Vision for Turtle Bay Guided by Community
For nearly 40 years, the community has been dedicated to shaping a shared vision for Turtle Bay in alignment with the Ko‘olauloa Sustainable Communities Plan. The vision protects the natural environment and preserves open spaces for the public in perpetuity while allowing responsible resort and residential development.
Plans for Turtle Bay date back to 1986, when the resort was granted a Special Management Area (SMA) permit and entered into a Unilateral Agreement with the City and County of Honolulu that allowed the development of 20 parcels with up to 3,500 new units. Following extensive community dialogue and settlement agreements, Turtle Bay’s development plans have evolved to limit the number of new units to 725, preserving 75% of the property as open space in perpetuity and reducing the density of future development by 80%.
The preservation of Turtle Bay is one of the many qualities that attracted Areté Collective to O‘ahu’s North Shore. Founded on the belief that development can be done sustainably, honoring the natural beauty of the land and benefiting surrounding communities, Areté sincerely appreciates the thought and care invested in determining the future of the area. Its project has always been guided by the feedback of local residents and respects and reflects the SMA permit conditions, Unilateral Agreement, and Ko‘olauloa Sustainable Communities Plan.
Collectively, these historic steps were a huge win for conservation and limited future development to just 25% of the property, reducing the density allowed by 80%
Recent News
Development Update May 2026
Work continues at Kaihalulu East Drive with utilities being installed.
Most of the grading work on the mauka drainage basins has been completed.
Selective tree trimming on H2 (next to Ocean Villas) continues to remove hazardous ironwood vegetation.
A monitoring survey was recently completed by our biologist to assess habitats and species across Areté’s property.
Nordic PCL resumed vertical construction at RR3 phase 1 with a targeted completion in early 2027.
Ongoing monitoring and maintenance of shoreline restoration and native planting.
Continuing removal of invasive ironwood trees and mowing of undergrowth on RR3.
Development Update April 2026
Work continues at Kaihalulu East Drive with utilities being installed.
Most of the grading work on the mauka drainage basins has been completed.
Vertical construction at RR3 phase 1 to resume in April with a targeted completion in early 2027.
Phase 1 of shoreline restoration and native planting is complete with ongoing monitoring and maintenance in effect.
A huge mahalo to our golf maintenance team and Goodfellow Brothers (GBI) for clearing culverts and drainage pipes ahead of time to prevent major flooding.
Development Update March 2026
Work continues at Kaihalulu East Drive with utilities being installed.
Mauka drainage basins excavation continues as weather allows.
Vertical construction at RR3 phase 1 to resume in April with a targeted completion in early 2027.
Shoreline restoration and native planting are ongoing.