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BOTTLE AND CAN RECYCLING PROGRAM STRENGTHENS
No one was quite certain what to expect when Hawaii's bottle and can deposit bill became law back in October of 2004. That's when  the 5 cent deposit for all cans and bottles sold in the State went into effect. The program had a number of glitches, from too few redemption centers to confusion as to what could be redeemed.
Slowly but surely the wrinkles have been ironed out of the program and the results show it. In the first fiscal year of the project, 41% of containers were recycled. The second fiscal year saw an increase to 58%. And so far this fiscal year 73% of the State's redeemable containers came back, exceeding the original optimistic estimate of 70%.
Here on Kauai visitors can help in one of two ways. They can take their cans and bottles in themselves for redemption or they can simply deposit them in one of the large metal green containers found around the island. These containers also allow for the recycling of newspapers, magazines and cardboard in addition to cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles. On the south shore there is a container conveniently located at Brenneckes Beach Broiler in Poipu. There's another adjacent to the Lawai Post Office and a third in Lihue behind K-Mart. Mahalo to everyone that helps keep Kauai the beautifully pristine place we love and enjoy by taking a few minutes to recycle.
Go! Given Okay to Use Commuter Terminal
Hawaii's newest interisland carrier-go!-will fly out of the commuter terminal at Honolulu Airport instead of the crowded interisland terminal, which would have been more costly for the airline. Mesa Air Group, which operates go!, said the State agreed to let it use the commuter facility.
The decision reverses an earlier notice from the State Transportation Department saying go! would have to share a portion of the interisland terminal with Aloha Airlines. The commuter terminal currently houses Island Air, Pacific Wings and Mokulele Airlines. Go! Said it wanted to use the smaller terminal to keep its costs down. The airline plans to begin flying on June 9th with two planes.
KIKIAOLA HARBOR PROJECT ON TRACK
Anyone that has taken a boat trip up the Napali Coast has most likely departed from Kikiaola Harbor. That's the location of the majority of the tour boat companies offering snorkel and sunset cruises of this beautiful stretch of Kauai coastline. And the first question that probably comes to mind to the mainland visitor coming into this area for the first time is "Why is this such a desolate looking area?"
The answer is complex, as is so much of the history of Kauai. The area was never intended to be a destination for tour boat companies as can be seen by the proliferation of warehouse buildings interspersed with oil storage tanks. After a protracted battle on the north shore resulted in the banning of almost all tour operations out of Hanalei Bay, the industry landed in force at Kikiaola Harbor. It was at first, ill equipped to handle the large influx.
Recently a modern commercial development has vastly improved the area's appearance. Several of the boat companies, an absolutely marvelous homemade chocolate candy store and other retail stores have added a lot of appeal to the area.
Now U.S. Senator Ed Case has announced that a $9 million dollar project for improving the Harbor is very much alive and on the books of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, Alexander and Baldwin have announced two projects in the area, one for single family homes and the second for condos. Both projects required purchasers to live in the properties for one year after purchase and gave preference to buyers paying taxes on Kauai.
WILCOX FAMILY SUES STEVE CASE
The Wilcox family recently filed a civil suit against Steve Case, Grove Farm's attorneys, and its Board of Directors, stating that they were deceived into selling Grove Farm in 2000. Since the sale, the plaintiffs point to the sale of portions of Grove Farm totaling between $150 and $200 million, yet still leaving 20,000 acres of property left.
It should be very interesting to see the outcome of the suit. Many of those living on the island were delighted with the improvements Case did to Kukui Grove at a cost of many millions of dollars. As a result of the improvements, major anchor tenants such as Starbucks, Jamba Juice and Macy's Home Center were attracted. It shouldn't be surprising, then, that the center sold for a great deal more than its original purchase price.
Another part of the Grove Farm purchase was the Pua Kea Golf Course, which at the time was a 10 hole course. Case spent the money to enlarge the course to 18 holes, built a new club house and then proceeded to sell lots on the newly added nine holes. And would it surprise anyone to learn that the lots in and around the now expanded 18 hole golf course sold for a lot more than the ones on the old 10 hole course?
There may very well be other issues that come to light as this case grinds its way through the legal system over the coming years. And it will be ultimately up to the courts to decide if in fact the Wilcox family was deceived into selling.
SHERATON KAUAI RENOVATION
Phase one the Sheraton Kauai Resort's $24 million renovation project at the Poipu Beach resort will begin in May, with all 412 rooms slated for redecoration. The new room design, called "Tropical" uses earth tones accented with blue to reflect the surrounding landscape. The upscale Ocean and Beach wings of the hotel will include flat-screen televisions, granite countertops and teak bathroom racks. Renovation of the public areas and restaurants is scheduled to begin after the completion of phase one in September.
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