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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, May 14, 2003

Turtle Bay expansion backed

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Turtle Bay Resort has been granted preliminary approval for a permit to expand and improve its facilities as long as the owner facilitates public access to the shoreline.

Ann Kusao, representing Kuilima Resort Co., told the City Council Zoning Committee that the resort will provide 40 free parking stalls and public access to a shower, a restroom and the shoreline.

Council member Barbara Marshall asked that the resort also post signs to let people know the parking was open to the public. Several people testified that while the resort already provides 18 public parking spaces, there's nothing to indicate the lot is open to the public, particularly since cars must pass by entrance guards.

The committee unanimously passed the resolution that will allow the resort to continue on to the second phase of its $60 million renovation, but the measure will not be heard before the full council until July.

Council Zoning Chairman Charles Djou said he'll leave it off the council's June agenda to give the developer time to discuss it with the community. More than a dozen people, primarily members of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 5, testified against approving the permit unless the resort agreed to dedicate a public beach park in the area.

However, while dedicating a park would be a requirement under a unilateral agreement if the hotel was more than doubling its occupancy, the administration said the hotel would not be obligated to do so because it was adding only 57 lodging units to the 415 there.

The hotel's 260 employees have been working without a contract for more than a year.

Local 5 leader Eric Gill said resort owner Oaktree Capital Management LLC is improving the property it took over in December 2000 so it can be sold at a higher price. He said the owner should be compelled to give something back to the community.

The permit will allow Oaktree to continue with the second phase of the renovation. Improvements include a new ballroom, meeting rooms and office space, as well as upgrades to existing facilities.

O'ahu residents, including former Council Chairman John DeSoto, praised the improvements that have been made and supported the permit for further renovation. Expanding the banquet facilities would create more jobs and attract more business to the North Shore, they said.

Chiropractor and small-business owner Dr. Alan Tsutsui said that when he moved to the North Shore a year and a half ago, changes were taking place at Turtle Bay, but "a lot of the place was a dump and there was no way they were going to attract any large money to the North Shore. ..."

"Since I've been here, they've made some marvelous changes," he said, noting that the he has seen an increase in business as a result.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.