It’s early in the efforts to reboot the Makaha Valley Resort, which is fortunate for the west-side residents. That means there’s time to master-plan the development in a way that includes the wider community.
The involvement of golf champion Tiger Woods has added his star power to the prospects for the $300 million project envisioning 10,000 homes and hotel units with two new world-class golf courses.
Many people are thrilled at the likelihood that the original resort, conceived some 60 years ago but demolished in 2014 when a planned renovation never materialized, could be resurrected. Now it appears more likely that a reopening is in the cards.
Five years ago the Toronto-based Pacific Links International gained control of the existing hotel and resort through foreclosure.
In general, this could present an excellent possibility for the economy of the Waianae Coast. The former hotel, the Makaha Resort &Golf Club, closed in 2011 in a later-abandoned plan for redevelopment as timeshare units. As a result, 95 people lost their jobs. Adding to employment opportunities could be a boon for many who now must commute to jobs elsewhere.
But the community voice is being raised on the issue, and not all the reactions are positive. Many are concerned that the project would amount to gentrification, meaning the development of homes that those local employees could never afford.
The resulting development would have no sense of place, they worry, and would amount to an enclave for the wealthier resident that, adding insult to injury, could drive up housing prices further in surrounding areas.
The Waianae Coast Neighborhood Board convened a special meeting last week attended by nearly 150 people. Views ranged from praise from construction industry representatives, citing the jobs potential and housing for workers, to opposition from those doubting it would be a net benefit for the community.
Golf fans are right to feel delighted by the idea. In April the news broke that Woods and his TGR Design company will take the reins in developing the Makaha North Course. Golf architect Gil Hanse, known as the designer of the Olympic course in Rio de Janeiro, will take on the Makaha South Course.
Stanford Carr, the Hawaii real estate developer, has been working with Pacific Links on converting the 644-acre property to a mixed-use project. In addition to the golf club, the first phase would feature an arts and community center and a health and wellness center.
Timeshare, golf villas and multifamily residential units would follow in Phase 2.
These plans were first unveiled in 2016, but Pacific Links’ attention was diverted to other priorities, Carr said, adding that the schematic plans more recently received good reviews at a company conference in Beijing.
It is a hopeful sign that Carr, who has a record of producing developments that accommodate a range of income groups, is involved here.
What the Waianae Coast needs is workforce housing. If Pacific Links is touting this as a job-producer, then there should be housing that those holding the jobs might be able to afford. And there are other concerns raised by the community that must be addressed — traffic not the least among them.
In a state where affordable housing is needed urgently, it’s hard, rationally, to oppose all development. But efforts must be made to mitigate problems so that projects align with community interests, as much as possible.
And a balance must be struck so that a development that brings in new money — as a golf resort would — would also open its doors to the residents who already call the Waianae Coast home.
