2017 House Rules Published for the Beach Villas at Ko Olina

House Rules play an important and central role in the effective management of any condominium project, especially those that experience high rates of turnover in the way of Owner, Guest and Renter occupants in the condos. Having a clear set of rules to assist the Board and Management in the day to day operations and oversight of the development are crucial. Such rules can help maintain order and consistency in the delivery of whatever "experience" it is that the Association of Apartment Owners (AOAO) hopes to create for their particular community.

The Beach Villas at Ko'Olina located on in the Ko'Olina Resort on West Oahu has published their 5th version of House Rules and distributed them to Owners and Managing Agents, with the intent of having them universally shared and displayed within the 247 privately owned condos there.

THE CHALLENGE

It is difficult for Boards to find the balance between existence and enforcement of rules and the freedom and latitude to fully enjoy your surroundings and condo, the way that you want to. Naturally, there are some that either find the rules difficult to follow if they don't come naturally, or that violate rules out of innocent ignorance about what the rules are in the first place.

Those tasked with the responsibility of professionally enforcing these rules in a manner that shows hospitality and respect do not have an easy job. It is especially challenging in a community like the Beach Villas at Ko'Olina when there are thousands of Guests turning over in these condos in relatively short periods of time.

Therein lies the importance of Owners and their Managing Agents to convey these House Rules to their Guests prior to arrival, and again at the time of check-in, as well as leaving easy-to-read reference material for the Guests in their Villa to ensure that there is at least a baseline level of awareness that 1) rules do exist and are expected to be followed, 2) that the on-site staff is committed to ensuring the rules are followed and 3) that there are potentially notices of violation and eventual fines that could occur should the rules not be complied with.

"HOW" IS JUST AS IMPORTANT, IF NOT MORE SO, THAN "WHY"

How the enforcement is carried out is just as important as the rules themselves! There are so many different ways to interact with others and to "enforce" the rules. We should consistently look to the World-Class hospitality brands for insights into how they approach enforcement of various concerns that arise with their Guests. The general rule of thumb, in my opinion, is that the Guest should feel respected and heard during and as a result of the encounter with staff regarding a House Rules violation.

There is a friendly and tactful way to do that and, if done properly, the majority of Guests will respond favorably and with a willingness to be more mindful of their behavior and compliance with the rules. More often than not, House Rules infractions occur unintentionally, usually because the Guest was not aware of the rules in the first place or because they made an honest mistake (for example: parking in a BP1-049 stall instead of the OP1-049 stall that was assigned to them).

Staff should understand that the majority of infractions are not done intentionally, but are most likely due to unfamiliarity with the rules and each Guest encounter should be welcomed as an opportunity to greet the Guest with a smile and kindly educate them without making them feel wronged or disrespected. It's an art, like most of the hospitality business experience is.

THE HOUSE RULES DOWNLOADS

Click on the links below to download the latest versions of the House Rules for the Beach Villas at Ko'Olina.

1-Page Summary of House Rules for Beach Villas at Ko Olina (2017)

39-Page Full House Rules for Beach Villas at Ko Olina (2017)

Mahalo!
Munro

[photo credit: BattysGambit Sunset and Palms via photopin (license)]

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Munro Murdock is an Entrepreneur, Athlete, Real Estate Broker, Blogger, Father, Author, World Traveler and Podcaster. He resides on West Oahu in Hawaii with his wife and three children. You can Contact Munro by email here.

November 16, 2016November 16, 2016

Ko Olina Beach Villas Vacation Rentals Featured on Hawaii Mom Blog

aerial view of ko olina beach villas in kapolei hawaii

It was a real pleasure for our Team to have prolific writer and owner of HawaiiMomBlog.com, Gem N., to have her family come and enjoy a weekend getaway at the Beach Villas at Ko'Olina. I'm grateful that we had the chance to introduce Gem and her family to the positive aspects of vacation rentals, given it was their very first experience ever staying in one. Her article, which you can read here, does a wonderful job summarizing their experience in the beautiful Ko'Olina Resort, and helping other would-be vacation rental Guests, to know what to expect.

Like many Guests who have yet to experience a vacation rental first-hand, and who may be more accustomed to staying in hotels and resorts, there are a lot of questions and uncertainties that can naturally arise during the process. As human beings we do have a natural tendency to gravitate towards what we know and are familiar with. We sometimes have to fight that constant pull to remain in our comfort zones. My experience has been that once someone steps out and decides to try a vacation home or condo and have a different kind of vacation adventure, they often wouldn't go back to hotels if they could help it.

Yes, there are concerns about whether or not the "owner/manager" is legitimate and will scam you, if the the property is truly as it is shown in the photos or if it is totally misrepresented. There are many questions a Guest could have and that a Guest should ask and get the answers to, especially if it is a first-time experience. Any professional vacation rental owner or Property Manager will be accustomed to guiding a new vacation rental Guest through the process, patiently answering many questions and helping to verify and reassure the Guest of the realities the vacation rental has to offer. The majority of owners and managers are legit and trying hard to accurately represent their properties. However, it is still a good idea to vet them, read reviews, speak with them by phone…and just make sure everything "feels" right. If something seems off or perhaps too good to be true, I would advise that you take a step back and re-evaluate.

