NAWILIWILI — Tuesday was the real deal, said Gary Siracusa, director of construction for Hokuala Kauai, new owners of the former Kauai Lagoons. “We’re turning the dirt,” Siracusa said. “We’re hurrying because the first new owners are scheduled to arrive
NAWILIWILI — Tuesday was the real deal, said Gary Siracusa, director of construction for Hokuala Kauai, new owners of the former Kauai Lagoons.
“We’re turning the dirt,” Siracusa said. “We’re hurrying because the first new owners are scheduled to arrive in the summer 2017.”
The ground was being broken for the Timbers Kauai Ocean Club and residences, a $140 million project which will cover nearly 20 acres overlooking Nawiliwili Bay, said Mike Cuthbertson, managing director at Hokuala.
“This is the first phase of Hokuala,” Cuthbertson said. “When the project is completed, it will offer 47 units spread out over three buildings. We’re looking at completion of this project in early 2017.”
The area overlooks Running Waters and the Ninini Point Lighthouse.
The basic footprints of the buildings were done before the project was shut down, Siracusa said.
The first building will have seven units, he said. The second building will house 14 units, and the remainder of the units being townhouse type in the third building.
A handful of people, including representatives of Poss Architecture and Planning and Layton Construction, wielded digging sticks to break through the overgrowth and soil under the guidance of Kahu Wayne Vidinha of Ke Akua Mana Church, who blessed and dedicated the project to Hokuala Kauai, a Timbers Resort.
“I was with the Marriott in a similar capacity,” Siracusa said. “We had to shut this project down when the economy turned bad. It is a good feeling to come back and bring this project to fruition. It’s closure.”
