Views From The Cliffs - The Cliffs at Princeville

Views From The Cliffs
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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) djacobs@inteck-inc.com; CCIOA President Gus Daal,
4444 Delaney Drive, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7L 5J2 (905-637-8083) gusdaal@yahoo.com; CRVOA President, Chris Stawski, 1139 E. Knapp Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414-276-8202) cjstawski@yahoo.com. Comments on the Newsletter should be sent to the Editor, Lou Genett, 1849 Oakmont Drive, Denver, NC 28037 (704-560-6338)
PruOne@aol.com.
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
fconstantino@cliffsatprinceville.com.
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 fconstantino@cliffsatprinceville.com,
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
fconstantino@cliffsatprinceville.com, 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
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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.
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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".
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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
activities@cliffsatprinceville.com
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.”
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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