specifically, the County code requires that the before any development permit can be issued involving a special management area (SMA)  permits, where state land is to be used in the development, the applicant must have a lease for those state lands for at least 5 years prior to the time of their application.

There is no dispute that the current and former Coco Palms developers intend for the hotel to use the 14.8 acre coconut grove, a ceded Crown land parcel controlled by the State of Hawaii. The current developer intends to use 3 State parcels under revocable permits that have only had a one year permit for their year to year use. The current developers do not hold the permits and they do not currently have any right to the coconut grove leased lands.

When is enough enough? Please send your testimony ASAP to the planningdepartment@kauai.gov To be timely, the testimony is suppose to be offered by 9:00 am Monday morning March 11, 2024. Unfortunately, even if you are able to offer written testimony, anytime Monday or prior to the start of the meeting Tuesday, we have found that it is not read by the Planning Commission.

If you can, please attend this Tuesday Kauai Planning Commission Meeting which will address the issue of whether or not to revoke the Coco Palms permits. Planning Meeting starts at 9:00 am and will be held in room 2A-2B at 4444 Rice Street, Lihue, HI. The Coco Palms agenda items H2 and H3 will follow other agenda matters and likely not start until 9:30 am. If you can get their at 9:00 am, great but if not you should be safe if you arrive at 9:30 am.

Mahalo nui loa,

Bridget Hammerquist, President
Friends of Maha`ulepu, a 501(c)(3)
Kia`i Wai o Wai`ale`ale, Co-founder
PO Box 1654
Koloa, HI 96756
Donate
friendsofmahaulepu.org
friendsofmahaulepu@hawaiiantel.net
(808) 742-1037 home
(808) 346-1973 cell

Posted 3/6/2024

Aloha,

FOM and Save Koloa have been trying, with great difficulty, to save the south shore from increased run off that is certain to occur once Pinkston’s 28 acre parcel on Kiahuna Plantation Drive is covered with structures, roads and rooftops, eliminating this 28 acres of vegetation that receives run off through three large drainage culverts from Wainani subdivision, the golf course and the golf village. The golf course is watered almost daily creating water run off that previously was managed by the undeveloped Pinkston parcel, which also has a large drainage culvert on its southeast end, carrying the excess water under Kiahuna Plantation Drive and down the natural swail that runs adjacent to Hapa Trail. During heavy rains the run off already over topped the swail and runs onto Hapa Trail. Ultimately, the water reaches the mauka side of Poipu Road which slopes toward the registered historic archaeologic preserve, Kaneiolouma. Currently, when we have heavy rain, the drainage is a problem at Poipu and Aqua engineers have to come pump/extract the water from the Waiohai parking lot. The Sheraton sump, the other low point on the south shore, also has to pump now whenever there is a heavy rain. Once the Pinkston parcel is covered in concrete with its 280 unit development, no one disputes the run off will be significantly increased.

A Declaration from Matt Rosener was filed with the Planning Commission December 12, 2023….

Read More News!



Aloha!

Humpback whales are often seen breaching off the shores of Maha’ulepu during the winter months.

Friends of Maha’ulepu is comprised of a group of concerned citizens (local and beyond) who are contributing their time and talents to protect the natural beauty of this pristine coastal valley.

Maha’ulepu Beach is located on the South Shore of the Island of Kaua’i in the Hawaiian Islands, approximately 3 1/2 miles northeast of the town of Poi’pu.  Poi’pu is one of the major visitor destinations on the island due to it’s beautiful beaches, swimming, snorkeling and surfing, sea turtles, whales, monk seals, trade winds, palm trees, and spectacular sunsets. Learn more about Friends of Maha’ulepu and the work we are doing!


Maui wildfires timeline of failed communications