About Defend Oahu Coalition

The Defend Oahu Coalition is a diverse group of community residents, environmentalists, activists and religious leaders all working together towards one goal: protecting communities along the North Shore from the dangerous effects of large scale development. We believe that the beautiful North Shore is for all Oahu residents as well as visitors, and we are committed to ensuring that it will continue to be a resource for generations to come.

You can get in touch with us by emailing savekawelabay@yahoo.com.

Background

Owners of Turtle Bay Resort plan to build five new hotels with 3,500 more condo, timeshare and resort hotel units on and around Kawela Bay on the basis of an agreement and a land use permit that are nearly 20 years old. These are based on an environmental study that is even older. Developer Kuilima Resort Company, an affiliate of Oaktree Capital Management, is attempting to subdivide more than 700 acres of land from Kawela Bay to Kahuku Point - either to develop it or to sell off to other developers.

A lot has changed in the last 20 years. Traffic and water usage have changed significantly since Turtle Bay first proposed this massive development. Other development along the North Shore/Windward area is on the way - including the Stryker Brigade and 550 units of housing in Laie. Laws have changed, too. Affordable housing requirements have expanded too - developers in 1986 agreed to build a number of affordable homes equal to 10% of the to 30%. Environmental studies have stronger requirements and must include additional information such as cultural concerns.

All of this development would drastically affect the nature of our neighborhoods along the rural corridor from Kahalu'u to Waimea Bay and beyond. These neighborhoods serve as a recreational area for the entire island - an escape from the urban sprawl. If Kuilima Resort Company has its way and is allowed to build 3,500 more units, North Shore residents and the people of O'ahu in general can say goodbye to Keeping the Country Country.

** The Environmental Notice, January 23, 2006, Office of Environmental Quality Control

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!

For more information or to get involved, email us with your comments and contact information at savekawelabay@yahoo.com

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.