After years of discussion, plans to redevelop a property near Ko Olina Resort that currently houses Paradise Cove Lū‘au are advancing.
A joint partnership called Cove Campbell Kobayashi LLC will redevelop the 10.85-acre property as The Cove. This partnership is comprised of the James Campbell Co., a Hawai‘i-based, nationally diversified real estate company with a portfolio valued around $5 billion; locally owned and operated real estate development firm Kobayashi Group; and BlackSand Capital, a Hawai‘i-focused private real estate investment firm.
A final environmental impact statement published in late January says that the project aims to "update the commercial lū‘au show and create and authentic Hawaiian outdoor recreation facility and community gathering place for kama‘āina and visitors that honors and reflects history, culture and connection to place."
Plans call for demolishing several existing dated structures at the site and existing concrete walls within the shoreline setback area, after which the site will be restored to pre-existing conditions before being redeveloped, the EIS states.
Redevelopment will include a new amphitheater and performing arts venue that can house a daily commercial lū‘au and other events.
Other planned updates noted in the EIS include an improved main arrival area, retail shops hosting Hawai‘i-made goods, restaurants and a marketplace, and common areas. An existing wedding chapel and support building will remain and may also be improved, while a "cultural pavilion" and open-air activity lawn areas may be included, it stated.
An announcement from the developers in late January said that the property — acquired by James Campbell in 1877 — has been used commercially since the 1970s and was last redeveloped in the early 1990s.
When asked how the redevelopment plays into James Campbell Co.'s broader goals, President and CEO Kevin Penn told Aloha State Daily in an email, "The Cove Redevelopment is a transformational project that reaffirms our commitment to West O‘ahu. With a legacy spanning over 160 years, our company will continue to focus on developing projects that provide value for our community with a long-term, multi-generational timeframe. We are proud of our role in the development of Kapolei and we plan to be here for a long, long time.”
In the announcement, Penn said the publication of the final EIS is a "major step" in moving the redevelopment of The Cove forward and is the result of "many years of work with our partners and the community."
“We’re excited to be part of The Cove Redevelopment, a project that will bring a unique facility to the growing ʻEwa region," Alana Kobayashi Pakkala, CEO of Kobayashi Group, said in the announcement. " ... Beyond enriching the community, the project will create long-term jobs closer to home for residents of West Oʻahu."
The developers say the project is expected to generate and sustain an estimated 484 full-time jobs.
Anthony Makana Paris, chair of the Neighborhood Board No. 34 Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale, said the board has not yet taken an official stance on the project.
He told Aloha State Daily in an email Tuesday that the community has expressed a range of concerns regarding the project but there's also some "guarded optimism among the community about the potential benefits of the redevelopment."
According to Paris, many Ko Olina homeowners are worried about potential impacts to their views, parking availability, beach access, increased commercial traffic and the potential decrease of property values. These concerns are "valid," he says, also noting that he has seen the developer and landowner "thoughtfully address these concerns during the redevelopment process."
Indeed, a number of comments shared after the publication of the draft EIS last year — which are included in the final version of the document — made note of concerns such as traffic, light and noise pollution, parking and the potential strain on infrastructure, among others.
Paris said, too, that some community members have voiced concerns about the impact of the redevelopment on sacred sites and iwi kūpuna in the area.
"It is essential that these concerns are handled with care and respect, and we hope the developers will take appropriate steps to preserve and protect these important cultural resources," he told ASD. "Again, I have seen the developer and landowner work with various cultural experts, the ‘ohana of those iwi kūpuna at the site, and the larger community in treating the iwi kūpuna and wahi pana [legendary or noted places]."
Some residents, however, are hopeful that the new spaces planned in the redevelopment will offer more "affordable and accessible options for local families," he said. "This could be a positive outcome that benefits the community." Others, said Paris, have shown enthusiasm for the planned marketplace, which is seen as a chance for local artisans and businesses to "engage with the community and share their work."
"It’s important to note that the developers have made efforts to engage the community over a multi-year visioning process, taking into account feedback from residents across West Oʻahu and beyond," Paris said. "This extended engagement demonstrates a commitment to ensuring the redevelopment aligns with the needs and concerns of our diverse community."
The developers said in January that community engagement will continue throughout the next stages of planning.
A representative for the developers told ASD that the next steps for the project include a review of the final EIS by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting, another presentation to the Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board and public hearings with DPP and the Honolulu City Council.
Paris said the developers have reached out to the neighborhood board to present again, but as of Tuesday, that presentation was not yet scheduled.
The final EIS can be found online here and here.
More information on The Cove redevelopment can be found online here.
PC Services Inc. operates the existing Paradise Cove Lū‘au. Its lease ends June 30, according to a timeline featured on the project website.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