Never wire funds or send checks until you are absolutely certain you are dealing with an above-board operation. Use credit cards when you can as they do afford you additional fraud protections should something go awry. Also, purchase travel insurance in the event something prevents you from making your trip as cancellation policies on vacation homes are usually more strict than those used at hotels and resorts.

The overall experience enjoyed by Gem and her family accurately portrays what a well setup and managed vacation home experience should be like. Things can happen and it is not a perfect world that we live in, but even if something goes wrong during a stay, most owners and professional managers are anxious to be on top of things, to provide excellent Guest service, as there is always an opportunity for Guests to leave an online review, and positive reviews are invaluable in this business.

For anyone who has yet to try out the vacation rental experience, I would encourage you to give it a whirl and expand your horizons. There are literally millions of potential options throughout the world, and if you find yourself headed to the sunny Hawaiian Islands, contact Amber at Amber@ElitePacific.com and she can assist you with pricing and availability at one of the beautiful vacation homes we manage.

Click here to read the full blog article on the Hawaii Mom Blog.

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November 11, 2016November 11, 2016

Ko Olina Resort Poised to Nearly Double in Size Through Proposed 514-acre Kapolei West Annexation

ko olina resort development land purchase and expansion

When it comes to Ko'Olina Resort development plans and project updates in Kapolei on West Oahu, typically rumors and speculation long precede any formal announcement. However, this time around there was little room for that with the announcement and subsequent Honolulu Star Advertiser article (linked below), quoting master Ko'Olina developer, Jeff Stone, stating that the 514 acres of land between Ko'Olina and the Kapolei Commons shopping center would potentially be annexed into the 642-acre oceanfront resort.

The 514 acres was recently purchased from James Campbell Co. by China Oceanwide Holdings, Ltd. for a reported $103 million. China Oceanwide also acquired two oceanfront parcels in the Ko'Olina Resort on either side of the Beach Villas at Ko'Olina, with one parcel in between Disney Aulani and Beach Villas at Ko'Olina, with both Lagoon 1 and Lagoon 2 access points, and the other parcel situated between Beach Villas at Ko'Olina at Lagoon 2 and Marriott's Ko'Olina Beach Club, at Lagoon 3, with future access to these two lagoons. It is expected that approximately $3 billion would be invested in developing these two separate oceanfront locations.

Click HERE to download and read the full article from the Honolulu Star Advertiser about Jeff Stone's announcement related to the possible Ko'Olina Resort expansion in coming years.

If this annexation plan becomes a reality the Ko'Olina Resort would nearly double in size to 1,156 acres, and would add up to 2,500 resort residences as well as a second golf course. This expanded resort boundary could go as far as Target and the Regal Kapolei Commons Theaters in Kapolei. The 514-acre area is fittingly being called "Kapolei West" and would serve to link the existing Ko'Olina Resort, somewhat separate and distinct from central Kapolei, to the heart of the city and provide other access points to both Farrington Highway as well as Campbell Industrial Park through the additional road connections envisioned to be a part of these new phases of development.

Despite ongoing criticism over the years, both in print and online, aimed at Oahu's "Second City" of Kapolei, for its alleged lack of Second-City-ness, this burgeoning region continues to unveil surprises and unexpected announcements, each helping to bring the city one step closer to ultimately realizing that ideal. The Ka Makana Ali'i Mall had it's grand opening in Kapolei Oct. 21, 2016 and is now recognized as the third largest shopping center in the Hawaiian Islands.

Kapolei Lofts have added significantly to the housing inventory in central Kapolei. C.S. Wo & Sons opened a 60,000 square foot retail location in October 2016, home to HomeWorld, SlumberWorld, Red Knot and Ashley Homestore. 24-Hour Fitness has built a large facility next to the new mall, as have Hampton Inn & Suites, by Hilton. Embassy Suites Kapolei, also by Hilton, is under construction as of November 2016, next to Kapolei Lofts. Entertainment has come to Kapolei in an even bigger way in 2016 with the grand opening of the Regal 12 Kapolei Commons theater as well as Consolidated Theaters' Olino entertainment complex as part of the Ka Makana Alii mall project. I could go on and on as this doesn't even include the many restaurants and shops added to the Kapolei area and the Ko'Olina Resort in 2016 alone. Not to mention the rail transit hub, UH West Oahu and so much more!

I think it is safe to say at this point: "The Second City, it is here…and it is only going to continue to grow!"

Click HERE to download and read the full article from the Honolulu Star Advertiser about Jeff Stone's announcement related to the possible Ko'Olina Resort expansion in coming years.

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December 19, 2015December 19, 2015

Ko’Olina Resort to Welcome Two New Luxury Hotel Resorts by 2018

The article below was published in the Star Advertiser newspaper. This is long-awaited news for owners and residents in the Ko'Olina Resort, as well as those who have been keeping up with the growth in Ko'Olina in recent years.

