Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa will go before the Maui Planning Commission seeking approval to add 310 lodging units and other amenities that would cost $250 million.

Grand Wailea Hotel plans for grand expansion

By HARRY EAGAR, Staff Writer

reprinted courtesy Maui News 9/21/09

 

On Tuesday, the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa will go before the Maui Planning Commission seeking approval to add 310 lodging units and other amenities that would cost $250 million.

The hotel business on Maui is down but not out, according to General Manager Matthew Bailey, who says that by the time the new facilities are ready, economic forecasts are that the visitor industry will be coming back. In that case, "the resort will be well-positioned" to take advantage.

Once approved, work is expected to begin at once and continue for five years.

No action is expected on the application this week, since the commission will be considering three petitions to intervene. Ann Cua, the senior planner reviewing the application, said the Maui Planning Department has not decided on a recommendation, pending the outcome of the interventions. The commission could accept some or all of the petitions and appoint a hearings officer this week.

Aside from the usual questions raised by such a big project, the commission will be asked to make a decision on beach parking. There is no county standard or policy about this. (See related story.)

Not only is the move to start a big project startling considering the state of the lodging business, which has been slashing rates and trimming payrolls to try to keep going, the expansion of this resort would jump Maui resorts into a new size category.

Until now, 800 rooms has been tops on Maui. The Hyatt Regency at Kaanapali has the most rooms on the island, with the Grand Wailea about 30 units behind, although with more extensive grounds. Adding 300 rooms would put the Grand Wailea in the same class as the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani in Waikiki, although the big Waikiki hotels have nothing to match the 36 acres of oceanfront land occupied by the Grand Wailea.

The expansion will require a special management area permit and planned development approvals.

Pyramid Project Management LLC is handling the expansion for owner MSR Grand Wailea Resort LP.

New guest units will be scattered around the resort, and the project also includes revitalization of existing guest rooms, restaurants and other public areas.

The project will also include energy and water conservation features and an interactive cultural center giving the resort a role in perpetuating the Hawaiian culture and practices by sharing them with its guests and the local community. In detail, it includes:

* Improvements to the Bistro Molokini restaurant and the creation of a new bar area to service the pool and recreational facilities.

* Addition of another parking level atop the north parking structure.

* Addition of a new Wailea Mauka wing, a Haleakala Mauka Wing, Molokini Makai room extension and eight lagoon bungalows. The new wings would range from two to six stories with elevations decreasing makai.

* Renovations to the entry drive.

* Native Hawaiian cultural center and gardens.

* Landscaping improvements throughout to include drought-tolerant native plants and a new outdoor wedding garden.

* Two additional pool areas.

One intervention was filed by Dana Naone Hall, a past chairperson of the Maui/Lanai Island Burial Council, who says she is familiar with Native Hawaiian burials on the property and seeks to protect and preserve them and make sure they are treated with respect.

Another was filed by the Protect Wailea Beach Committee, four owners of properties at Wailea Beach Villas, which are within 500 feet of the hotel grounds. They oppose the expansion because they say it will affect their use of the beach and decrease the sale or rental value of their properties.

A third, similar petition was filed by 17 owners at the Ho'olei condominiums.

The inch-thick planning department report covers such matters as parking, water use and wastewater disposal, as well as archaeological monitoring and traffic.

The project includes provisions for water conservation, and the applicant says that even with 310 more rooms, the resort would use 46,000 gallons per day less than the baseline (as of 2005) level of 686,000 gallons per day.

Pyramid Senior Vice President Ed Riley, said, "We firmly believe that the visitor industry on Maui will regain its strength in the future and that now is the time to invest in and upgrade our facilities. This project will provide great economic benefits for Maui, both during and after construction.

"We have a strong, diversified team of investors who are committed to seeing this project through."

Bailey said, "Part of remaining competitive is the constant reinvention and improvement of your product. This project will allow for an even greater emphasis on the host culture and raise its level of prominence in all we do."

The Grand Wailea opened in 1991 as the Grand Hyatt. The resort says that it employs 1,400 full- and part-time workers.

* Harry Eagar can be reached at heagar@mauinews.com.

The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa’s signature chapel is slated to be replaced by eight bungalows constructed over the lagoon. Weddings would be moved to luau grounds, which would be converted to a Hawaiian cultural center and gardens.

 

 

reprinted courtesy Maui News 9/21/09, original link www mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/523938.html

 

 

brought to you by Wailea Makena Real Estate Inc.

www.Wailea-Makena-real-estate.com

 

 

Peter Gelsey R (PB)

Wailea Makena Real Estate, Inc.

www.petergelsey.com

direct (808)  344-8000

Toll free 800-482-5089

fax (808) 442-0946

email peter@petergelsey.com