Views From The Cliffs - The Cliffs at Princeville
Transcription
Views From The Cliffs TThhee N Neew wsslleetttteerr ooff tthhee C Clliiffffss aatt PPrriinncceevviillllee W ntteerr 22000077 Wiin The purpose of the report is to illuminate aspects of the situation and condition of The Cliffs, which should be interesting to those who receive it. Questions and suggestions should be sent or called to AOAO President, Don Jacobs, (9046 E. Colorado Circle, Denver, CO 80231; (303-750-3214) [email protected]; CCIOA President Gus Daal, 4444 Delaney Drive, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7L 5J2 (905-637-8083) [email protected]; CRVOA President, Chris Stawski, 1139 E. Knapp Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (414-276-8202) [email protected]. Comments on the Newsletter should be sent to the Editor, Lou Genett, 1849 Oakmont Drive, Denver, NC 28037 (704-560-6338) [email protected]. General Manager’s Report K Kiim moo M M.. K Keeaaw wee T he renovation of the Administration Building continues to progress well as the exterior vinyl siding is almost complete. All of the interior partitions included in the contractor’s scope of work have been completed. All of the rough-in for the electrical wiring, telephone and data cables has been completed. The drop ceiling will be completed shortly along with the final A/C hookups. The finish work of the bathrooms has been started and should take about 3 weeks to finish. As part of our new alternative energy system, the LP powered back-up generator has been installed. We anticipate final testing and integration of the system within 30 days. Our facility will have 3 sources of power. Our primary source will be the solar array system that will be backed up by commercial power from our power company, KIUC and finally a LP (liquid propane) powered emergency generator should our other sources fail. It looks like the contractor will finish his work by the beginning of February 2008. In our effort to save costs, our skilled personnel will then begin our portion of the work to finish several of the interior partitions. We look to finish this portion of the work in 30 days. Proposed Restated and Amended CCIOA Declaration and Bylaws We need your help to get these changes passed! We continue to solicit for more proxies from our owners in our attempt to amend the CCIOA declarations and bylaws. For those of you who have sent in your proxies, we thank you for taking the time to address this very important issue. As of mid - December, we are still 575 votes short of passing the Proposed Restated Declarations and Bylaws. We have already received 2129 votes and need 2704 to pass these changes. We continue to send out individual emails and recently sent an additional mailing to those owners who have not voted. If you receive a notice please don’t throw it away. It takes just a few minutes to complete. Mahalo! Ongoing Projects Work continues on the new pool and we look forward to starting this project in the fall of 2008. The Boards recently approved the installation of wireless internet service into all timeshare units. This new feature will allow owners and guests to access internet service from any location within the unit or continue to use the existing hard wire hookup. We also finished filming a virtual tour of the newly renovated units in the Cliffs Club which will be posted on our website. Renovation of Buildings 1 & 2 The renovation of Building 2 was completed on schedule at the end of October and turned over for owners and guests to enjoy. This project included units in both Buildings 1 and 2 and was finished on time and slightly under budget. We continue to receive very positive comments about the new look and quality of the furnishings. Check out the virtual tour on our website. The tour includes a one bedroom and a two bedroom unit. Front Office PROPERTY VIEW Our occupancies continue to average 85%; however owner’s bookings are down from budget. Exchangers are making up that difference as they now make up over 60% of our total occupancy. We have also experienced several weeks this fall where occupancies ran over 98%. We have noticed a major change in the market mix with our trading companies. In the third quarter of 2007 our owners have chosen Interval International as their booking partner well over 50% of the time, while in 2006 during the same time frame, they represented only a little more that 15%. RCI was the preferred exchange company in 2006 but has lost their market share in 2007. Owner Services View of Building Four During 2007 we conducted four foreclosure auctions as part of our collection efforts. As a result of those actions we acquired over 250 intervals. Of that total 200 intervals were sold to an independent timeshare company who was looking for an additional resort location for their club members. This sale represents only 3.6% of our total inventory of 5,406 intervals. Rosarie Kelekoma continues to work with deed backs and foreclosures