PO‘IPU — Members of a local union are protesting a decision by the owner of a major South Shore resort to award a multimillion-dollar renovation work to a Mainland contractor instead of hiring local workforce. Kaua‘i Carpenters Union members have
PO‘IPU — Members of a local union are protesting a decision by the owner of a major South Shore resort to award a multimillion-dollar renovation work to a Mainland contractor instead of hiring local workforce.
Kaua‘i Carpenters Union members have been bannering for the last three weeks the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort in Po‘ipu because the resort’s owner, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, chose to award a $15.9 million renovation project to a Mainland general contractor rather than hire locally.
“Fifty-eight percent of our members are out of work right now, and we have contractors that are competitive,” said Sean Mahoney, field representative for Hawai‘i Carpenters Union Local 745. “With the economy the way it is here, I think Starwood has a community obligation to go with local bidders. Instead, they give the contract to a company based in Houston. They’re bringing workers over from the mainland and housing them while we have workers here losing their houses.”
The bannering — in front of the resort’s sign at the intersection of Kapili and Po‘ipu Beach roads — began March 27 and will continue indefinitely, Mahoney said.
The timing of the bidding, in December, was a big indicator Starwood did not intend to award the contract to local workers and may have already had a company in mind for the project, he said.
“Our main point was we just wanted a fair shot at getting a bid.” Mahoney said. “The bid was between Christmas and New Years, and that’s not usually a time people can get things together. I’ve never heard of anybody putting up a bid between Christmas and New Years.”
Private construction contracts do not require competitive bidding, unlike county, state or federal contracts.
Starwood awarded Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort’s renovation contract to Case and Associates General Contractors, of Texas. According the company’s website, it specializes in hotel construction and renovation and has contracted with the Sheraton for projects in Atlanta, Sunnyvale, Calif., and Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Sheraton’s site demolition for the remodeling began early March. The project is expected to be completed in September, the resort’s marketing and sales director, Alvin Wong, said in March.
“It’s a total remodel concept,” said Wong, adding that the renovation includes the ocean wing’s courtyard, lobby and pool, the spa and fitness center and restaurants. The Point and Shells restaurants will be combined into a Rum Fire restaurant with nine fire pits, similar to the one in Waikiki’s Sheraton.
When contacted Thursday regarding the bannering in Po‘ipu by the Carpenters Union, Wong said, “I know they have presence out there and are asserting certain things, but I don’t know the details.”
Wong said he would forward the requests for comments to Sheraton’s public relations office. However, there was still no response by the end of the next business day.
The Po‘ipu resort is seeking an on-site public relations manager to represent the company, according to Sheraton’s website.
“We think Starwood is continuing to profit at the expense of residents and there needs to be some consideration for the people that live here.” Mahoney said. “With all the people that are on unemployment here, I think they should have taken a look at how they can help locals … We’re just trying to put some awareness out there.”
