Save Open Space Hui (SOS Hui) was founded by the Mull and White families, the two Princeville households who took Starwood to court, and won. This is the hui’s own history of the fight, from the 1971 covenants to Starwood’s appeal, in its own words.
Shared with Protect Princeville by SOS Hui. Documents marked PDF open on SOSHui.org. For the court’s findings, see The Mull & White Case.
Charter of Incorporation and Declaration of Restrictions Covenants and Conditions (“CC&Rs”) (PDF ↗) accepted by State. CC&Rs run with the land and benefit the owners of land in Princeville. These can only be changed or terminated by at least 75% of the vote of landowners in Princeville 1.
By-laws for Princeville at Hanalei Community Association (“PHCA”) accepted by State.
Dedication of Golf Course Property (“Dedication”) (PDF ↗) to “…golf and ancillary recreational uses…” is accepted by State. The Dedication protects land parcels identified in Schedule A to the Dedication; it runs with the land as described in the CC&Rs AND the beneficiaries are identified in Exhibit A to the CC&Rs. The two founding documents must be read together.
First hotel (Sheraton) on cliff overlooking Hanalei Bay opens for business.
Massive private equity firm Starwood Capital Group purchases St. Regis Hotel and 27-hole Makai Golf Course (Woods 9, Ocean 9 and Lakes 9).
Starwood announces glamping plan to neighbors of the Woods 9. It’s to be placed in a residential neighborhood – in the first plan, as close as 100 feet from homes – with 50 tents of varying sizes and “the occasional drunk wandering through” residents’ back yards – as candidly admitted by Jason Cruce, then SVP of Starwood Capital Group.
Starwood learns of a 1917 anthrax outbreak on the Princeville Ranch through an unfiled version of the state-required Ka Paʻakai O Ka ʻĀina Analysis. Starwood proceeds with glamping plans; does NOT share this knowledge with Kauaʻi Planning Department, State Department of Health or anyone else as far as we know.
Starwood applies to Planning Department for glamping permits to develop portions of the Woods 9; still does not file Ka Paʻakai O Ka ʻĀina Analysis with information on 1917 anthrax outbreak.
Two residents (Mull & White) file the initial legal complaint against Starwood stating glamping is NOT golf or an ancillary recreational use allowed under the Dedication.
Woods Course is abandoned as a golf course, an intentional and clear breach of the Dedication.
Starwood files final application for glamping with Planning Department, finally including state-required “Ka Paʻakai O Ka ʻĀina Analysis”. That report, completed December 2020 and known to Starwood at that time, states there is a history of a catastrophic anthrax outbreak among cattle, horses and mules on the Princeville Ranch in 1917–1919 in which approximately 450 animals died of the disease. Historical information carried down through “talk story” indicates the cattle were buried primarily in the area that became the Woods 9. Robert Trent Jones Jr., Golf Course Architect, is made aware of the problem and builds Woods 9 golf features including lakes and sand traps above land surface.
The court found that, under the right conditions, anthrax spores can survive in the soil “for decades, even hundreds of years” (Findings ¶84). They should remain safely buried under the Woods 9 as they have been since original development in 1970–1971.
County legislation changes legal uses of “Open” and “Agricultural” zoned land parcels to EXCLUDE “Developed Campgrounds”, thereby also excluding glamping. Starwood withdraws glamping plans but continues to pursue development of the Woods 9.
Thousands of documents are exchanged during discovery and many court appearances take place; the Mull-White team learns more about the CC&Rs, the Dedication and the history of anthrax in Princeville and the changing science of the risks. The anthrax spores were purposefully kept safely buried under the Woods 9, with golf features added on top of the existing landscape rather than excavating into it. The Mull-White team learns some important facts:
Save Open Space Hui (“SOSHui”) is officially formed to support the effort to preserve the Open Space.
Starwood threatens Mulls and Whites with cameras and more.
Starwood follows through on their threats and installs cameras aimed directly at Whites’ and Mulls’ homes. Clearly an overt invasion of privacy.
Court rules that “glamping and other overnight accommodations” are not an allowed use under the Dedication.
Mull-White file an amended complaint alleging two additional issues: 1. whether the Dedication is subject to the CC&Rs; and 2. whether any development should be allowed on an anthrax graveyard. Starwood continues its pattern of harassment by flagging areas directly behind Whites’ home, purportedly for future development.
Starwood stops mowing the Woods 9 behind the Mulls’ home.
Trial commences in Līhuʻe Circuit Court. During trial, Jason Cruce, Starwood SVP, explains on the witness stand that they stopped maintaining the Woods as a golf course a couple of years ago: “The grass is mowed periodically [ed. on the Woods]. And mowed is probably a generous term. It’s, I would say, bushwhacked as needed, with the exception of a few areas.” He continues to say “It’s just the Mulls [ed. that’s not mowed]…I would say just because they’re generally a disturbance.”
Judgment is entered in Mull-White’s favor (PDF ↗):
Starwood stops mowing all of the Woods 9 in apparent retribution for their loss in Court. They say the ruling doesn’t permit mowing; in fact, it doesn’t permit “ground disturbing activities”. Mowing does NOT disturb the soil and is NOT considered a “ground disturbing activity” under Hawaiʻi law.
Starwood files its appeal of the ruling at the Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals (“ICA”). The appeal will likely take 3–5 years before final resolution.
Starwood and Mull/White file their positions with the ICA. Starwood tells PHCA that it will NOT be mowing the Woods Course, despite trial court confirmation that mowing and normal maintenance does not constitute “ground-disturbing activities”.
Source: SOS Hui, “A Brief History of the Fight to Protect Princeville’s Open Space” (January 2026, updated September 2026). The CC&Rs, the Dedication and the August 6, 2025 Judgment are linked from SOSHui.org.
