KAHALA ON LINE -
_____ Aloha from Kaua
Kauaii
October-November 2006
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
• PLAN EARLY – WE NEED YOUR INPUT - BOOK YOUR UNIT NOW
Next Annual Homeowners Meeting: April 26, 2007 – 1:30 p.m.Koloa Neighborhood Center
Next Annual Kahala Homeowners’ Party: April 27, 2007
Next Annual Poipu Kai Association Meeting: April 28,2007 9:00a.m. Koloa Neighborhood
Center
o HIGHLIGHTS OF OCTOBER 26, 2006 ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING OF THE BOARD:
o (For more detail, see attached Minutes and reports)
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There was a lively discussion of options available for Internet access from each
Kahala unit – an amenity requested by most homeowners and required for Kahala
units to remain competitive. (52% of visitors said they would be less likely to
stay at a hotel if dissatisfied with Internet access. Internet availability is the #1
Ques. asked of S.P. when guests make reservations. )
Ro Davis:
e-mail [email protected] volunteered to serve with
Herb Herndon: e-mail [email protected] and
Howard Jory: e-mail [email protected] on the High-Speed Internet
Committee. The Committee will continue to gather data on available options.
Their goal is to provide homeowners and the Board of Directors with accurate information and comparisons regarding the various options/packages available from
all viable vendors. Homeowners interested in joining this Committee or in submitting ideas and suggestions are invited by the Committee to participate in the current data gathering phase of the investigation by contacting any or all of the Committee members. Homeowners are also encouraged to inform the Committee and
their Rental Managers of their interest in High-Speed Broadband service to meet
the requirements of present data vacation rental customers.
In addition to technical factors, such as Internet speed and ability to handle developing technology, the Committee will consider: 1) Price. 2) Product quality and dependability as objectively determined by service records and/or other pertinent
data. 3) The vendor’s experience and stability as determined by checking with
vendor references/customers. 4) The capacity of primary and secondary vendors
to stand behind both products and services, as determined also by surveying references/customers.
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The Board was requested (and agreed to) ask the contractor who cleaned out the
dryer vents to identify those units that had the most lint buildup. The Board will
take such action as required to ameliorate any fire danger caused because trade
winds are blowing into the dryer vents and preventing lint from escaping.
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The Board approved the 2007 budget reflecting an 11.28% increase in maintenance costs and fees. It was noted that Kahala is still the most cost-efficient project at Poipu Kai.
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It was reported that the site manager has taken over additional duties, including
landscaping and direct supervision of Kahala’s two gardeners. The detail of the responsibilities of the site manager, Lee Bedwell, together with his contact information will be forwarded to all homeowners with this Newsletter.
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Andrea Cassidy was appointed Webmaster to much applause. All important
Kahala documents, such as Minutes, By-Laws, CC&Rs, and the two most recent sets of Minutes and Newsletters will be posted on the Internet. Periodic
status reports also will be posted by the Board on an “as needed” basis and
in response to questions by homeowners. Instructions for accessing our
Website will follow. All homeowners who want to keep receiving hard copies of Minutes, Newsletters, etc. may opt to do so by contacting Patrice
Asuncion, at Certified Management, 4-1579 Kuhio Hwy-#102A, Kapaa, HI
96746. Phone: 808-821-2122 Fax: 808-821-2131. Patrice@ CertifiedHawaii.com
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THE BOARD IS REMINDING HOMEOWNERS THAT IT IS TIME TO CHECK AND/OR
REPLACE GARBAGE DISPOSALS!! Homeowners who have not replaced their
original garbage disposals are starting to experience problems. Plumbers
advise that older disposals are not grinding garbage properly. Unprocessed
garbage is clogging drain pipes and causing “back ups.” The homeowner
(not Association insurance) could be liable for substantial damage to their
own unit and to neighboring units.
o SADLY, KAY CUNEO HAS SOLD HER UNIT AND MOVED TO THE MAINLAND. Over the years, both
Kay and Jack either worked directly to improve Kahala or supported and encouraged our
efforts. As did Jack before her, she enriched Kahala by her presence. She “belonged” to
us. We all feel a genuine sense of loss, but sincerely wish her well. Kay – please come
visit. Kay is living in Carson City. Nevada. Her phone # is 808-652-8575.
