Keeping Princeville on Track: A Call for Engagement and Practical Solutions

Princeville is a planned community with strong foundations. Its governing documents, committees, and Board structure were designed to support long-term property values, community standards, and shared amenities. This only works, however, if day-to-day execution is consistent, transparent, and responsive to members.

In recent periods, there is a growing perception among owners that the PHCA Board and management are not meeting basic operational expectations. Routine matters, such as timely communication, delivery of projects, website updates, and signage improvements, have faced repeated delays. More fundamental responsibilities, including maintaining clear and regular communication with members and conducting annual elections in a predictable and organized manner, appear to be uneven. These are not strategic or complex challenges; they are core governance and management functions.

These gaps have two direct impacts. First, they affect confidence in how the Association operates. Second, they influence property values and the overall attractiveness of Princeville as a place to live and invest. In planned communities, governance quality is not abstract, it is reflected in infrastructure upkeep, rule enforcement, transparency, and member trust.

This is not a matter of assigning blame. Board members are volunteers with fiduciary obligations, and management operates within constraints. However, the current situation points to a need for adjustment, clearer priorities, stronger execution discipline, and more consistent engagement with the membership.

What Can Be Done

There are practical steps that could improve performance:

  • Establish and communicate a list of operational priorities with timelines, and ensure that timelines are kept.
  • Provide regular, concise updates to members on progress and delays
  • Ensure that elections are conducted on schedule, with clear procedures and communication consistent with legal obligations.
  • Improve access to information through a functional and current website
  • Create structured channels for member input and feedback

These are standard practices in comparable associations. They are achievable with focus and accountability.

Your Input Matters

This post is intended as a starting point for constructive discussion.

  • Members are encouraged to share their observations about the current state of the Association and to propose specific, practical solutions. Comments should be factual, respectful, and focused on improving outcomes for the community.
  • All comments are reviewed by the site administrator prior to posting to ensure they meet these standards.

Princeville’s long-term value—both as a community and as an investment—depends on active participation and clear expectations. A constructive exchange of views is a necessary step toward improvement.

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Winter Update: Princeville PHCA (Princeville 1)

A Plain Talk Community Update

Princeville residents often ask what is happening with our community association. Below is a quick update on the Princeville at Hanalei Community Association (PHCA), which governs Princeville 1. (Princeville 2, The Resort Group-owned area, is managed separately.)


The Makai Golf Course Dedication Expired in February 2026

At the end of February 2026, the so-called Makai Golf Course dedication reached its stated expiration date. The dedication was a recorded legal restriction stating that the land would be used for golf course and related recreational uses until February 28, 2026. As a reminder, the expiration has been the subject of a major lawsuit. Two long-time Princeville property owners, the Mull and White families, filed suit against the current owner of the Makai Golf Course land. The case concerns a basic legal question:

  • Does the dedication end in 2026 as written?
  • Or does it automatically renew indefinitely because of other community covenants?

The Mull/White families prevailed in the trial court during summer 2025. However, the decision has been appealed, and a formal appeal brief has already been filed. The case will now move into the appellate stage, which will likely involve significant legal work by both sides. At its core, this dispute is a legal conflict between two private property owners about how long the dedication lasts and what uses are allowed on the land. Both parties have also tried/are trying to gain the support of the PHCA Association and its Board, since the outcome could affect the future character of Princeville. For now, the issue remains unresolved and will likely take time to move through the courts.


Operational Issues at the PHCA Association

Over the past year, the PHCA Association has struggled to deliver on several of its own announced initiatives. Examples include:

  • A new PHCA website, which was announced long ago but still has not been completed.
  • Updated road signage, something Princeville 2 has already implemented.
  • Security patrol operations, which many residents feel are inconsistent or inefficient.
  • Procurement and service contracting, which continue to raise questions about efficiency and transparency.

The PHCA Board has also created a number of committees over the years. In practice, many of these committees appear to be largely inactive, or stuck in long discussions without producing concrete results. For residents who simply want to see the Association run efficiently, this situation can be frustrating.


A New PHCA Communications Committee

The Board recently created a new Communications Committee. The stated goal is to improve communication and community engagement. However, many residents may remember that the same goal was the main reason given for developing the new PHCA website in the first place. The idea was to move beyond the limitations of the current system and create a more open and modern platform for sharing and exchanging information with the community. According to statements made in recent meetings, the PHCA General Manager acknowledged that the new website project could not be completed internally. This is surprising to some residents because modern website platforms such as WordPress now provide ready-made templates, plug-ins, and tools that make building a basic community website relatively straightforward. The result appears to be that PHCA is returning to the existing system, which many residents believe does not allow for meaningful community engagement.


PHCA Governance: More Power for Management?

Finally, there are indications that changes to PHCA governance may be underway. Some proposed changes appear to place more operational authority in the hands of the General Manager rather than the Board itself. This raises a simple question that many residents are asking: If management performance has already been under scrutiny, why concentrate more authority in that position rather than improving oversight and accountability? For many residents, the concern is straightforward: more authority without better results does not improve community governance.


A Community That Deserves Better Communication

Princeville is a remarkable community. Many residents care deeply about protecting its natural beauty, property values, and long-term stability. That requires:

  • transparent communication
  • clear decision-making
  • and steady operational management

Residents should continue paying attention to these issues and asking questions. Strong communities work best when members stay informed and engaged. Plain Talk will continue to follow these developments.


Plain Talk — Community discussion for Princeville.