Community Petition To Pause Development at Turtle Bay

We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with Kūpaʻa Kuilima and strongly urge the Honolulu City Council, the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), the Mayor of Honolulu, Host Hotels & Resorts, and Areté Collective to pause the development at Turtle Bay and reopen transparent processes for public participation in the areas identified below so that we the people have a meaningful voice in determining the future of our ʻāina and quality of life in our communities. 

We ask that :

1. The Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) withdraw the 2022 determination to waive the need for revising the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) or Special Management Area (SMA) permit for the imminent Resort Residential (RR-3) project and instead initiate the process for an updated SEIS and SMA that cover RR-3 and the two proposed Areté and Host hotels (H1 & H2). 
2. The City Council, the DPP, and/or Arete and Host support the convening of a representative Ko’olauloa-North Shore group to renegotiate a community benefits package and update the 1986 Unilateral Agreement (UA) to ensure the community has a formal role in determining and receiving just, clarified, and relevant benefits that reflect current needs and priorities. 
3. All applicable government agencies and processes should ensure compliance with the Ka Paʻakai Framework Analysis as outlined in Article XII, Section 7 of the Hawai‘i State Constitution, to safeguard Native Hawaiian cultural and traditional practices likely to be impacted by this development.
4. Any and/or all development activities and/or the issuance of permits at Turtle Bay Resort should be paused until the above processes are completed. 

Our Justifications:

• Community Voices Matter: Transparency and public involvement must be prioritized in decision-making. The lack of adequate community consultation in the face of imminent development and new ownership at Turtle Bay Resort has left residents without a voice in the future of their community.
• Outdated Agreements: The 1986 UA, the 1986 SMA, and the 2013 SEIS are inadequate and do not reflect modern realities, such as the impacts of rising sea levels, increased coastal erosion, and the need for endangered species habitat protection. These documents must be revisited to address these urgent issues and comply with current environmental law standards.
• Environmental and Cultural Protection: Kahuku Point is a vital coastal habitat home to numerous endangered species and sacred burial sites (iwi kūpuna) that a development of this magnitude will significantly impact. These sensitive areas should be respected and preserved.
• Traffic and Safety Concerns: Increased development without updated traffic mitigation strategies exacerbates already critical congestion and safety risks for residents and visitors alike.
• Affordable housing and Community Impacts: This development is predominantly designed for a wealthier clientele, promoting gentrification to our unique rural and cultural community. Moreover, it will place additional strain on our already overburdened emergency response, healthcare facilities, public education systems, and other essential community resources, further intensifying the challenges posed by a significant population increase. The cumulative impacts of adding 100 luxury resort residential units, 625 hotel and/or condotel units, over 500 employees, and the potential for approximately 3,000 people daily to the area must not be ignored.

Sign to Protect Turtle Bay! For more information and to keep in touch, please visit: https://linktr.ee/kupaakuilima