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Wailea 670 now Honua'ula, what's in a name?

July 24th, 2007 11:51 AM

The following article is provided as an electronic news clipping service,
and does not necessarily represent the position of Maui Tomorrow Foundation,
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Wailea 670, What's in a name?

A few years ago the proposed luxury development next to Maui Meadows changed its name from Wailea 670 to Honua'ula. Is there any harm in changing the name of a subdivision searching for a "brand" identity to a "more Hawaiian" name?

In traditional Hawaiian life, a name was often very important. A place name like Wailea, for example, told a story.

Wailea today is a multi-million dollar brand name symbolizing glamorous hotels, shops and luxury gated communities. In one more generation, few will recall that Wailea once referred to a small spring and the remains of an ancient Hawaiian fishing settlement on Wailea Point. Fewer still will recall the place name Kahamanini, referring to the abundance of reef fish in nearby waters.

Who will remember that Wailea is part of the ahupua'a of Paeahu? This ancient place name tells a story of many rows of stacked rock (ahu) along these lands. Ahu were used to dry fish, plant sweet potatoes or as ceremonial markers. Dozens of "rock mounds" were noted in Wailea golf course archaeological surveys. They, like the names Kahamanini and Paeahu have now vanished from our sight and our memories, replaced with smooth golf courses, now "re-branded," as Wailea.

What about the Wailea fishing settlement? The wai (freshwater spring) that gave the little settlement its name, has disappeared. The settlement complex was rich in artifacts spanning nearly five centuries. It was replaced by a multimillion-dollar condo after years of neglect and vandals left it too "degraded" to be preserved in place.

The complex has been "reconstructed' into several oblong shapes further south. Visitors along the Wailea Point coastal trail read the plaque and believe they are viewing an authentic Hawaiian cultural site.

Has anything been lost by the expansion of the name Wailea from a humble fishing settlement to a world-class resort?

And what about the ancient name of Honua'ula?.

Honua'ula is best known as one of Maui's 12 traditional moku, (ancient districts). Honua'ula sailed with the great navigator Moikeha and landed upon the shores of Maui. Did he give his name to this district?

Honua'ula moku included the southeastern flanks of Haleakala from near the Kihei boat ramp to Kahikinui. During the first western census (1831) Honua'ula was the 4th largest population center on Maui. "Honua'ula Church" (Makena's Keawala'I church) was referred to as the "mother church" of the region during the 1850's.

Is 670 acres of lands that span the three ahupua'a of Paeahu, Palau'ea and Keauhou more worthy of the name Honua'ula than the lands surrounding Makena landing, Keoneo'i'o or Ulupalakua Ranch? All are part of Honua'ula.

Would the long and legendary past of the entire district of Honua'ula be forgotten if this name is widely marketed and applied only to one tiny portion of what is a very large district?

Anyone rightfully using the name Honua'ula should honor our ancestors and protect our history and legacy at all costs. A place calling itself Honua'ula should prominently showcase Hawaiian culture. It should respect, value and protect all parts of that culture in their natural state- the land forms, the plants and the remains of Hawaiian cultural sites.

It should consult with multiple archaeological scholars and not rely on only one firm whose reputation is under dispute (see Star Bulletin 11/19/05). For a new town to be worthy of the name Honua'ula it should invite the whole community to be part of its preservation process, Is this the case?

The last four owners of the 670 lands have done little to seek out ways to preserve its plants or cultural sites. Its 1988 Environmental Study, noted no cultural sites at all. Only two dozen are recorded today. The native plant survey found little as well and recommended only a tiny preserve area that was later bulldozed "by persons unknown." Citizen interest lead to further surveys and the discovery of rich habitat areas.

The present Wailea 670 Preservation and Stewardship Plan minimizes the importance of 24 species of native plants on site and gives the developers an "expert" opinion that will allow them destroy up to 95% of the 110 acres of Wiliwili dryland forest habitat.