of delinquent intervals. The next foreclosure proceeding is scheduled for sometime during the first quarter of 2008. One of our goals is to increase individual interval values by selling foreclosed inventory to new owners who can sustain our operating costs through yearly maintenance fees. Values should also increase as we complete our capital improvement projects, including a new pool facility and the renovation of all of the Cliffs Club and Cliffs Resort units. Facilities (Maintenance) Opening in spring 2008 In addition to the recently completed renovation of Buildings 1 and 2 our crew still maintains an ongoing schedule of unit repairs. We have concentrated on responding to work orders generated by our Quality Control program. We are addressing the overall condition and maintenance of each unit prior to occupancy. That often creates challenges, especially with the high occupancy that contributes to their wear and tear. We also responded to larger problems which included a major clog in the sewer line of one of our buildings. Because of our close working relationship with Princeville Utilities Company and their Wastewater Department, we were able to utilize several of their staff and their industrial equipment to clear the lines. Thanks to this combined effort, the use of a commercial plumber was not necessary saving us thousands of dollars. Housekeeping Renovated Housekeeping Headquarters The Housekeeping Department, working along side our Maintenance Department, was instrumental in contributing to the successful completion of the renovation of Buildings 1 and 2. They worked tirelessly during the tail end of the project to get the units ready for the first guests to occupy these “new units”. Page 2 Our Quality Control program continues to improve as the inspection process has now been matched with adequate personnel to complete the noted repairs. We are also including exterior repairs in the mix in our effort to upgrade the standards for the entire property. Once fully implemented the program will include skills training reviews along with updates in the latest industry procedures and standards. 2008 including the construction of a new pool and aquatic center. During this Holiday Season we need to be thankful that we can all enjoy this little piece of paradise on earth. Here’s wishing you and yours: Landscaping & Grounds There has been a concentrated effort by our landscape vendor over the last two months to improve the quality of the property including the trimming and pruning of shrubs along with the general grounds maintenance around several buildings. He has responded with additional personnel and supervisory resources that appear to be making a difference. We will continue to monitor the situation until our standards are met. After experiencing the driest year in recorded history, it was a nice change to see rainfall. Although it was from a storm front, it did go a long way to restoring our environment to a more normal condition. Our reservoirs are filling up and what was once brown has now turned into the lush green we are all used to seeing. The forecast is for a warm and wet winter, which is a good thing. Accounting We are hopeful that many of you will take advantage of our new on-line payment system on our secure website. This will eliminate the delay in manually posting checks and credit card information and allow you to promptly secure your reservations. In addition, by the end of 2007 we will have upgraded our on-line software to allow owners to view their accounts and balances and make changes to their personal information. Our auditors are currently on-site to begin their work for the audit of the 2007 operating year. The audit firm of Myers, Brettholtz, & Company did a good job with the 2006 audit and we have engaged them for the next few years. Administration After years of planning and delays of every description imaginable, 2007 was a year that produced tangible results. What once started as a simple process of acquiring the administration building from the original developer, turned into a decade long process which will culminate with the completion of a newly renovated facility that we look forward to occupying during the first quarter of 2008. The long awaited renovation of the Cliffs Club units saw the completion of the first two buildings in a newly upgraded design. Check out the virtual tour on our website,www.cliffsatprinceville.com. Our timeshare units now have wireless internet capabilities to keep everyone connected in cyberspace. We installed electronic locks that have greater security and require hardly any maintenance. There are many more projects scheduled in Page 3 Mele Kalikimaka and Hauoli Makahiki Hou! THREE DIRECTORS TO BE ELECTED AT 2008 AOAO MEETING At the Twenty-Eighth Annual Meeting on April 18, 2008, the Cliffs AOAO will elect three Directors to the Board. The terms of James Moyes, MD and Gus Daal end in April 2008. In addition, the position previously