Ko Olina Resort Construction?

[Hockey guy]

Headed for Ko Olina for a week in June (Waoihai the following week) and wanted to know if construction has begun on the 4th Tower? I understand construction may have started on the property adjacent and north of the resort but I am more concerned about whether there's any construction directly on site at the resort. (Will be sending in tower/room location preferences very soon. Don't want to blow it!)

Any other news about Ko Olina (or Waiohai) changes would be welcome too. Thanks.

 

[GregT]

Headed for Ko Olina for a week in June (Waoihai the following week) and wanted to know if construction has begun on the 4th Tower? I understand construction may have started on the property adjacent and north of the resort but I am more concerned about whether there's any construction directly on site at the resort. (Will be sending in tower/room location preferences very soon. Don't want to blow it!)

Any other news about Ko Olina (or Waiohai) changes would be welcome too. Thanks.

No construction currently on-going and I think we will see construction on the adjacent parcel to the north before we see Tower 4. I think the adjacent parcel will impact how we think about views at Ko Olina.

Best,

Greg

 

[jcjl1]

I was just there and not a hint of construction for the 4th tower or any other parcel.

 

[jpc763]

No construction currently on-going and I think we will see construction on the adjacent parcel to the north before we see Tower 4. I think the adjacent parcel will impact how we think about views at Ko Olina.

Best,

Greg

Greg,

What are they constructing on the adjacent parcel to the north?

John

 

[snackyx]

I do enjoy asking the Marriott reps during our "owners update" about Tower 4. Every year, for the last five years, I have been told that construction is about to start, probably in the next few months. The last guy told me that not only is tower 4 coming, but there WILL be a tower 5---"we need the inventory!!!"

Don't hold your breath.

 

[GregT]

Greg,

What are they constructing on the adjacent parcel to the north?

John

It was reported somewhere that a Chinese investment group purchased the parcel for $200M and intends to build two luxury resorts on it, each with 150 units (I think one is a hotel and the other is fractional residences).

Irrespective, that parcel sits close to the lagoons, and depending on where the buildings are positioned, I think it will impact the view from Hale Kona (and maybe even for Hale Naia), both of which are angled to look to the north -- where the new construction will be. I've tried to visualize on Google Earth what would happen if you put a smaller version of Aulani (which has 440 rooms across two large buildings) on the parcel, and I don't know how the new construction couldn't impact the existing views.

It will be an adjustment for all for us who have become accustomed to the current viewplane, but there are many examples of other properties (MOC, HHV to name a couple) where there are adjacent buildings in the view plane, and it's never bothered me. It will just be new to us at Ko Olina.

Best,

Greg

 

[mjm1]

It was reported somewhere that a Chinese investment group purchased the parcel for $200M and intends to build two luxury resorts on it, each with 150 units (I think one is a hotel and the other is fractional residences).

Irrespective, that parcel sits close to the lagoons, and depending on where the buildings are positioned, I think it will impact the view from Hale Kona (and maybe even for Hale Naia), both of which are angled to look to the north -- where the new construction will be. I've tried to visualize on Google Earth what would happen if you put a smaller version of Aulani (which has 440 rooms across two large buildings) on the parcel, and I don't know how the new construction couldn't impact the existing views.

It will be an adjustment all for us who have become accustomed to the current viewplane, but there are many examples of other properties (MOC, HHV to name a couple) where there are adjacent buildings in the view plane, and it's never bothered me. It will just be new to us at Ko Olina.

Best,

Greg

I seem to recall hearing at a resort manager meeting a couple years ago that any development on that property would have height limitations. I think it was four floors. That was before the Chinese company bought the property, so I'm not sure if that would still apply.

We will be there in early June, so will ask about it.

Best,

Mike

 

[jpc763]

It was reported somewhere that a Chinese investment group purchased the parcel for $200M and intends to build two luxury resorts on it, each with 150 units (I think one is a hotel and the other is fractional residences).

Irrespective, that parcel sits close to the lagoons, and depending on where the buildings are positioned, I think it will impact the view from Hale Kona (and maybe even for Hale Naia), both of which are angled to look to the north -- where the new construction will be. I've tried to visualize on Google Earth what would happen if you put a smaller version of Aulani (which has 440 rooms across two large buildings) on the parcel, and I don't know how the new construction couldn't impact the existing views.

It will be an adjustment for all for us who have become accustomed to the current viewplane, but there are many examples of other properties (MOC, HHV to name a couple) where there are adjacent buildings in the view plane, and it's never bothered me. It will just be new to us at Ko Olina.

Best,

Greg

I had thought that they bought the land between the Beach Villas and the Aulani, but further research indicates that they bought the land between the Beach Club and Beach Villas.

So it looks like we are going to have an Atlantis Hotel next door. Bummer.

Here is a map of the area.

 

[dioxide45]

I had thought that they bought the land between the Beach Villas and the Aulani, but further research indicates that they bought the land between the Beach Club and Beach Villas.

So it looks like we are going to have an Atlantis Hotel next door. Bummer.

Here is a map of the area.

Were there not two recent sales of parcels? One by a Chinese company and another by the company wanting to build the Atlantis style resort? If so, I think your original thought is still right.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/...s-aquarium-resort-being-finalized-at-ko-olina

Atlantis Resorts company is working out the final details of a deal to build the resort on a 15-acre parcel of land on the Diamond Head side of Disney's Aulani Resort, sources said.

