Supreme Court affirms ruling for a new EIS for Turtle Bay Resort

The state Supreme Court has affirmed an earlier ruling saying the owners of Turtle Bay Resort must complete a new environmental study if they want to build thousands more hotel rooms on Oahu’s North Shore.

Four justices ruled Tuesday against reconsidering the earlier decision. Justice Simeon Acoba dissented.

In the court’s original April ruling, Chief Justice Ronald Moon said circumstances have changed since 1985 when the resort’s previous owners prepared an environmental impact statement to expand the development.

Moon said allowing an outdated environmental study to remain valid forever would undermine the law’s purpose.

Turtle Bay Resort has one hotel with 500 rooms. The expansion plan would add 3,500 rooms at several new hotels.