WAILEA, HI, December 14, 2008
/24-7PressRelease/ -- Not far from the hustle and bustle of Kihei Town, is another world all together known as Makena. It could be one of the most beautiful, pristine beaches in Hawaii if not the world. A mile long and 100 yards wide at points the beach is set against a backdrop of native forest. It is magnificent Maui. The Makena area is home to endangered sea life and flora, exceptional scenic beauty, superlative public recreation, rich cultural and historic significance. Unfortunately, Makena is threatened by 800 ultra luxury homes to be developed by builder Dowling and land owner Morgan Stanley called Makena Resort. The community will have private golf courses, private beach clubs and private gates sealing off the area, all in contradiction to the Kihei-Makena community plan.
The opportunity has never been better with the softening of real estate land prices for the State and County to work together to purchase as much of Makena as possible. The 1800 acres were purchased by Morgan Stanley at the height of the real estate boom for $560 million or $311 thousand per acre and would be valued much less today. The County intends to spend $20 million building a highway out to the Makena Resort without a citizens vote but could use that money towards expanding Makena State Park. The government doesn't need to flit the entire bill as local philanthropists, land trust, large charitable foundations and other groups could step up to the plate.
The Governor of Hawaii, Linda Lingle, in a bid to protect the North Shore of Oahu from developers, proposed the State buy Turtle Bay, one of the last natural beach areas on the island. For a similar reason, preserving and sharing wild Hawaii for generations to come, the government in partnership with others should acquire as much of the Makena area from Morgan Stanley as feasible. The time is now.
Contact Information:
Lawrence K. Burke
The Makena Group
lkburke@makenagroup.comAbout The Makena Group
Lawrence K. Burke is a Principal in The Makena Group sustainability consultants and publisher of the Green Maui Guide. He holds an MBA from Harvard University and a BA in Economics from Stanford University.
Source: The Makena Group
Website:
http://www.makenagroup.com---
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