My sincere thanks to Kathie Bedwell for addressing immediate concerns while I was working out of
town.
Aloha, Karen Jerdal, President
(aluminum with plastic straps). Some junk,
some gems, but the price is right.
Kahala Updates
►The Board requests that you do not approach gardeners with special requests. Instead, please e-mail landscape questions & requests to Karen Jerdal at [email protected].
►If you are thinking about buying quality lanai
furniture, you may want to consider Ron
Minger, Designers’ Resource, our supplier for
the new outdoor furniture at the Kahala pool.
You can see other sample packages at
Karen‘s, Kathie’s and Marta’s and Kay’s former
Unit #214. Phone # is 707-279-1984; e-mail is
[email protected]. (Editor’s note: When Ron
was in So. Calif., he met me with sample books
in Pasadena.) Director Jory says he bought replacement patio chairs from Island Liquidators
►CHECK YOUR FRONT DOOR and make
sure that the number for PKA’s 24/7 “Resort &
Patrol Services” - (808) 645-1700 – is posted.
If not, contact your rental agent and request
that this be done.
►Two 1/1 Kahala units sold in April-June at
$699-$700,000. Maui prices jumped 69%.
►Rain totals in Lihue of 45 inches last March
made it the wettest month in Kauai since
1968. U.S. Army Corp of Engineers reports
that “visual inspections of Kauai’s 54 dams
found that all have at least one detrimental
condition that could lead to a future failure if not
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addressed, but none are in danger of immediate collapse."
Kauai – Changes & Growth
- the Good and the Bad
►The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort (next door)
was rated among the top 700 hotels in the
world and #1 in Kauai.
◘ Construction of 82 of 106 affordable rental
apartments near Kapa’a is a pre-condition to a
$700 Million expansion of the Kauai Lagoons
resort. (600 condos, single-family homes and
time-share units, 18 hotel rooms & potential 80
more residences on ½ acre parcels around existing golf courses)
►Governor Lingle has signed an alternative
energy bill which includes installing solar panels for certain Hawaii schools. KIUC plans to
reduce its use of fossil fuels from 86% to 53%
by 2010. Two biomass facilities and a wind projects are planned. Gay and Robinson will build
plants expected to provide 70% of the state’s
ethanol needs.
◘ State has allocated funds for widening the
highway to four lanes from Puhi to Kipu, and
for creating a 10-mile road from Hanamaulu
to the Kapaa stream. While there is no word on
when anything will start happening, Developers have agreed to hire a traffic planner to
address community concerns.
Did You Know?
►The Makauwahi Sinkhole in Kauai is the
largest limestone cave complex in the Islands
and yields a historic record that dates back
10,000 years: unknown bird species identified
from fossil bones (including a turkey-sized
flightless duck); kou and hala plants once
thought to be Polynesian introductions now
proven to predate human arrival; artifacts such
as stone tools.
◘ Federal court dismissed a suit by Sierra
Club and other environmental groups seeking
“proper permitting and regulating” of the new inter-island Superferry scheduled for early 2007.
(Kauai-Oahu=$50/person &Car=$55)
◘ Costco’s has opened. Hurrah!
►There is a colony of rock wallabies living in
almost inaccessible mountain areas behind
Honoluolu (descendants of a pair that escaped
from a private zoo in the 1920s).
◘ A&B’s 1,002-acre project with DMB at Kukuiula was approved conditioned on construction of a West Bypass Rd. from Poipu/ Lawai
Rd to the intersection with Koloa Rd, plus: left
and right-turn lanes on West Bypass and Koloa Road; $500,000 for shoreline recreation
amenities, $600,000 for off-site traffic mitigation, plus “fair share” funding of Kaumualii Hwy
& County “Park & Ride;” a 20-acre park on
Poipu Road and 2-acre park near Kukuiula
Bay; public bike trail throughout Project; parking
near Boyden’s Pond; 75 employee housing
units; dedication to County of 4 acres for more
affordable housing; timeshares limited to 123
units & vacation rentals limited to 750.
