Posted: Thursday, Nov 22, 2007 - 11:11:00 pm HST

‘Money is talking’ on South Shore
Some residents resist rapid development

by Nathan Eagle - THE GARDEN ISLAND

PO‘IPU — Po‘ipu resident Andy Siegel rises early most mornings to jog along Kaua‘i’s world-famous South Shore.

On an average run last week, the avid surfer stooped to pick up pieces of litter near a pair of sunbathers at Brennecke’s Beach.

He apologized to the two island visitors for the less than pristine coastline before ambling on across sandy strips fronting Po‘ipu Beach Park, Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort, Prince Kuhio condos, Lawai Beach Resort and Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort.

“Cigarette, cigarette, bottle cap, cigarette, cigarette, plastic bag, cigarette, soda can ...” Siegel said as he walked and talked, pointing to trash tucked along seawalls, scattered among flora and strewn across walkways to nearby parking lots.

Neighboring community members have rallied in recent months to halt sprawling development on hundreds of acres and several individuals recently formed an online coalition to track progress at

PoipuStory.org.

At least 10 simultaneous projects stir up the area’s characteristic red dust despite efforts by developers to keep it wet and shield neighbors with 10-foot tall black tarps around construction zones.

Detour signs dot the roads and traffic plagues commuters. But the building of hundreds of multi-million dollar homes and accommodations for visitors continues.

“What do we do as concerned citizens?” Siegel said.

The county Planning Commission last month approved an expansion timeshare project for the Sheraton that will consist of 382 one-, two- and three-bedroom condo units and 948 parking stalls.

Of the existing 413 rooms within the hotel, 227 hotel rooms and all other existing improvements within the Garden Wing parcel will be demolished, the permit request states.

The proposed development will also include a new access road with a public sidewalk and bikeway, and the undergrounding of existing overhead utility lines along the mauka side of Hoonani Road east of Kapili Road.

An analysis of months of testimony that started July 10 indicates the vast majority opposed the project for various reasons, county records show.

Residents said they fear the impact on cultural sites, outdated infrastructure, drainage and the area’s fragile coastal ecosystems.

They called for at least an environmental assessment prior to approving the project, but their request was denied after county Planning Department staff found no trigger for the study.

Tessie Kinnaman, of Kalaheo, worked throughout the proposed Sheraton expansion to show commissioners that cement slabs in the ocean encroaching on the shoreline near the hotel and likely secondary impacts from the construction and additional population warranted an environmental assessment.

State Transportation Department Director Barry Fukunaga in a May 18 letter urged the county to consider the overall traffic impact of the proposed Sheraton expansion in conjunction with the other ongoing development projects.

“It is important for regulating transportation purposes that the full cumulative effect from all of the existing, upcoming and future development projects in Po‘ipu be determined and addressed rather than examining each development project on a piece-meal basis,” he says.

The director recommended the county have Po‘ipu developers contribute to the local highway transportation improvements “ahead of, but no later than parallel with issuance of construction approvals for each increment.”

Planning Department Director Ian Costa did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

The Special Management Area use permit agreement requires the developer, SVO Pacific, to finish construction within five years, develop a Hawaiian cultural program, follow the Dust Hui protocol and produce a blasting plan among other restrictions.

“The proposed Sheraton Kaua‘i expansion project ... will not have any substantial adverse environmental or ecological effect,” the Planning Department states in its Oct. 10 approval recommendation letter to the commissioners.

Any effect that may result, the letter continues, will be “minimized to the extent practicable” and is “clearly outweighed by public health, safety and welfare.”

“We don’t need 1,000 more people a day on this beach until they take care of this first,” Siegel said, referring to overdue roadwork and other maintenance.

Siegel filled two trash bags with litter he picked up during one of his morning shoreline runs and hauled it into a Planning Commission meeting in August to demonstrate his point that more people will equal more damage to the beaches resorts sell to attract visitors.

An Aug. 31 letter to the Planning Commission from South Shore residents Peter and Linda Baldwin said they were offended “by the individual who brought in the bags of trash.”

“My guess is 95 percent of that trash is from residents of the island and not the tourists,” the letter states. “Po‘ipu has been designated for tourism. Protect the rest of the island, make it hard to rezone ag land, but don’t penalize the people playing under the rules.”

The problem for some local residents, such as Rupert Rowe and Billy Kaoheleulii, is the process being an unfair game.

Rowe acknowledged the public’s ability to submit testimony on pending permits, but questioned the extent those voices are heard.

He maintains a particular concern in preserving sacred Hawaiian sites.

South Shore developments are rising up around Kaneiolouma Heiau, the state’s largest intact cultural site, and encroaching Heiau at Kiahuna, a PoipuStory.org map shows.

“How does a race protect its future?” Rowe said. “This is not the way to live in paradise.”

An online video tour of Kaneiolouma Heiau reveals artifacts at the ancient center of all South Shore activities, he added.

“Money is talking,” regular island visitor Emily vanHouten said. “Everything is happening too fast.”

• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neaglekauaipubco.com">neaglekauaipubco.com.