 

[slum808]

That is correct. Two separate deals were announced. The Chinese company will develop two resort buildings on the parcel next to the Marriott. They have also purchased a large parcel near the freeway. Previous plans for this Parcel included a golf course and homes.

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/...necting-kapolei-to-ko-olina-resort-being.html

 

[jpc763]

Well it is a slow Friday at work so I dug into county records.

Parcel A is owned by TAT KO OLINA 25 LLC
Parcel B is owned by KO OLINA HOTEL #7 LLC & HRT REALTY LLC
Parcel C is owned by OCEANWIDE RESORT HI LLC
Parcel D is owned by OCEANWIDE RESORT HI LLC
Parcel E is owned by OCEANWIDE RESORT HI LLC

It appears that the Atlantis will be built on Parcel A (news reports talk about a 15 acre parcel & parcel B is only 10 while A is almost 15).

I am not sure what will be built on B

C, D & E are supposed to contain a 150 unit condo tower and another 150 room hotel.

So both of the large open beach front areas are scheduled for construction in the near future.

I wonder how the lagoons are going to fare with that many more people in them. Lagoon 1 has definitely gotten worse since the opening of Aulani. Lagoon 2 has been my favorite snorkel spot for visibility and fish life.

 

[Hockey guy]

Bldg/Room Preferences

Another question (possibly for a different thread.... if so, sorry....) . Multi weeks owner spending 1 week at Ko Olina and 1 at Waiohai in June. Gave the Vacation Advisor some bldg/room preferences when I made the reservations back last year. Called Orlando last week to check/update preferences and was told that they don't do that anymore. And that it is done via e-mail via the booked resort 2 -3 weeks out.

We are at 3 weeks out and I've heard NOTHING from the resorts.

I am planning to call MVCI HQ again to confirm this and also the resorts but wondered if anyone else was aware of this policy?

We are pretty picky about where we stay and have specific room # and bldg requests. We've done this enough to know how important it is to be at the front of the line the 1st day (hour) reservations open up for us. And have back up plans - 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices too. But we sometimes have to let resort A and B know that we are on multi week consecutive stays - even tho at different resorts. (It does make a difference....)

My original stated preferences should be in the comments/notes portion of my reservation but the Vacation Advisor didn't even look a them and seemed more interested in simply handing this topic off to the resorts and their e-mail systems.

I hate to leave this simply in the hands of the front desk so what would you do if you were in my shoes?

 

[dioxide45]

Another question (possibly for a different thread.... if so, sorry....) . Multi weeks owner spending 1 week at Ko Olina and 1 at Waiohai in June. Gave the Vacation Advisor some bldg/room preferences when I made the reservations back last year. Called Orlando last week to check/update preferences and was told that they don't do that anymore. And that it is done via e-mail via the booked resort 2 -3 weeks out.

We are at 3 weeks out and I've heard NOTHING from the resorts.

I am planning to call MVCI HQ again to confirm this and also the resorts but wondered if anyone else was aware of this policy?

We are pretty picky about where we stay and have specific room # and bldg requests. We've done this enough to know how important it is to be at the front of the line the 1st day (hour) reservations open up for us. And have back up plans - 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices too. But we sometimes have to let resort A and B know that we are on multi week consecutive stays - even tho at different resorts. (It does make a difference....)

My original stated preferences should be in the comments/notes portion of my reservation but the Vacation Advisor didn't even look a them and seemed more interested in simply handing this topic off to the resorts and their e-mail systems.

I hate to leave this simply in the hands of the front desk so what would you do if you were in my shoes?

You will get a preference email, but they don't always come out exactly three weeks out.

That said, any preference email you get is not going to provide you the ability to give the resort the kind of detailed request that it seems you want to place. It is usually very difficult to meet a specific unit # request. Oft that unit number is tied to a different checkin date than you are checking in on.

Your best bet is to call the resort directly. In fact, the people at the front desk are accustomed to receiving these requests and it is probably best to actually put it in their hands. I would trust them over relying on Owner Services. Quite often after filling out the generic request form, you will get an email from the rooms coordinator. It is a reply to that email that we often use to place more specific requests.

 

[Hockey guy]

You will get a preference email, but they don't always come out exactly three weeks out.

That said, any preference email you get is not going to provide you the ability to give the resort the kind of detailed request that it seems you want to place. It is usually very difficult to meet a specific unit # request. Oft that unit number is tied to a different checkin date than you are checking in on.

Your best bet is to call the resort directly. In fact, the people at the front desk are accustomed to receiving these requests and it is probably best to actually put it in their hands. I would trust them over relying on Owner Services. Quite often after filling out the generic request form, you will get an email from the rooms coordinator. It is a reply to that email that we often use to place more specific requests.

Thanks. Got an e-mail from 1 resort 2 years ago. heard nothing from the 2nd one and had to call. Recall that the e-mail was non specific.To be honest, i'm just trying to cover all bases so I appreciate your advise to call the resort.

 

[GregT]

I would definitely call the resorts 3 weeks before arrival and talk to Room Assignments. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Best,

Greg

 

[mjm1]

We are at MKO this week and we stopped by the Ko Olina office by Monkeypod today. The person we spoke with said that the Chinese company is teaming with Ritz Carlton to develop the property next to MKO and an Atlantis property will be developed next to Aulani. She also said that the height of the developments will be limited to 15 stories rather than the 4 that was shared with me two years ago. Not sure how accurate that information is. She didn't have information about timing.

She also indicated that a shopping/restaurant area may be built on the property next to the harbor. Given the anticipated growth of the area that would be a welcome addition.

Best regards.

Mike