►Hawaii’s state bird, the nene (“nay-nay”)
may be descended from a flock of Canadian
geese blown off-course centuries ago.
◘ Altogether, it seems Poipu will have a mix
of 941 new units in addition to the Kukuiula
Development.
►Hawaii’s ukulele was actually imported by
Portuguese immigrants in the 19th Century.
Kauai Tourism
►The Hawaiian language is spoken in daily
life only on the Island of Niihau. Hawaiian
pidgin is English with unusual grammatical
construction and verbal inflections. Some Hawaiian, Japanese and Chinese are thrown into
the mix for good measure.
►A new potential island, Loihi, is still submerged but growing SW of the Big Island.
In her piece on Hawaii, L.A. Times writer, Beverly Beyette says: Uncover Kauai’s hidden
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beaches and grandest vistas. Here, I shed
my cares along with my shoes and happily
while away hours doing the simplest things.
☺Watch for the opening of Kauai’s only
◙ Hawaii is the most expensive U.S. destination; D.C. is runner-up.
☺The Kapaa History Tour is a 90-minute
railroad – a 2/3 mile excursion through the
grounds of the Kilohana Plantation.
walking tour given Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays by the Kauai Historical Society. Call
808-245-33 73.
◙ Economic growth in Hawaii as well as the
Mainland is slowing. The extent of its impact
on tourism is undetermined.
☺Kauai’s monk seals, which often bask on
◙For family fun, visit the Kauai Children’s
Discovery Museum in Kapaa (interactive exhibits, hands-on science/art activities, etc.) On
Saturdays, the Starlight Planetarium Program
tells how the Polynesian voyagers used the
stars and winds to navigate their canoes across
the Pacific.
Poipu’s beaches, number less than 20 - one of
the most critically endangered marine mammals on Earth. If you are lucky enough to share
the beach with one of them, stay behind the
barricades, back up further if mama has a pup,
never pass between the seals and the shoreline. Never try to feed a seal – on the beach,
while swimming, or from a boat. Pass quietly
above the barricade. Don’t throw anything or
make noise to create photo opportunities. Photograph from a proper distance - respectfully.
◙ Poipu Beach Park: 50 volunteers headed by
Boy Scouts from Troop 270 put in 150 man
hours repainting the 2 pavilions on the west
end of the park, and removing rocks fronting
the lifeguard stand that have plagued beachgoers for a long time.
☺Call
808-245-6931 for information on
(Mon-Thurs.) Kauai Museum tours. Did this
awhile back. The information on Kauai flora and
fauna was interesting, but my favorite part was
the guide’s explanation of how Kauai was
formed. As I recall, half of the Island is 1 Million
years older than the other half.
◙ Kauai’s classic Coco Palms Hotel will reopen in 2008. Reconstruction is to recapture
the “history and feeling” of the property –
Kauai’s first real resort hotel and prototype for
Polynesian hotels across the Pacific.
◙ Arizona-based Mesa Airlines inter-island service called “GO!” offers $39 interisland flights
to Lihue, Honolulu, Kahului, Kona and Hilo.
☺Per Tom Gross (S.P. Guest Services at
866-977-3239 or www.spcondoready.com),
“ziplining” over a 50-foot gorge, river and
waterfall is Kauai’s newest adventure activity.
◙ Sun Trips’ bankruptcy reduced 20,000 air
seats to Kauai each year.
Things to Do
Marta Stern, your Board Secretary, takes responsibility for the contents (good and bad) of this Newsletter. I invite your comments, notes about your favorite restaurants, activities, etc. E-mail me at
stern_assoc@sbc global.net or fax me at (626) 7986885, or write me at 3345 N. Marengo Ave., Altadena, CA 91001.
☺Tours
of Kauai’s Makauwahi Sinkhole
(see “Did You Know?” above) are given from
10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Sundays. Write to
[email protected] or call (808)482-1059.
☺Visit John/Chris Ferguson’s Kalaheo Coffee Co. & Café at its new location across from
Brick Oven Pizza. This long-time breakfastlunch favorite now serves dinner Wednesday
thru Saturday in an indoor/outdoor setting.
The Kahala Board looks forward to seeing
you in April 2007. Aloha, Marta Stern
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