Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL HomeHawaii's first full-service resort aims for LEED certification

Hawaii's first full-service resort aims for LEED certification

KAANAPALI, Maui (KHNL) - One luxury Maui Hotel set to open in the fall of 2011 is taking the lead in becoming the first Hawaiian hotel to aim for "green" status.

Starwood's "Westin Ka'anapali North Beach Resort" is being designed to achieve certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, rating system.

The new full-service resort will build and operate its own desalination and heat exchange system, which will produce drinkable water on site and use cool salt water for its air conditioning system. A state-of-the-art cogeneration system will provide most of the resort's electricity and hot water needs.

"SVO is proud to be the first stand-alone, full-service resort in Hawaii to be developed with this coveted certification in mind," said Matt Avril, Starwood president and managing director of operations.

SVO's new Ka'anapali North Beach Resort will bring the company's total number of vacation ownership properties in Hawaii to four.

Other SVO properties include the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas, the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas North and the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas on Kauai.