• 2004 – Looking back, and ahead – 2005 2004 – Looking back, and ahead – 2005 The past year is one that will be looked back upon as a year of boom and change for Kaua‘i. The prosperity of
• 2004 – Looking back, and ahead – 2005
2004 – Looking back, and ahead – 2005
The past year is one that will be looked back upon as a year of boom and change for Kaua‘i. The prosperity of the Island boomed with record numbers of visitor arrivals, record home prices and a new record population size reached.
The visitor industry hit its stride again, in a way as big, if not bigger, than the records set in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was a time when developers stepped up to launch and propose visitor-related projects. The Poipu Beach Hotel is to be revitalized, as well as the Coco Palms. A new resort broke ground in Waipouli. Starwood’s plans for a new hotel type project for Princeville were unveiled. A&B’s resort development mauka of Lawai Beach Road came a big step closer to reality. And the arrival of a new owner for Princeville will surely mean an uptick in the pace of development at the 11,000-acre resort.
What this means for Kaua‘i is potenially hundreds, if not thousands of new jobs plus many new service industry entrepneurial opportunities. It also means Kaua‘i is likely to take a big step towards becoming more like Maui in population size and development.
The booming real estate market has made the value of thousands of homes go through the ceiling. This is a blessing for the owners, but also a trend that’s pushed high the income level needed to purchase or build a home here. We are in great need of affordable housing for those of moderate income. Hopefully 2005 will be the year we see significant progress made in building homes the average worker can afford.
Our population is edging up to 60,000-plus, a new high for the island and a significant gain since the arrival of Hurricane ‘Iniki in 1992. This gain is being felt on our roads with traffic becoming more of a mess in several areas. As the population grows, so the days of uncrowded beaches, trails and roads become more and more of a memory.
The new year is sure to bring the unexpected. Let’s hope the events of the coming year bring us together as a community, and that some are a part of curing our social evils, like drug abuse and homelessness.
Let’s look back to the good that came in 2004, and be thankful that the Asian tsunami disaster wasn’t a Hawai‘i one.
