Union sues over Turtle Bay plan
The union that represents Turtle Bay Resort’s hotel workers is suing the city over its approval of the resort’s expansion plan.
Unite Here! Local 5 filed a lawsuit in state court Friday against the city Department of Permitting and Planning and Turtle Bay Resort. The lawsuit is similar to one filed earlier this month by Keep the North Shore Country.
Both seek to force the city to reject the expansion plan’s supplemental environmental impact statement that the planning department had accepted in October and require the resort owners to submit a new SEIS.
City spokesman Jesse Broder Van Dyke said he cannot comment on the pending lawsuit, and no representatives from the resort were available.
The Turtle Bay Resort plan calls for the construction of 625 new hotel or time-share units, 750 homes, beach access and a new public park.
The resort owners were forced to submit a new EIS after the Hawaii Supreme Court rejected the one the city approved in 1985 for a larger expansion that was never built.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Tobacco buyers now must be 21
KAILUA-KONA » Hawaii island Mayor Billy Kenoi has signed a bill making it the only county in the state to ban tobacco sales to people younger than 21.
The measure raising the minimum age from 18 was signed into law Thursday and goes into effect July 1.
“This is really a very important piece of legislation because it speaks to our health, it speaks to quality of life of our children and it speaks to our priorities,” Kenoi said.
The measure penalizes retail stores for selling tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars and electronic cigarettes to underage customers, West Hawaii Today reported.
Violations can result in a $500 fine for the first offense and up to $2,000 for subsequent offenses.
The bill contains a grandfather clause that allows those who are 18 before the law goes into effect to keep purchasing tobacco products, the mayor’s office said.
The Hawaii County Council unanimously approved the bill in November.
Kauai parade to close roads
Kauai police will close roads for the Waimea Lighted Christmas Parade, starting at 5 p.m. today.
The parade will begin at 6 p.m. at Waimea Canyon Park and head down Kaumualii Highway to Alawai Road, turn onto Waimea Road and end at Hofgaard Park. No parking is allowed along the parade route.
Motorists should allow additional time for travel as traffic delays are expected.
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Star-Advertiser staff and Associated Press
