LAIE, HAWAII – Groundbreaking ceremonies were held today on the new 144-room Laie hotel expected to open mid-2015. The hotel is part of a vision to revitalize and sustain the Koolau Loa region.
The groundbreaking was held at the site off Kamehameha Highway on Oahu’s Windward coast next to the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC), an economic driver in the region. Plans for the new hotel call for consistency with the adjacent PCC to preserve the traditional character of the area.
Construction is expected to generate 250 construction jobs, followed by 30 part-time and 20 full-time staff positions. Permanent jobs will be open to all community applicants and will include managerial, supervisory and specialist positions. Remaining positions will be used for training students enrolled in Brigham Young University-Hawaii’s (BYU-Hawaii) hospitality program.
The two and three-story Courtyard by Marriott will include an upscale pool, bistro and meeting space. Laie Ventures, LLC is the developer/owner of the hotel. Laie Ventures principals are Dan Gifford, Brent and Chris Wood. Layton Construction is handling the hotel’s construction, and AE Urbia is the architect.
“The entire region will benefit from this long-awaited, much needed lodging,” said Eric Beaver, president of Hawaii Reserves, Inc. (HRI) “This is the continuation of the positive things happening in Laie.”
“The new hotel will be a blessing to the community, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Brigham Young University-Hawaii,” Chris Wood said, “We’re pleased to be starting construction on this great project.”
The new facility replaces the aged, 48-room Laie Inn that no longer met the area’s needs for visitor accommodations.
Seventy-two percent of Koolau Loa residents favor the building of the new hotel, and more than two-thirds (68 percent) of Koolau Loa district residents support growth that improves the quality of life for families that live there.
Representatives from Koolau Loa entities including Pane Meatoga, president of Laie Community Association (LCA); Beaver, HRI; Steven Wheelwright, president of BYU-Hawaii; Alfred Grace, president of PCC; Chris Wood, managing partner at Laie Ventures, LLC and council chairman Ernest Martin attended the event.
Hawaii Reserves, Inc. (HRI) manages and owns property affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located primarily in Laie on the north shore of Oahu. Properties include Laie Shopping Center as well as other commercial and residential sites; Hukilau Beach Park and Laie Cemetery; subsidiaries Laie Water Company and Laie Treatment Works; and other common-area infrastructure such as roads and streetlights.
Envision Laie represents a diverse group of residents and stakeholders of Koolau Loa working together to study Laie and plan for its future possibilities, a future that protects quality of life and emphasizes the values of the people who live in the region. For more information, visit: www.envisionlaie.com
Guest Contributor:
This looks a lot like a press release from HRI's PR firm. (Hastings Pleadwell ?)
Seems as though a legitimate investigative reporter might want to check some facts before publishing such an item.
You should start with the misleading claim that there is broad support for these proposals. The numbers just don't add up.
Opposition to HRI's plans is widespread due in large part to serious problems with Kamehameha Highway.
This is the sole 2 lane life line that serves coastal communities from Haleiwa to Kahaluu.
As far as I know, every neighboring community association (with the possible exception of Kahuku) and several neighborhood boards strongly oppose the urbanization of Koolau Loa and the looming threat to the health, safety and well being of the surrounding communities.
Please take the time to report on the serious concerns raised by numerous individuals, community associations and neighborhood boards relative to this important issue.
It was such a great opportunity to visit this site,you can gain new interesting topics.I want to stick on this one so that I can update more details about this one.
Finally this hotel project is moving forward! There will be positives that have been long awaited. The locals will have a job pool to tap into, the visitors will finally have a non- roach infested hotel to stay at. The pool won't have hair clogging the drains and the parking lot won't have pot holes you fall in during the night.. The improvement as a tourist attraction will help future students at BYU have a continued work study program. Looking forward to completion of this hotel.
I am Against any more new cement to Haleiwa and the surrounding towns.. This such a mistake to let this happen. once this project s over what type of jobs does this leave to the community ? chambermaid jobs at minimum wages ! what about the empact that it leaves to the envirorment? and who does this really bennifit ? not the local people, could it be the shareholders? yup that's who. this news is so heartbreaking. To the local people stop and think about this, don't let this happen for the sake of a few jobs at small wages. I am from a community much like yours where their where promises, promises, but when it came to paying us back what was promised "they"couldn't Remember what it was that was promised. Sid Brough
great to see this .
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