PO‘IPU — Developers are “dropping like flies” and the timing of the global economic crisis “was about as bad as it gets” for Po‘ipu’s Kukui‘ula Development, said Brent Harrington, the company’s president. Yet nothing has stopped the South Shore enterprise
PO‘IPU — Developers are “dropping like flies” and the timing of the global economic crisis “was about as bad as it gets” for Po‘ipu’s Kukui‘ula Development, said Brent Harrington, the company’s president. Yet nothing has stopped the South Shore enterprise from “charging forward.”
The decision was a real “gut check” because “nobody knew where business was going,” he said.
“Other developments made the other choice,” said Kukui‘ula Village Marketing Consultant Veronica Lovesy.
“Or had it made for them,” Harrington added.
On the other hand, the South Shore has been buzzing with construction activity from Kaua‘i contractors such as Shioi Construction due to Kukui‘ula’s decision to plunge onward.
The first handful of sold homes, along with residential amenities — which include a golf course, pool, spa and clubhouse — are in the midst of assembly, with intentions of nearing completion by the end of the year, Harrington said during a tour of the property June 25.
This means the black tarps that line the South Shore roads will soon be removed, he added.
Housing
The community is expected to eventually house around 5,000 individuals with some 1,500 “full-spectrum” residential units on 1,000 acres of land, Harrington said.
From “fancy, view-oriented estate homes” costing in the millions, to “nice-but-not-fancy condos” with a price tag of around $500,000, to “worker housing” costing between the high $200,000s to $400,000.
Around 10 to 12 “different price points” will exist, Harrington said.
There hasn’t been “a stitch of advertising” yet and only 81 lots have been purchased thus far (worth about $110 million), mostly consisting of secondary homeowners who scooped up the properties prior to the economic crisis, he said.
“We recognize this is a 20- to 30-year project,” Harrington said. And “the smartest thing we can do” is acknowledge that “the world is changing and consumer attitude” is evolving.
Sales will likely not “re-ignite” until the third or fourth quarter of this year, Harrington said.
Resident community
Even though the entire endeavor has been “very expensive” — some $300 million to date — when it comes to fruition, it will be the first of its kind on Kaua‘i, Lovesy said.
The “club community” will include a 20-acre organic farm which includes a fish pond, 14 miles of recreational paths, multiple pools, a clubhouse where families and individuals can gather, sand volleyball, spa services, a fitness center, as well as a restaurant and drinking establishment.
The “big idea” is to have a combination of “beautiful amenities” for the residents where the “grounded to earth-feel” facilities are owned by them “rather than for-profit,” Harrington said while walking through the plantation-style clubhouse last month.
“It’s meant to attract families,” said Kukui‘ula General Manager Kurt Matsumoto, as he stepped into the “arcade” room adjacent to the “living room” of the clubhouse, which is under construction.
Even the restaurant, which not only has a “private dining room” and “generous seating outside,” emulates lu‘au-style seating aimed at bringing residents together, he said.
“Part of living in a community like this is getting to know each other,” Matsumoto said.
Although these particular amenities are for residents only, Kaua‘i kama‘aina will be invited to play golf on the more than 200 acres for only $35.
“This is going to be a great facility,” Matsumoto said.
And when the community is “fully operating,” some 200 employees will likely be hired, Harrington said.
Shopping village
Other areas the development company has already been involved with as far as employment is concerned is the 87,400-square-foot Kukui‘ula Village shopping center which connects to the western bypass road and roundabout (both also engineered by the enterprise), Harrington said.
More than 70 percent of the space at the shopping center has been leased to local businesses, Lovesy said.
The $55-million shopping village opened in August 2009 with almost 10 businesses.
“The economy is tough,” she said. Merchants were eager to open their doors because “normally, we wouldn’t open with that few … but they were ready to go.”
Lappert’s Coffee and Ice Cream, Josselin’s Tapas Bar and Grill and Dude Dogs are just a few of the businesses currently in operation and reportedly experiencing about 70-percent kama‘aina and 30-percent visitor patrons, Lovesy said.
“I’m very gratified” to see the local community taking advantage of what the “beautifully-landscaped” center has to offer, Harrington said.
And individuals won’t likely be seeing any “big-box retail” in the “collection of the one-of-a-kind buildings,” he said.
“I promise you there is a market” for large corporations, but “our vision was to go against” that and offer “mom-and-pop” enterprises, Harrington said. And the “plan is to keep it that way.”
Environmental
As far as keeping the shopping center, golf course and properties “beautifully-landscaped,” Harrington said non-potable, drip irrigation is being utilized.
“We’re trying to be sensitive to the resources,” he said.
In fact, all of the homes are being constructed in an earth-friendly manner, with regards to the “natural flow of water” and orientation of the sun, he said.
“We rejected out-right, old-school re-engineering of the land,” Harrington said.
Visit www.kukuiula.com for more information.
