Kauai commits
to protecting scenic
Mahaulepu property

The 2,900-acre area was slated
for a resort development

By Anthony Sommer
Kauai correspondent

LIHUE >> The Kauai County Council has passed a resolution committing Kauai County to work with state officials on a plan to preserve the 2,900-acre Mahaulepu ahupuaa adjacent to Kauai's major resort area.

It was immediately hailed by environmentalists as a major step toward blocking development of the scenic area on Kauai's south shore. Three identical resolutions are alive in the state Legislature.

"You guys did a really righteous thing today," David Chang of Koloa told the council. Chang has fought development of Mahaulepu for nearly three decades.

Just as immediately, yesterday's vote received a "no comment" from Grove Farm officials, who have tried without success to win state and county approval to develop a resort and residential community at Mahaulepu since 1974.

"We may have a comment some time in the future," said David Pratt, Grove Farm president and chief executive officer.

All the property is zoned either agricultural or conservation and rezoning would be required before development could begin.

Another potential minefield is the question of how much the land is worth. The Kauai County Council ruled Grove Farm is entitled to receive "fair value" for the land but does not define the term. Environmental groups have insisted the state, county or a private nonprofit foundation should be able to buy part or all of Mahaulepu at low agricultural land prices. Grove Farm has insisted that, even without rezoning, its development potential makes it far more valuable.

"It will take a willing seller and a willing buyer to determine what it's worth," said Grove Farm Vice President Allan Smith, who attended the Council meeting but did not testify.

Descendants of Grove Farm founder George N. Wilcox last year sold the former sugar plantation to America Online Chairman Steve Case, whose grandfather was a longtime manager of Grove Farm.

Mahaulepu is potentially the most valuable portion of Grove Farm, and Case has been noncommittal about its future.

It is believed Grove Farm is studying the possibility of building a major resort at Mahaulepu.

The beach portion of Mahaulepu is east of the Hyatt Regency resort and golf course. It is reached by a dirt road, and for the past several years Grove Farm has allowed unlimited access to the property.

Beryl Blaiche, a Sierra Club staff member tasked with preserving Mahaulepu, said the Council's vote makes it very difficult for Grove Farm to ever win rezoning from the county.

The resolution provides environmentalists with considerable leverage in future dealings with Grove Farm, she said.

Development
attempts since 1974

LIHUE >> A brief history of attempts to develop Mahaulepu as a resort:

>> 1974: Leadership Homes proposes four hotels, four golf courses, 2,667 condo units and 952 single-family homes at Mahaulepu. State Land Use Commission denies permit application.

>> 1977: State Department of Land and Natural Resources identifies Mahaulepu as an area of high potential for development as a state park.

>> 1988: Grove Farm proposes a golf course on Mahaulepu adjacent to the planned Hyatt Regency Resort at Shipwreck Beach.

The Land Use Commission approves the golf course. Environmental group Malama Mahaulepu sues.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ultimately rules agricultural lands can be used for golf courses and upholds the Land Use Commission vote.

>> 1989: Bill is introduced at the state Legislature calling for $9 million to be available for acquisition of beach area at Mahaulepu. The bill is defeated.

>> 1997: Grove Farm announces plans to develop Mahaulepu with two or three luxury resorts and an undisclosed number of single-family residences. The company never applies for required county permits.

>> 2000: Newly adopted Kauai County General Plan states: "Mahaulepu ahupuaa protected and preserved."