Hotel renovations opposed

OHA fights Sheraton work

A renovation project intended to improve amenities at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel is under fire from the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The proposal by Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts LP, which owns the Sheraton Waikiki, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, Moana Surfrider and the Royal Hawaiian, includes expanding two pools and building a water slide, bars, decks and lawn areas within the 40-foot shoreline setback area at the Sheraton Waikiki.

The Honolulu City Council's zoning committee approved the project yesterday, which is expected to be voted on by the full council on Feb. 20.

OHA says it is concerned with impacts on cultural and natural resources, water quality and Hawaiian traditional practices in Waikiki. It also is concerned about the potential for developers encountering Native Hawaiian deposits and burials.

City officials say the project would renovate an area that has already been developed and therefore wouldn't negatively impact the Waikiki shoreline.

FULL STORY »

The Honolulu City Council's zoning committee approved yesterday a major renovation project on the grounds of the Sheraton Waikiki, despite strong criticism by the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The proposal by Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts LP, which owns the Sheraton Waikiki, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, Moana Surfrider and Royal Hawaiian hotels, includes plans for expanding two pools and building a water slide, bars, decks and lawn areas within the 40-foot shoreline setback area at the Sheraton Waikiki.

OHA has cited concerns over the potential impacts on cultural and natural resources, water quality and Hawaiian traditional practices in Waikiki.

The agency also is concerned about the potential for developers encountering Native Hawaiian deposits and burials. State law requires that OHA comment on environmental assessments, statements and applications for shoreline management.

"OHA is bothered by this tender irony in that this applicant has eradicated our beneficiaries (and our state's) public trust beach, proposes to not only continue to do more projects in protected areas, but then contemplates to 'restore' the beach, thereby potentially changing the shoreline boundary and creates an exclusive use of this area, said OHA Administrator Clyde Namuo said in a Jan. 25 letter to Henry Eng, director of the Department of Planning and Permitting. "This is absurd."

City officials said the proposed redevelopment is improving existing amenities and renovating an area that has already been developed, and wouldn't push further out to the ocean.

"It's a matter of looking at what's needed for balance, making sure our employees have a long-term economic base, making sure we treat the community we're operating in with respect, listening to dissenting opinions and trying to mitigate concerns and move forward with the best thing to do, which is what we think we've done," said Keith Vieira, senior vice president of operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii & French Polynesia.

The latest proposal actually is a smaller project than what was originally planned a year ago, since Kyo-ya has decided against changing the entrance to the Royal Hawaiian, he said.

Henry Eng, director of the Department of Planning & Permitting, said the department recommended approval of a special management area permit and shoreline setback variance with certain conditions related to archeological monitoring.

Separately, Kyo-ya had earlier proposed a plan to restore Gray's Beach by constructing three T-shaped rock groins spanning 500 feet of shoreline and widening the beach fronting the Sheraton Waikiki. That proposal also has been criticized by environmental groups.

Kyo-ya's proposal is expected to be voted on by the full council on Feb. 20.