What Can We Do?
We can demand scrutiny of this proposed project that threatens to destroy the rural nature of Kawela Bay and surrounding areas. There should be an up-to- date assessment on the effects of such a development on our community. No development should be allowed without community input!

The Facts Regarding Kawela Bay

WHO: Oaktree Capital Management owns Turtle Bay Resort and is guiding the development of Kawela Bay. It is a self-described “Vulture Capital” fund headquartered in Los Angeles. It specializes in investing in "troubled companies in 'inefficient' markets" that it can restructure and sell for a profit.

Oaktree has a history of fighting environmental and community groups over development.

In 2002, Oaktree fought a coalition of more than 100 environmental and community groups that were opposed to a massive coastal development in Playa Vista, California, which included paving over the last wetland in the entire county. Phase 2 of this development has been held up in court because the development plan did not adequately address methane gas deposits in the area ("Court Rules City Erred in Passing Part of Playa Vista Impact Report." West LA Business Monthly, November, 2005).
In 2005, Oaktree was planning to develop 86 townhouses in Queens, NY, on a site known to be full of toxic contamination, including mercury, lead, arsenic and PCBs. When the community found out about the toxins and Oaktree’s inadequate provisions to contain them, Oaktree flipped the property to a new owner instead of cleaning it up themselves.

WHAT: Turtle Bay/Oaktree submitted a preliminary permit for subdivision of over 700 acres of land around Kawela Bay, some of which is formerly agricultural and protected land. They have also started the approval process to expand Kamehameha Highway at Kuilima Drive and recently purchased an additional 400 acres of land from Campbell Estate mauka of Kamehameha Highway.

WHEN: Turtle Bay submitted their preliminary subdivision proposal to DPP in early December and a decision could come any day. The shoreline certification was proposed in January and is good for one year only. This indicates development is very soon to come.

WHY: Oaktree wants to make as much profit as possible before they inevitably sell the Turtle Bay property. Oaktree has almost no permanent presence in Hawaii, and has no commitment to our land or our community.