Haleiwa hotel is pitched for city land

A conceptual plan to develop a boutique hotel and private park on preservation land in Haleiwa is stirring up opposition from a group of North Shore residents.

D.G. "Andy" Anderson, restaurateur and former state legislator, will present his proposal for building an 80-room boutique hotel to include cottages and a park on six city-owned parcels Tuesday at the North Shore Neighborhood Board meeting. The 7 p.m. meeting will be held at the John Kalili Surf Center, Haleiwa Alii Beach Park.

In May, Anderson expressed his interest in purchasing a parcel of city land located next to Jameson’s by the Sea Restaurant. Last month he acquired the land on which the restaurant sits. The parcel, however, is not large enough for the proposed hotel.

Anderson wants to extend into an adjacent parcel, but the city is not interested in selling a single parcel. It is, however, preparing to offer six parcels as a whole for sale to abutting property owners.

The city acquired the parcels in the late 1960s from Bishop Estate, Market Center Ltd./Island Federal Savings & Loan Association of Honolulu and other private landowners to expand Haleiwa Regional Park on the mauka side of Kamehameha Highway. Plans included a golf course, ball fields and camping-picnic areas.

But the expansion did not occur for various unknown reasons, according to a city spokesman. The city has no current plans to develop or use the parcels.

Anderson would like to replicate the historic Haleiwa Hotel, which was built in 1899. The hotel was owned by Bishop Estate and was a popular spot for visitors and locals, but it fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1952.

Anderson envisions a boutique hotel reminiscent of the Haleiwa Hotel on the mauka side of Kamehameha Highway. "It’s the only site remaining along that stretch that this hotel can sit gracefully," he said.

The city-owned parcels, zoned as preservation land, have remained undeveloped for 42 years. Any zoning changes require approval by the City Council.

The Jameson’s site is zoned as land designated for neighborhood businesses. Anderson plans to relocate Jameson’s inside the hotel.

The plan is a "win-win," he said, as the hotel would generate 110 jobs and property taxes. "It becomes a meaningful contribution to the economy."

Construction for the proposed hotel is estimated to cost $20 million. Anderson is also proposing to develop a "private public park" on almost two acres of land for open markets, luau and private weddings. "The community will get a park and use it however they want to," he said.

For the project, the city is requiring Anderson to install at least 25 to 30 parking stalls, a crosswalk, street lighting and a walkway totaling an estimated $800,000. Construction of a waste-water system and underground utility lines are estimated to cost $1.65 million.

The entire project, Anderson noted, is still in the conceptual stage.

But the newly formed Save Haleiwa Beach Park Coalition opposes the sale of the land. "We just don’t want this to happen," said Peter Cole, who formed the coalition. It includes area residents and groups such as Hui o Hee Nalu, Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter, the Sunset Beach Community Association, Waialua Hawaiian Civic Club, Sierra Club Oahu Chapter, the Friends of Kukaniloko and Hawaii’s Thousands Friends.

"Given the scarcity of beach-front land and high prices, it will be extremely challenging for the City and County to purchase additional beach parks along this highly utilized coastline. Why would we sell one the public already has and has invested in?" Cole said in a news release.

The proposed hotel "is on Kamehameha Highway where traffic is already grid-locked and access to the beach and parks continue to be a major concern on the North Shore," he added.