Aloha,

 

This newsletter brings what I would call a lot of “hard news…..”  The Honolulu Star Bulletin reported on Sep. 19th that “the owners of Kauai’s historic Coco Palms Resort this week listed the property for sale.”  “Our company is extremely busy doing things on the East Coast, said Walter Petrie, a principal in Coco Palms Ventures.” “We’ve decided it’s too far logistically for us to handle this. He added, however, that the recent slowdown in the resort residential market, stemming from the national collapse of the subprime lending market, played a part in the decision to shelve the project.”

 

This news was devastating for the many who worked so hard to bring this historic property back to life.  Its future is uncertain and some are wondering if Coco Palms will ever be restored back to the days of splendor.  On the positive side, demolition and building permits are all that are needed to begin construction. Coco Palms Ventures has spent millions of dollars over the past two years in planning and design work, building a sales office and securing state building approvals.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with this property, it is located at the Southern end of Kapaa, at the intersection of Kuamo’o Road and the Highway.  Kuamo’o is the road that takes you to the scenic view of Opaeka’a falls.

 

The bitter battle between Kauai and the Super Ferry continues.  I’ve lost track of exactly who is filing a suit or injunction against whom, but I do know that the fight continues.  According to the Garden Island newspaper, Attorney Dan Hempey, is taking his argument to the State’s Supreme Court.  As of right now, the Super Ferry is not coming to Kauai or Maui pending legal decisions.

 

In Saturday’s paper it was reported that on Friday the Bureau of Land and Natural Resources in Honolulu voted unanimously to revoke Kilauea Irrigation Company’s 22 year old permit for a water transportation system within the Kaloko ditch and right of way and Pu’u Ka Eke Stream.  This decision puts more than 20 Kilauea farmers and other residents who depends on the efficient and affordable water supply form the privately owned Kaloko reservoir in dire straights.  

 

The reason for the revocation is the failure of thee Kilauea Irrigation Company to obtain liability insurance, something the owner, Tom Hitch has been trying to resolve since January 07.  You may recall that it was the Koloko Dam breech last year that resulted in several deaths, making liability insurance now unaffordable.  Kauai County set aside $75K for an engineering study of Kaloko and the irrigation system, but the Board’s decision could make it a moot point. 

 

Suggestions to use wells or county water are not feasible because they are much more costly and less efficient.  It will be tragic if these farmers are put out of business due to the prior tragedy that has made the liability insurance so expensive. 

 

To end on a more positive note, the Kauai Economic Development Board has been awarded a federal grant of nearly $1.1M for a building renovation project that will help spur high tech training and job development on the Island according to the Sep 22 Garden Island newspaper.  The grant is for the renovation of a building to house the Waimea Technology and Training Center which will not only bring opportunities for employment in defense research and agricultural research industries, it will also offer training to young adults preparing to enter the workforce.

 

To read any of these articles in full, log on to www.kauaiworld.com for The Garden Island or go to www.starbulletin.com for the Honolulu Star Bulletin. Strangely enough, the Oahu papers, The Star Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser, often have better coverage of Island news events than the local paper.

 

On to your update!

 

Aloha Elaine