held by James Quisenberry, PhD is available. Candidate Review Committee Chair Rolf Ramelmeier announces all paid up members who are interested in serving the Association are encouraged to apply. Interested members are to submit brief biographical sketches stating their principal qualifications, education and a written statement of intent to run. All information will be sent to the AOAO Committee on Candidate Review at The Cliffs no later than Thursday, January 31, 2008. The Cliffs is self managed. Board members are responsible for the oversight management of all functions. Candidates with strong financial (accounting), legal and/or management background are encouraged to apply. Directors are appointed to committees and are responsible to introduce or revise policies for the AOAO. Directors attend four meetings a year and participate in as many teleconferences as are needed. AOAO reimburses for all related Board expenses, including coach air travel, ground transportation, lodging and meals. Biographical sketch and written statement of intent are to be sent to AOAO Committee on Candidate Review, Cliffs at Princeville, 3811 Edward Road Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii 96722. Documents may also be sent by fax at (808) 826-1272 or by e-mail to [email protected]. Sidewalks: Our long-range planning committee received an initial bid that was considerably more than we had estimated. They are looking for additional bids and ways to reduce these costs. CLIFFS AOAO Donald M. Jacobs, President A loha Owners and Guests – We recently completed our October Board Meeting. Thanks to all of you who spent the time and attended our meeting. We appreciate your input and thoughts. The following is some of the major items we discussed. Finances: The October board meeting is probably our busiest meeting, except for the Annual Meeting. It is at this meeting we adopt the budget for the next calendar year (beginning January 1) and the capital budget. No one likes an increase, but unfortunately, we are living in a time when we must to keep our property maintained. After many hours of work between our Finance Committee and our staff, specifically Julie Monroe, we finally agreed on a budget that will result in a 6.8% dues increase. This increase is due to various reasons, but the primary ones are: (1) Our insurance premiums increased by 5%; (2) Our utility bills from KIUC continue to go up almost every time the price of oil increases; (3) We need to clean all of the vents in our buildings to prevent mold buildup; (4) Labor costs continue to rise especially with the renovation of the Princeville Hotel and its change from a Starwood to the upscale St. Regis and the coming on-line of the Starwood timeshares almost next door. Whole unit owners will have their monthly maintenance dues increase directly. The increase for timeshare owners is part of their 2008 budgets and included in the dues they pay to their respective Associations. We continue to analyze ways we can keep our costs down. Our Solar Energy project is one alternative we are considering. On a brighter note, our Treasurer, Mark Barra reported operationally we remain about $20,000 ahead of budget. This is due to interest income earned from our investments. We also confirmed our auditors for the next three years. We were pleased with their performance and want to continue the relationship. No Smoking Policy: We approved four smoking designated areas. You can pick up a map of where they are at the front desk. Non-smokers should not be detrimentally affected because they are located away from all of our buildings. We encourage those of you who smoke to put your cigarette butts in the receptacles that will be located in these areas. We would like to avoid having our staff picking up the refuse in these areas. Let’s keep them clean. Pool Area: After our July bid, the consultants began developing the detailed plans required for the renovation. Considering the amount of time it will take to have the various Kauai government departments approve the plans and that we do not want to begin renovation during the summer months, we are now planning to begin during the fall of 2008. This should enable us sufficient time to have the new pool ready to go for next summer. Renovation in Buildings 1 and 2: The CCIOA has completed its remodeling of their units in Buildings 1 and 2. The next buildings scheduled for remodeling are Buildings 3 and 8. Building 3 is scheduled to begin in late spring and Building 8 will be done in the fall of 2008. Solar Energy for Residential Buildings: The Board heard a presentation by a company who will purchase all of the equipment, install it and maintain it. We will pay them a monthly amount that will be approximately $.15/kw hour less than what we currently pay. They will receive the tax credits. The Finance Committee will review their proposal and analyze other financing alternatives. They will present their recommendation at our