EIS planned for reimagined Kaanapali resort

The Maui News

An environmental impact statement preparation notice has been prepared for a project to reconfigure Kaanapali Golf Course properties owned by the State of Hawaii Employees Retirement System.

Kaanapali was developed as Hawaii's first master-planned community.

"Individual properties within Kaanapali have undergone upgrades over the years to maintain their respective market competitiveness relative to other resort destinations on Maui," a project summary says. "Recent examples include the construction of Hyatt's Residence Club and Marriott's Maui Ocean Club time-share towers, and the ongoing upgrades to the Whalers Village shopping complex, which anchors the commercial core of Kaanapali."

The project's goal is to address underused Kaanapali resort golf facilities that have been in operation since the 1960s, according to an announcement.

"Since that time, trends in visitor needs relative to recreational priorities have shifted, with growing diversity of island activities being offered," the summary says. "This shift, combined with national trends, has reduced golf play at the resort, which now creates opportunities for revitalization."

Plans call for "modernizing golf holes and repurposing portions of the golf course properties as a revitalized, updated multi-use resort area to accommodate changing visitor preferences."

Now, the property includes two 18-hole championship golf courses. Developers want to create a 27-hole championship course and a nine-hole, par-3 course.

Other plans include constructing a 136-room boutique hotel; adding 80,000 square feet of retail space; developing 56 oceanfront condominiums on 6.1 acres and 100 to 200 multifamily ocean-view residences on 11.1 acres; building a new beach club and public signature restaurant; and upgrading golf holes and a lagoon. The total project area is 164 acres, or more than half of the total 305-acre property that includes some beachfront property near Black Rock.

The state pension system acquired the property through a foreclosure.

The project would build 50 affordable homes under the county's workforce housing requirements.

The development will need an amendment to the West Maui Community Plan land use map and a change of zoning.

Construction is scheduled between 2020 and 2025. The developer is Lowe Enterprises Investors of Los Angeles. It has been retained by the 119,000-member state pension system to manage its Kaanapali properties, according to a project summary.

A public information meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the West Maui Senior Center in Lahaina.

An environmental preparation notice is set for publication this month in the state Office of Environmental Quality Control's "Environmental Notice." Planning consultant Munekiyo & Hiraga prepared the notice.

Comments received during the meeting will be considered in preparation of the project's draft environmental impact statement.

The senior center is at 788 Pauoa St., Suite 103.