Ko-Olina-Lagoon-Two-View-Beach-Villas-New-Oceanfront-Resort-Hawaii — View across Lagoon 2 towards the Beach Villas at Ko'Olina and the subject parcel(s)

2 more hotels planned for Ko Olina

by Allison Schaefers

December 18, 2015

A Chinese corporation closed on two Ko Olina Resort beachfront parcels Thursday and plans to make a $1 billion investment, including the construction of two new uber-luxury branded resorts.

China Oceanwide Holdings Group Co. Ltd. paid $200 million to purchase the 1 million-square-foot fee-simple property, said Jeffrey R. Stone, founder and master developer of The Resort Group, Hawaii’s largest landowner of master-planned resort communities. Stone said the company plans to build two new hotels, which will add 400 traditional hotel rooms and 400 residences to Ko Olina Resort. Stone said hotel branding will be announced before midyear, with construction expected to start by the end of 2016 and a target opening of 2018.

In addition to bringing Ko Olina nearer to the conclusion of what’s been about a 20-year build-out for Stone, the investment is expected to attract more of China’s coveted high-end visitors and bolster further Chinese investment in Hawaii. The purchase is expected to play a major role in increasing the emerging China market, which was forecast to bring only just over 185,000 visitors to Hawaii next year.

“By far and away this is the largest Hawaii hotel investment from a Chinese investor. Nothing compares to this,” said Joseph Toy, president and CEO of hotel consultancy Hospitality Advisors LLC. “We’ve seen that level of investment on the mainland, but never in Hawaii before.”

And what’s even better is that the investment will bring two new luxury hotels to Oahu, where Toy said only about 1,450 of about 28,000 hotel and condo rentals can be counted among the highest tier. The significant increase in top hotel rooms is expected to attract more higher-yield visitors, whose spending keeps tourism growing regardless of capacity caps.

George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said further development at Ko Olina is welcome news for Oahu’s visitor industry, which has been grappling for some time with hotel room compression in Waikiki and has needed more top-tier rooms.

“These new luxury hotels at Ko Olina will help alleviate concerns that westbound, and especially international, travelers have about securing first-class accommodations, while expanding their range of offerings to choose from,” Szigeti said. “Keeping travelers excited about coming to Hawaii means our industry needs to continually evolve to satisfy their expectations. These new hotels help us to meet that reality and, ultimately, our entire visitor industry stands to benefit.”

Stone said Ko Olina’s partnership with China Oceanwide along with the May 27, 2016, opening of the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina and the August 2011 opening of the Aulani, a Disney Resort &Spa in Ko Olina, together play a pivotal role in attracting more of the world’s most admired hotel and leisure brands to Oahu.

“China Oceanwide has deep expertise in real estate development. The Ko Olina acquisition complements our global investment strategy very nicely, and will greatly enhance our international development portfolio,” said Lu Zhiqiang, China Oceanwide chairman.“We look forward to our partnership with Ko Olina and the Hawaii community.”

Stone, founder of The Resort Group, said its long-term strategy is to position Ko Olina as a premier mixed-use destination offering a sophisticated mix of upscale hotels, branded private residences, vacation clubs and recreational and leisure amenities with international appeal.

“China Oceanwide will bring development of our master plan to 75 percent,” Stone said. “We only have two parcels in the resort remaining. There’s the marina resort site at Lagoon Four, and then there’s the grand Ko Olina site that’s next to Disney.”

At full build-out, Stone said total investment in Ko Olina is expected to exceed $15 billion, with a yearly generator of $1.4 billion a year to the state. All the projects together will have created more than 35,000 construction jobs and some 14,400 permanent jobs, he said.

(article content above is from Honolulu Star Advertiser newspaper)

Additional content available in the following articles:

Pacific Business News (Dec. 18, 2015) http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2015/12/18/chinese-developer-to-build-two-towers-at-ko-olina.html

Commentary:

We can now wait with anticipation for more updates about these new developments and hope that the end result will be to make Ko'Olina an even more desirable Hawaii resort destination than it was before.

I am of the opinion that as the resort matures in its development the values of real estate will strengthen as prospective buyers will have less and less uncertainty in their minds around what will be coming in the future and whether or not what comes will be a good thing or a bad thing for them.

To the credit of Jeff Stone and the others involved in the implementation and execution of Ko'Olina's master plan, high standards have been set for any new entry into the resort and the caliber of resorts and investment partners has proven to be very high. The news is not all that surprising given the active project underway by Four Seasons Ko'Olina. With Marriott, Disney, Four Seasons, and now this luxury holdings group from China involved, Ko'Olina is truly poised to be recognized as one of Hawaii's most desirable resort destinations for families from around the world.

While construction of new projects like these bring noise, dust and unsightly cranes to the resort, the end result is an enhanced resort experience, a more complete master plan and a clearer understanding of just what Ko'Olina is; what it is shaping up to be.

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