January board meeting. Tennis Courts: The courts are not wearing as promised. We have asked the company to return to the property to correct the deficiencies. We may have to seek legal redress to get the company to perform. Other upgrades: The Board approved having our architect present us plans to make better use of the putting green area. We plan to keep the putting green, but possibly to add other activities at that location. The Board approved having our architect develop plans to enhance the bathroom facilities at the pool. One of the stipulations is that they be ADA compliant in accordance with our long-range program to insure our entire property conforms to ADA regulations. We appreciate hearing from you. It helps us know we are doing what you want and your comments are most appreciated. Our next meeting will be January 18 at 9:00 am. We hope to see you there. Mahalo Nui. Page 4 CLIFFS CLUB Report Gus Daal, President A Before you hear from me again in my next president’s report, we expect that our new registration building will be in use. The current estimate is March 2008 as the final completion date. I wish to thank our administrative staff for putting up with inadequate space for much too long. We hope you enjoy your new work space as much as we will enjoy meeting you there. We wish you all an enjoyable holiday season and we look forward to seeing you all in the New Year. loha Timeshare Owners. With the snow flying up north, we know that winter is here and, with that the end of 2007. At our last board meeting in October, the Board had an opportunity to evaluate the new furniture package that was installed in building 1 and the progress that was made in building 2. A lot of effort was made especially by Mark Barra, who went to Indonesia to ensure the quality of the furniture was up to our standards and Jerry Hempenius who was instrumental in preparing an accurate list of all furniture components, appliances and electronics required while sticking to a tight budget. Many owners took the opportunity to take a peek at the new look and all the feedback was positive. The refurbished units were supplied with new solid wood furniture, new high quality mattresses, new Corian kitchen counters, laminate flooring in living and dining area, new window treatments and a larger entertainment unit with 32” flat screen TV. The entrance was retiled to match the rest of the updated décor. The refurbishing committee went over the redecorated units with the fine tooth comb to make some minor improvements to the current package. The CCIOA Board has approved the adjusted package to continue with building 3 and 8 in 2008. As of yet, the downturn in the American economy has not had much affect on Hawaii. The Islands, specifically Kauai, continue to grow and the competition for good employees among resorts is fierce. To ensure the Cliffs is able to maintain a qualified staff, we need to pay the employees competitive wages. The payroll is the main reason for our 9.8% increase in maintenance fees for 2008. Have you looked at our web site lately? www.cliffsatprinceville.com. Take advantage of booking popular activities early on line to ensure you don’t miss out. There are also lots of new activities on the island that will be fun for those who “have seen it all”. The annual AGM is scheduled for April as usual and with that, elections for our new Board of Directors. Our nominating committee will be looking for candidates to fill the two vacancies. A new pool has long been high on the wish list for most of our timeshare owners. We are now close to our final approval and we expect a great looking pool area to be ready for the summer of 2009. CANDIDATES SOUGHT FOR CCIOA BOARD Nominating Committee Chair Peter Carlson announces at the Twenty-Third Annual Meeting in Princeville, Kauai, interval owners of the CCIOA will have the opportunity to elect two members to the Board of Directors. The terms of Gerald “Jerry” Hempenius and Louis “Lou” Genett expire on April 19th, 2008. The Nominating Committee invites paid up members with strong financial (accounting), legal and/or management backgrounds, and who are interested in serving three-year terms as Directors to become candidates. Directors are appointed to committees, are expected to attend four meetings a year and participate in as many teleconferences as needed. Board related expenses are reimbursed in accordance with the approved expense policy. Applicants are to submit a summarized biographical background stating principal qualifications, education and experience and a letter of intent to run by fax to (808) 8261272, via E-mail to [email protected], or sent by mail to CCIOA Nominating Committee, Cliffs Club, 3811 Edward Road, Princeville, Kauai, HI 96722. Submition deadline is Thursday, January 31, 2008. Page 5 Cliffs Resort fees in future years to insure that we have adequate reserves to maintain the quality of our CRVOA units. The results of the reserve study are expected