Hokuala, a $800 million development project, is expected to create 700 jobs on the island. “It’s exciting for Lihue, for people to have a job where they live,” said Mike Cuthbertson, managing director of Timbers Resorts. “People won’t have to
Hokuala, a $800 million development project, is expected to create 700 jobs on the island.
“It’s exciting for Lihue, for people to have a job where they live,” said Mike Cuthbertson, managing director of Timbers Resorts. “People won’t have to commute long distances, so they can be outside and enjoy the island.”
Based in Colorado, Timbers Resorts specializes in boutique, private resorts, hotels and residences in the world’s most sought after destinations. They have properties in Italy, California, Florida, Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The 450-acre piece of land on Kauai, behind the Kauai Marriott Resort, was acquired in January 2015 by Timbers Resorts for $60 million.
Once construction is complete, Hokuala, which means rising star, will boast a hotel, single-family homes, condominiums, boutique stores, a restaurant and a golf course, all with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and the Ninini Point Lighthouse.
Since those views are iconic, architects are making them the focal point of the design, Cuthbertson said.
“Everybody can build great sticks and bricks, but you have to have a soul in your property. We’re building around the natural environment,” he said. “This is Kauai, and we shouldn’t distract from the absolute beauty of the island. I want people to be wowed by what’s around them.”
Architects are accomplishing that by using Earth-toned colors and layering the buildings and golf course so everyone has a view.
“The buildings recede into the environment; they’re understated,” Cuthbertson said.
The Hokuala property, which is encircled by a 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, will have about 600 units. It will be completed in four phases and construction will wrap sometime after 2020, Cuthbertson said.
The first phase, which includes the construction of Timbers Kauai-Ocean Club & Residence, a three-building complex of condominiums and townhomes, will be completed in June 2017. The units will go on the market the following month, Cuthbertson said.
Between the three buildings, called Kaiholo, Maliula and Laloa Townhomes, there will be 47 units. It will offer 2-to-4-bedroom units, which will cost up to $6 million. Amenities will include a private Ocean Club restaurant, a pool with a water slide, a fitness center and spa.
Ocean Club & Residence, which comes at a $140 million price tag, will be taking over the buildings that were once the Ritz Carlton, Cuthbertson said.
“Everyone who flies into the Lihue Airport sees the vacant property. It’s been here forever,” he said.
Based on 600 units and an average of two people a unit, that would mean 1,200 people on site.
Because the Ritz Carlton and the Marriott had developments on the land, traffic and environmental studies for Hokuala were “grandfathered in,” said Dania Jimenez, account director for the Murphy O’Brien Public Relations Firm, which is representing Timbers Resort.
But, Timbers Resorts officials plan to update the studies specially for Hokuala, she said.
On Friday, construction crews were on site, pouring concrete onto the foundation.
“This is the first pour on the property since 2008,” Cuthbertson said.
Phase 1 also includes the construction of The Residences at Ninini Point, a 48-lot golf neighborhood with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, renovating the 7,200-square-foot restaurant where Sharkey’s Restaurant used to be located and beautification projects like trimming the lagoon islands, connecting hiking trails and renovating the golf course.
Cuthbertson hopes to offer a water taxi service between the lagoons and connect 14 miles of hiking trails. The company is investing about $24 million in beautification projects, he said.
“When this is built, I always say my perfect evening will be taking a water taxi through the lagoons, eat dinner at the restaurant, while watching the sunset, and hiking back through the coastal path,” he said.
Cuthbertson, who has two daughters, said he thinks of them and what they would want to do when building new resorts.
“I try to do things so families can be together,” he said. “I want to create a home for them.”
Phase 2 includes the construction of a Timbers Resort hotel. Phase 3 will be the construction of 43 single-family house lots, with golf course and mountain views. The final phase is the building of hotel villas.
