Updated at 7:26 p.m., Saturday, March 17, 2007
Rally protests Turtle Bay Resort expansion
Advertiser Staff
About 150 people turned out for a rally today to protest a planned expansion of the Turtle Bay Resort.Attendees marched from the entrance of the resort to the beach, where they held signs and chanted. The protesters say the expansion of the resort would disturb Native Hawaiian burial grounds and overwhelm existing infrastructure, including roads and sewers.
"They need to really look at what the impact of this will be. We are all concerned," said Vicky Holt-Takamine, president of the 'Ilio'ulaokalani Coalition.
Turtle Bay is moving forward with the planned expansion, which is expected to add four hotels and a condominium to the resort, for a maximum of 3,500 units.
The resort now has one hotel with about 500 units.
The plan is based on a 1986 agreement reached with the city and state.
Protesters say so much has changed on the North Shore over the last 20 years that the expansion should require an environmental impact statement.