I say to the local people of Maui, be onipa'a, steadfast. Come Wednesday, July 25, at 1:30 p.m. to the County Council's public hearing on Wailea 670. County building, 200 S. High Street Wailuku, 8th floor. Be credible and don't be angry. Or write the Council. Register at SaveMakena.org, and be counted to protect what is left of the real Maui.

Ed Lindsay

President Hawaiian Cultural Lands

Posted by Fabienne Gandall on July 24th, 2007 11:51 AMPost a Comment (0)

Starwood to build luxury Maui Hotel

July 4th, 2007 11:37 PM

The Honolulu Advertiser Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Starwood to build luxury Maui hotel

By Oliver Staley, Bloomberg News Service

NEW YORK - Starwood Capital Group LLC has chosen Wailea, Maui, as the location for the first in a new worldwide chain of luxury Baccarat Hotels and Resorts inspired by the 243-year-old French crystal manufacturer.

The first Baccarat hotel will open in Wailea in 2010, Starwood Capital said in a statement yesterday.

Other locations will follow in the Mainland U.S., Caribbean, Europe and Asia, it said without giving more details.

Starwood Capital is headed by Barry Sternlicht, who built Starwood Hotels into the third-largest U.S. lodging company. Sternlicht took over France's only profitable crystal maker from the Taittinger family in 2005 when he bought a majority stake in Societe du Louvre SA. Starwood Capital wants to transform Baccarat into a global luxury brand, company executives said in interviews last year.

Starwood Capital, based in Greenwich, Conn., is developing the "1" chain of luxury environmentally themed hotels. It's also part of a group bidding on Riviera Holdings Corp., a casino company.

Sternlicht established Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. in 1995 and resigned as its chairman 10 years later.

Posted by Fabienne Gandall on July 4th, 2007 11:37 PMPost a Comment (0)

Show me The Water!

July 4th, 2007 12:44 AM

http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=31928

The Maui News Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Planning development? Bill: Show me the water

By CLAUDINE SAN NICOLAS, Staff Writer

WAILUKU - A proposal to prohibit future developments without a long-term, reliable source of water received renewed support Monday from residents and representatives of groups such as Earthjustice and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The County Council's Water Resources Committee deferred action on the proposal, which Chairwoman Michelle Anderson recommended should be fine-tuned.

Under the measure, land-use approvals would not be granted to developments unless there's a guaranteed supply of water for more than 20 years.

Former Council Member Dain Kane proposed a similar measure two years ago, saying it would make land-use planning come before development.

Real estate developers criticized the bill, saying it was unnecessary because they would not build without a source of water.

The measure was not acted on before Kane gave up his council seat and lost a bid for mayor in 2006.

The current version of the bill says an applicant for a land-use approval must identify a long-term supply of water that must be supported with substantial evidence, including a water quality assessment verified by the county water director.

"It seems to me no developer would want to develop a project without a long-term source of water," said John Duey, a resident who testified in favor of the bill.

Earthjustice attorney Isaac Moriwake said the proposal follows the model in California, where it's called the "Show Me the Water" law.

Predictions that the law would stop development were wrong, he said. "It hasn't brought development to a grinding halt."

Instead, the bill integrates water resources in the planning of development - something that is lacking and needed in Maui County and the rest of the state, according to Moriwake.

Both Moriwake and Lucienne de Naie of Maui Tomorrow said the bill's benefits include protecting the county from losing its water resources after approving real estate developments. It also assures developers they'll have water when their projects go forward, they argued.

De Naie commended council members for being "progressive" by "looking at water as a whole."

The measure also would make Maui County accountable by not allowing officials to promise water they can't deliver, she said. Californians familiar with the state's "Show Me the Water" law reported "hidden benefits" of the law, including the encouragement of developers to incorporate water conservation in their plans.

The only concern raised Monday about the bill was about exemptions to the water availability policy and whether small businesses and others would be blocked from developing their properties.

The proposal currently exempts family

subdivisions, affordable housing projects, and building, grading or construction permits.

Claudine San Nicolas can be reached at claudine@mauinews.com.

Posted by Fabienne Gandall on July 4th, 2007 12:44 AMPost a Comment (0)