shortly. REPORT Christopher Stawski President The bottom line is that you are likely to notice an increase in next year’s maintenance fees. However, rest assured that your CRVOA Board of Directors is doing all that it can to keep your maintenance fees in line with other similar properties. CRVOA – II AGREEMENT FINALIZED CANNINGS APPOINTED TO CMG BOARD I am pleased to report that the agreement between The Cliffs Resort Vacation Owners Association (CRVOA) and Interval International (II) is now signed, sealed and delivered. All that remains to be accomplished is for a representative of II to sign the document and return it to us. I anticipate that this will be occurring within the next several weeks. This means that those of you who are members of II will now be able to trade your CRVOA unit using II. This also means that other II members will be able to trade into The Cliffs Resort. I believe that this will be beneficial for both organizations. Interestingly, I am told that II now has more guests trading into The Cliffs Club than does RCI. This is a dramatic turnaround from as recently as a year ago. It appears that II may be taking some of RCI’s market share away from it. This may be occurring because of RCI’s recent change to a “points” system at many of the resorts that it’s affiliated with. In any event, the CRVOA Board is pleased to allow our owners another avenue by which they may exchange their CRVOA interval and we’re excited about our new collaboration with II. Long-time CRVOA Board member Terry Cannings has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the CMG Board. For those of you not familiar with CMG, it is the entity that owns the fee on a number of units at The Cliffs at Princeville. Terry’s presence on the CMG Board is a sign of how far our organization has come over the course of the past five years. Terry joins another CRVOA Board member, Chuck Gehrke, on the CMG Board of Directors. It is expected that, in the near future, the CMG will announce some exciting new plans for The Cliffs at Princeville. Be sure to watch future editions of this newsletter for an announcement regarding these plans. BUDGET UPDATE By the time you read this article, I expect that we will be well into the budgeting process for 2008. While it is the goal of your Board of Directors to keep maintenance fees at a reasonable level, I anticipate that there will nonetheless be a slight increase in your 2008 maintenance fees. At its October meeting, the AOAO approved its 2008 budget. The CRVOA is necessarily a dues paying member of the AOAO and, as such, your maintenance fees are impacted by any increases in AOAO dues. For reasons that may be explained elsewhere in this Newsletter, the 2008 AOAO dues increased by nearly 7%. As such, it is expected that the CRVOA will likely need to raise its maintenance fees by approximately this amount. In addition, we are in the process of having a new capital reserve study performed. This study will tell us how much we need to put away for improvements in future years. Our last reserve study was completed some years ago and prices for many things have arisen since that last reserve study. For that reason, we may need to raise maintenance Page 6 CMG to Elect Two Directors at April Annual Meeting Cliffs Management Group (“CMG”) Nominating Committee Chair Deborah Nicosia announced the terms of Charles “Chuck” Gehrke and Terence “Terry” Cannings end on April 19th, 2008. The Nominating Committee invites paid up members, who are interested in serving a three-year term as Director, to consider serving the CMG by putting their names up for election. Directors are appointed to committees and normally meet once a year on property and conduct other business by teleconference or on the U.S. mainland. Director expenses related to assigned Board activities are reimbursed by CMG. Applicants are to submit a biographical sketch and a written notice of intent to serve by fax to (808) 8261272, via e-mail to [email protected], or sent by mail to CMG Nominating Committee, Cliffs Club, 3811 Edward Road, Princeville, Kauai, HI 96722. Submition deadline is Thursday, January 31, 2008. Housekeeping Maintenance (Facilities) Owr. Srvs. & Reservations Housekeeping Front Desk Admin & Accounting Housekeeping Page 7 Greetings & Aloha from our Cliffs Ohana to yours this Holiday Season! For Your Info. . . . 5 The 2008 maintenance fee statements were mailed out in December. Payments can be made online at www.cliffsatprinceville.com. 5 Wireless internet service will be available in all of our timeshare units soon. 5 Submitting your Cliffs Resort or Cliffs Club reservations is easier than ever. Go to www.cliffsatprinceville.com to book your reservations or fax your request at 808-826-2140! 