Envision Laie

Envision Laie is a master-planned community development proposed by the Mormon church’s development arm (known as Hawaii Reserves, Inc.).  It would involve the construction of thousands of housing units on 663 acres of land in Malaekahana, north of Laie, on the North Shore.  Many members of the LDS Church have come out in support of this project.  Other residents are concerned about the traffic impact of the development, changing the character of the North Shore from the last rural area on Oahu to another city and population expansion.  Many of those opposed to the project have also opposed the Turtle Bay Resort Expansion; many of those in support of the project have also supported Turtle Bay.

The Ko‘olauloa Neighborhood Board voted in favor of the project in December 2013.

Hawaii Reserves, Inc. is also constructing a 222-room Courtyard By Marriott at the site of the former 49-room Laie Inn.  This will be a limited service hotel.  The company plans to staff the hotel with a lot of student interns from BYU, but there will probably be other full-time jobs as well.

One controversial issue is whether or not the Envision Laie and Turtle Bay projects should be incorporated as part of the Ko‘olauloa Sustainable Communities Plan (KLSCP).  Community and environmental groups opposed to the plans argue that including them in the KLSCP is an endorsement of the projects by the City.

Aiea Live Work Play

  • Master-planned commercial, office, residential and restaurant development adjacent to Pearlridge Mall at the former site of the Kam Swap Meet.  This development is mostly residential and is being built close to a proposed rail station.
  • Although there may be a small (120-room) non-union, limited service hotel as part of this plan, Local 5 did not weigh in on the project.  The hotel would likely have less than 30 workers.

Koa Ridge

  • This is a 5,000 unit housing development spread out on 767 acres of land between Waipio and Mililani, which will include a neighborhood center, commercial development and potentially a health center or a non-unon hotel.
  • This project already has all of its necessary permits.  The final key step, rezoning the land, was approved by City Council in 2013. 
  • This project is in Ron Menor’s district – he attempted to amend the rezoning approval to push for a better mix of affordable units to be built within the project.  Local 5 testified in support of Menor’s proposed amendment.  When the amendment failed, Menor still voted in favor of the plan.
  • Local 5 has not weighed in on this project as a whole.

Ho‘opili

  • Ho’opili is a residential & mixed-use planned community to be built in the Kapolei area.  It will include 11,750 homes, five schools, shops and restaurants.
  • Local 5 did not weigh in on this project.
  • This project already has all of its necessary permits.

The International Marketplace

  • Developer Taubman Centers purchased the International Marketplace in 2011 or 2012 with plans to kick out all of the vendors, demolish the structures there, close and demolish the Miramar Hotel, and then construct a 3-story luxury mall along Kalakaua Avenue, anchored by a Saks Fifth Avenue store.  The project already has its approvals and is underway.
  • Local 5 did not weigh in on this project.