The Makaha Hotel and Resort in Leeward Oahu will be demolished soon. Owner Pacific Links says it may build a new hotel on the site.
The Makaha Hotel and Resort in West Oahu, which has been closed for about three years, will be demolished as soon as possible to make way for future redevelopment of the property that may include the rebuilding of a new hotel, the owner of the 40-year-old resort told PBN Tuesday.
Pacific Links Hawaii, which gained control of the 173-room Makaha Hotel and Resort through foreclosure earlier this year, said, through its Chief Operating Officer Micah Kane, that the clubhouse will remain intact in the hopes that it will play an important role in the redevelopment.
Pacific Links, which owns and operates 10 golf courses in Hawaii, on the Mainland and in China, is currently going through the approval process for the $30 million redesign of its Makaha West Golf Club near the resort. Legendary PGA Tour pro Greg Norman — “The Shark” — is handling the redesign of the course.
Kane told PBN that Pacific Links Hawaii is still very much in the listening and learning stage, but it hopes to begin the redevelopment of the Makaha West Golf course in early 2015 and solidify a resort partner in that time period.
Plans are being vetted with community members of the Makaha Valley Steering Committee, he said.
The Makaha Hotel and Resort was once one of the largest employers on the Leeward Coast, supporting hundreds of families in Makaha, Waianae and Nanakuli.
Kane said that the economic and social impact of a new hotel could provide a huge economic boost for this community, and that Pacific Links has been working very closely with the community to understand the aspirations and concerns for the valley, address issues and move community projects forward.
Demolition of the long-shuttered resort is part of the groundwork to attract a quality resort partner, one that respects Hawaiian culture, is environmentally responsible and recognizes the inherent beauty and history of the land, Kane said.
Late last year, Pacific Links Hawaii filed a request with the City and County of Honolulu to change the zoning of about 30 acres of a nearly 90-acre parcel of land from general agriculture district to general preservation district at the Makaha West Golf Course.
The city’s notice said that the purpose of the proposed zone change is to include the additional acreage in the renovation of the existing golf course and allow golf course use of the land under the proposed zoning.
In Hawaii, Pacific Links owns the Kapolei Golf Club, the Olomana Golf Links in Waimanalo and the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club in Kailua, as well as the Makaha Golf Club West and Makaha Golf Club East.
Duane Shimogawa Reporter – Pacific Business News
I think that a new hotel would be a very nice replacement for the old building. We can always use more hotels, especially in areas like this that have a more touristy feel. I know I would like to stay in this area!