5 Coming soon, take a virtual tour of the Cliffs Club Renovated units at www.cliffsatprinceville.com 5 We are getting closer to completing the renovations of the Administration Building. Does the Princeville at Hanalei Community Association issue “Homeowner’s Cards”? No, the PHCA only issues GOLF ID cards to property Owners in Princeville on behalf of the golf courses. The cards are $15/each and are good for two years. They are issued on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 9am and 3pm. To be eligible for a Golf ID card your name must be listed on the deed of a property in Princeville. Per the golf courses, the Gold ID is not available to timeshare owners. 2008 Upcoming Board Meetings Jan 16 Joint Meeting – CCIOA/AOAO/CRVOA Jan 16 CRVOA Regular Meeting Jan 17 CCIOA Regular Meeting Jan 18 AOAO Regular Meeting Apr 16 Joint Meeting – AOAO/CCIOA/CMG/CRVOA Apr 16 AOAO Regular Meeting Apr 17 CCIOA Annual Meeting Apr 17 CCIOA Regular Meeting Apr 18 AOAO Annual Meeting Apr 18 CMG Regular Meeting Apr 18 CMG Annual Meeting Meetings are held at The Cliffs. Page 8 Resort Condominiums International, founded in EXCHANGE COMPANIES 1974 as an exchange service for condominium owners called quickly became a driving force for growth within timeshare, and has been at the forefront of the vacation ownership industry ever since. As a timeshare owner you'll enjoy a lifetime of timeshare exchange opportunities that will take you to some of the world's most enticing and exotic destinations. Explore the world through Interval International (II), Resort Condominiums International (RCI) or Trading Places International (TPI). With affiliation at more than 6000 resorts throughout the world, II, RCI, or TPI are certain to expand your vacation horizons. Today, the company has over 4,000 affiliated resorts located in 100 countries, with over three million subscribing members living in more than 200 countries. RCI's exchange systems offer consumers the ultimate flexibility in vacations with more quality resort destinations and leisure product choices in more countries than any other service. Since its inception, RCI has arranged exchange vacations for more than 54 million people worldwide. RCI - 800-338-7777 Website: www.rci.com Trading Places International opened its doors in Interval International's vacation exchange network includes more than 2,200 resorts and nearly 2 million member families worldwide. The company has been at the forefront of the timeshare industry, maintaining the highest standards of excellence, since 1976. Interval provides its members — vacation owners from around the world — with comprehensive exchange services and a variety of other exciting benefits that offer value and convenience at home and on the road. Membership is limited to owners at Interval-affiliated resorts. And while the properties are not owned or managed by Interval International, they all must meet Interval's criteria for quality. 1973 and is an independent vacation California corporation providing a full spectrum of vacation services to vacation interval owners. The company specializes in exchange opportunities at high demand regions, nightly rentals, travel and cruise, and weekly getaway bargains. TPI is third worldwide in independent vacation, and offers traditional fees for domestic and international resorts as well as a unique option of exchanging back to the vacationer's home resort, and for TPI Vacation Exchange Club members, at a reduced exchange fee. TPI charges no mandatory membership fees. TPI - 800-365-7606 Website: www.tradingplaces.com II - 800-828-8200 Website: www.intervalworld.com THE HONOLULU ADVERTISER Wednesday, December 12, 2007 Niihau school now powered entirely by solar energy Advertiser Staff A 10.4-kilowatt photovoltaic power system with battery storage was recently installed at Ni'ihau Island School, making it the first school in the state to be powered entirely by solar energy, Kaua'i County officials announced today. "This project shows that renewable energy self-sufficiency can be achieved in our DOE schools through the cooperative efforts of community, government and business," said Bruce Robinson. "A special thanks goes to Ni'ihau parents and students who put so much effort into this project, along with all the other contributors." The project was made possible through a collaborative effort between the County of Kaua'i; state Department of Education; Seattle-based DPK Inc.; Gay & Robinson Inc.; Niihau Helicopters, Inc.; Niihau Ranch; Ron's Electric; and USDA Rural Development, the news release said. "When partnerships are formed for the benefit of others, a lot can be accomplished," Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste said in the news release. "We're very pleased that Ni'ihau Island School is now equipped with a power system that will help improve the health and nutrition of the students and staff and upgrade educational opportunities for the students." The renewable power source will also provide opportunities for community events. Ni'ihau Island School serves about 30 students in grades K-12. The exact count varies daily because residents travel to and from Kaua'i and sometimes attend school