Starwood Hotels and Resorts has pulled out of negotiations to develop new hotels and time shares at the Turtle Bay Resort, owned by the Kuilima Resort Company (KRC), on the North Shore of Oahu.

As reported in the July issue of C&RB, Hawaii residents and environmentalists are opposed to further development at the resort, which they say would cause environmental damage to the area and increase traffic to the area.

According to the Honolulu-based Pacific Business News, Starwood executives made their decision on July 10. However, KRC executives say they will continue to look for other investors.

"We had been looking at various investment options with Starwood and although we are no longer continuing those discussions, Kuilima Resort Company is committed to moving this project forward," said Nathan Hokama, a spokesman for the resort owner. "We are open to joint venture partners or a sale of the property and are encouraged that there have been interest and inquiries from other prospective partners or buyers.

KRC has been seeking to sell the resort or team up with a developer to build up to five hotels. Another five sites along the Arnold Pamer-designed, 18-hole golf course could potentially be developed with up to 1,000 condo units.

A golf clubhouse is proposed for a 7.6-acre site straddling the Palmer course and the second golf course designed by Tom Fazio. The existing golf pro shop and Lei Lei’s Bar & Grill would be moved to the new clubhouse to make way for service and retail shops on more than seven acres.