New resort, golf course are planned for Makaha Valley area

Golf course developer Pacific Links International and local real estate developer Stanford Carr Development announced Friday a $300 million joint venture that aims to establish a new resort and spa and world-class golf course in Makaha Valley.

The project is being touted as a master-planned destination resort community that serves as a “rebirth” of the original vision for Makaha held by local entrepreneur and businessman Chinn Ho when he opened the original Makaha Resort and Spa in 1969.

The resort was shuttered in 2011 for a renovation that never came to pass. Pacific Links purchased the adjacent golf course the same year and later acquired the entire resort property. The resort was razed in 2014.

In Friday’s announcement, the developers emphasized their inclusion of Hawaiian cultural values in the planning, and prospective benefits to the economically distressed area.

“Our hopes and aspirations for the Makaha ahu-puaa reflect the vision this community has expressed to us, which is to strengthen the area overall, now and into the future,” said Pacific Links Hawaii board adviser Micah Kane. “We consider this a three-way partnership with the Makaha community, Pacific Links and Stanford Carr, bringing together the team needed to make this joint vision for Makaha Valley a reality through a very local perspective.”

The new resort plan was developed over three years with input from community leaders such as Brian Keaulana. According to a release distributed on Friday, the project will employ more than 500 local residents and will incorporate the ancient Hawaiian “ahupuaa” land-to-sea concept as part of an environmentally sustainable design.

The plan also calls for replenishing groundwater resources, preventing erosion, removing invasive species, restoring the loi kalo, or taro patches, protecting heiau and maintaining Makaha Beach.

“Our entire community is standing together to protect Makaha and we are proud to have the backing of our partners Pacific Links and Stanford Carr,” Keaulana said. “Our ocean and watershed are precious resources and we need to bring our social, cultural and environmental conscience to the task of preserving it for our keiki’s future.”

Specific plans for the resort were not divulged. However, the plan includes the renovation of the Makaha Golf Club West by Greg Norman Golf Course Design.

According to renovation plans posted on the Greg Norman Golf Course Design website, the redesigned course (which was originally scheduled for completion in 2014) will follow a Hawaiian cattle ranch theme and will include Makaha Stream and floodway in its course design. The renovation will also include a new 22,000-square-foot clubhouse.

In addition to owning the Makaha Golf Club East and Makaha Golf Club West, Pacific Links Hawaii also owns Olomana Golf Links and operates the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club.

Stanford Carr Development’s previous projects have included the Hawaii Kai Peninsula, Wailea Fairway Villas and Kulalani at Mauna Lani. The company recently began work on its Keauhou Lane mixed-use project in Kakaako.