there. Page 9 Upcoming Performances Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center 3-1901 Kaumuali'i Hwy, Lihu'e, HI 96766 808-245-SING Ralph Kitashima says – “Help me help you, your friends and family SAVE MONEY on a time share ownership resale in this wonderful Cliffs Resort. For your referrals it would be my pleasure to repay you with credits that you may apply towards airfares, car rentals, island itinerary, maintenance fees and groceries at Foodland! You’ll receive 250 credits for every interval purchased as a result of your referral. Each credit equals one dollar redeemable for the above mentioned incentives. Give us a call for details. January 19, 2008 Joyce Yang In June 2005, at nineteen years of age, Joyce Yang was awarded the silver medal at the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. The youngest of the Cliburn Competition's participants, she was also the recipient of both the Steven De Groote Memorial Award for the Best Performance of Chamber Music, as well as the Beverley Taylor Smith Award for the Best Performance of a New Work. Of her spectacular finish at one of the world's most prestigious showcases for young talent, she told reporters, "I'm still dreaming." There is no doubt that Joyce captured the hearts of all who heard her! February 13, 2008 ATAMIRA For those of you, who no longer use or need your ownership, call us for details on how we can assist you. Toll free: 800-222-5541 Office: 808-826-6585 E-Mail: [email protected] Timeshare Solutions is an affiliate of Oceanfront Realty International, Inc. THIS IS A TIMESHARE SALES SOLICITATION Atamira Dance Collective is an Auckland based collective of New Zealand’s top young Maori dancers and choreographers. Atamira create dance works inspired by Aotearoa’s history, legends and contemporary issues; and drawing from their own personal stories and whakapapa. (Genealogy/tribal links) Critically acclaimed the company is renowned for their inventive and stunning pieces February 29, 2008 XUEFEI YANG The internationally acclaimed guitarist, Xuefei Yang, has been a pioneering spirit since childhood. As the first guitarist in China to enter a music school and graduate from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing with a BA degree, she was the first guitarist from her country to study classical guitar in the west. The first Chinese student ever to receive an international scholarship from the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music, Xuefei came to England for her postgraduate study at The Royal Academy of Music. S SH HA AR RE EY YO OU UR R IIS SL LA AN ND DM ME EM MO OR RIIE ES SB BA AC CK KH HO OM ME E!! March 8, 2008 GYPSY PACIFIC Gypsy Pacific is an acoustic string quartet specializing in 'gypsy jazz', a style first popularized in Europe decades ago by guitarist Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club of France. Gypsy jazz continues to thrive in Europe to this day and is steadily gaining a wider audience throughout the United States. Gypsy Pacific is committed to spreading this music in Hawaii and is exposing more people in this corner of the world to the energetic, unique sound typified by the idiom. April 15, 2008 CLAREMONT TRIO The Claremont Trio, hailed as "deft, exhilarating, and imaginative" by Strings Magazine, embarks on a concert tour throughout every region of the U.S. First recipients of the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson International Trio Award, the Claremonts (Emily Bruskin, violin; Julia Bruskin, 'cello; Donna Kwong, piano) generate enthusiastic acclaim wherever they perform. The Naples Daily News calls them "the freshest breath of air in the world of chamber music today". Page 10 Island Information Breathtaking Na Pali Coast ATV Rides y Kayak Adventure y Movie Tours y Luaus y Zip Line Adventures Tubing Adventures y Golf Discounts Restaurant Recommendations Zodiac Expeditions y and Much More! Cliffs Activities [email protected] N E W S F R O M around T H E I S L A N D [Gleaned from The Garden Island newspaper, mahalo nui loa to them] VState May Band With NonPermitted Trail Workers By Rachel Gehrlein – THE GARDEN ISLAND Posted: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 Restoration to the Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali Coast in recent weeks has made dangerous areas passable, all thanks to volunteers. Volunteer Bill Summers has taken it upon himself to repair areas of the Kalalau Trail that are considered dangerous and impassable to some. Summers, a stone mason and exMarine, has spent his entire savings and more than four months working almost daily on the trail, he says. According to hiker and art gallery owner Arius Hopman of Hanapepe, Summers felt obligated to work on the trail after walking behind a family with small children earlier this year. After walking a treacherous section of the trail, the family members had to sit down and calm their shaken nerves. Summers was so moved by their experience he decided to do something before lives were lost. Hopman says Summers has moved dozens of tons of rock, gravel and dirt by hand, only using some small hand tools and two 5gallon buckets. “He initially fixed the most dangerous sections of the trail, but as he became familiar with the trail, he saw how much more needed to be done and how urgent the situation was,” Hopman said. “The most dangerous half mile was called ‘Terminal Traverse,’ aka ‘Chivalry Pass.’ We can no longer use these names because, thanks to Bill’s work, this section of the trail is now one of the safest of the entire 11 miles.” Summers isn’t the only volunteer working on the trail, Hopman says. Hopman has hiked the trail once a month for the past 13 years, and every time he does, he takes along a saw to cut brush that grows over the path. He also mentions a man named Jay who spent a week last Christmas working on the trail and has seen hikers taking out bags of garbage. Hanalei resident and author Terry Moeller has spent the last decade hiking the Kalalau Trail to collect stories for his book, “Dramas of Kalalau.” During his hikes, he noticed the problem of trash and equipment left behind by hikers who had overpacked and were too tired to bring it back out. V Protesters Greet Lingle Rich Hoeppner, member of environmental group 1,000 Friends of Kaua‘i, which filed suit against the state and Hawaii Superferry, stood with a few dozen others near the entrance to the ResortQuest Kauai Beach at Makaiwa yesterday afternoon. Holding a sign that read “Whale Killer.” “Here she is passing laws to support the Superferry that I guarantee are going to kill whales — and to have her honored for wildlife is total insanity,” he said. On Nov. 5, following a special session of the Legislature, the governor signed a bill into law allowing the ferry to operate while an environmental study is conducted. The vessel set sail with paying passengers this week between O‘ahu and Maui for the first time since it was docked by protests in August. Many of yesterday’s demonstrators said it was ironic that Lingle was recognized for her work to protect domestic pets because they felt she’s left marine mammals by the wayside. Lingle told The Garden Island that the Superferry debate has highlighted the important issues of invasive species as well as infrastructure. But, she said, it’s “not either/or” when it comes to figuring out what’s best for the state’s people and wildlife. “My love for all kinds of animals is clear, but I also have a love for the people of Kaua‘i,” Lingle said, noting that the Superferry is a “once-in-a-generation opportunity.” V Lihue Costco To Go Solar By January by Rachel Gehrlain Posted: Saturday, December 15, 2007 Following in the footsteps of the Kona location, the Lihu‘e Costco is going solar. Installation of the solar electric system began in early October and is expected to go live in January. “All the panels are bolted down and the wires are connected,” Drew Bradley, construction manager of REC Solar, said. “We’re just working on the communication system and some finishing touches.” The Kaua‘i warehouse is one of four locations to be outfitted with photovoltaics, but not the first. Earlier this year, Costco hired San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based REC Solar to install a total of 2.5 megawatts of solar electricity on two Costco locations in California and two in Hawai‘i. “Hawai‘i is one of the best places to go solar,” Natalie Rozier, REC Solar spokeswoman, said. The Lihu‘e Costco will not be exporting any power back to the utility company. by Blake Jones – THE GARDEN ISLAND Posted: Thursday, December 13, 2007 WAIPOULI — Upwards of 50 protesters gathered at the site of the Kauai Humane Society annual membership luncheon yesterday to catch Gov. Linda Lingle on her way into the event. Lingle was invited by the nonprofit to talk about new laws that will better protect Hawai‘i pets. But the demonstrators, many of whom showed up with their own four-legged friends, said they wanted more protection afforded to marine mammals. The Lihu‘e system, which measures 148,000 square feet, is a 680 kW (DC) solar electric, consisting of 3,888 Mitsubishi 175UD4 panels, two Xantrex 225S-480-P inverters and one Xantrex 100S480-P inverter. It has a web-based monitoring system that will allow Costco to track and store its energy output. Solar power in Hawai‘i is also makes business sense, Rozier said, considering the state and federal tax credits. “Costco should be applauded for doing it (installing a solar electric power system),” Bradley said. “There should be a lot more companies doing it and taking advantage of the sunshine.” Page 11 THE CLIFFS 3811 Edward Road Princeville, Kauai, HI 96722 www.cliffsatrprinceviille.com Views From The Cliffs Winter 2007 ISSUE Editor Lou Genett Creative Director Fred Constantino Warm Greetings and Aloha From your Island Home Resort Page 12
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