It’s been nearly a year since we last heard any news about China Oceanwide’s mega-development in Hawaii. But, apparently, Atlantis Hawaii is still under development at Oahu’s Ko Olina Resort.
What is going to be one of the largest resorts in Hawaii, Atlantis Hawaii, was announced nearly four years ago. And, since then, we haven’t seen a whole lot of movement. What’s more, the resort’s developer, China Oceanwide, has halted other projects, including Oceanwide Plaza in Los Angeles. That development, by the way, is the future home of the Park Hyatt Los Angeles. Despite the doom-and-gloom surrounding China Oceanwide and Chinese developers in general, the project is, apparently, still underway.
Current Status
According to the Pacific Business News, the Atlantis project recently received a sewer connection permit from the City & County of Honolulu. Despite the permit issuance, though, no estimate is yet available for a construction start date. However, we now know that the 1,400 room resort has plans for 37,500 square-feet of retails space, 1,200 restaurant seats, an aquarium, and pools.
The Resort Group, Ko Olina’s owner and Master Developer, states that they are working with China Oceanwide’s Hawaii division on design and engineering. They also state that, unlike other China Oceanwide projects in the U.S., this one has no debts or liens. That’s why there is confidence things will continue to move forward.
As you’ll recall, China Oceanwide also owns another parcel within Ko Olina. And that site will also remain under their ownership and will be developed in the future. However, no update on that site is available right now. Past reports state that it’ll be a luxury resort, though.
Atlantis Hawaii is Still Under Development, Final Thoughts
With the way things are nowadays (even before the coronavirus issue) in China, I’m not holding my breath on this development. But, if the project does indeed move forward, it’ll be interesting to see the thing once complete. Especially since the site it’s slated for is set back from Ko Olina’s famous bays.
While Atlantis promises to be a game-changer for Hawaii, it’ll also be interesting to see how it changes the dynamic of Ko Olina Resort. Until Aulani’s arrival, Ko Olina was a quiet, luxurious respite from busy Waikiki. But, with Aulani’s massive size and family focus, things got decidedly busier and noisier. And, I’m sure, Atlantis will add to this on a larger scale. After all, Atlantis will be nearly two times bigger than Aulani!
Despite the recent update, though, I still say this project’s completion is far from certain. Many unknowns remain.