The Hanalei Plantation Resort Development: Green Design Guidelines for the Hanalei River Ridge

Abstract

Ohana Hanalei, LLC, a real estate developer, is proposing to develop a hotel and residential project, the Hanalei Plantation Resort, in Hanalei, Hawaii on the island of Kauai. The proposed project would incorporate the restoration and enhancement of the Pu’u Poa Marsh, a public lookout pavilion, public parking and activity pavilions along the Hanalei River.

Deeply instilled in Hawaiian culture is an appreciation of land and the environment. New real estate developments have been extensively blamed for the deterioration of their ecosystems. Members of the community-based organization, Save Hanalei River Ridge, have testified against the proposed project, citing that the application for the land consolidation was incomplete and inaccurate. The organization argued that the Ohana Hanalei development project would ruin the green belt around Hanalei and the community’s ability to utilize the natural resources as they exist today.

The purpose of this document is to analyze the current proposed development and determine if the design meets the criteria set forth by the Ohana Hanalei, LLC development team, County of Kauai and local community groups. The end result is a set of architectural design guidelines, specifically related to water quality and site preservation. that Sprovides several recommendations forare provided to the Ohana Hanalei, LLC development that are environmentally sensitive to the existing ecosystem of the Hanalei River Ridge and compliant with standards being sought by the Save Hanalei River Ridge community group.