Newsletter

Aloha,

Welcome to the June edition of our community newsletter, “MVP Connections”! We extend a warm greeting to both our new and existing residents. It’s a pleasure to come together and share the latest updates and important information that affect our vibrant community here on the west side of Oahu.

H06 Resolution Update

The MVP Board is thrilled to announce the successful passing of the H06 Resolution! Mahalo to our diligent front office for going above and beyond, contacting homeowners and gathering votes to approve this vital By-Laws change. This new requirement ensures that homeowners purchase H06 insurance, providing comprehensive coverage for their condos and neighboring units in the event of any damage. We express our deepest gratitude to all homeowners for their invaluable support in getting this amendment passed.

Shaping Our Community, One Vote at a Time

We are still in the process of seeking votes to amend our election procedure bylaws, a significant step towards fostering a more representative process and reflecting our community’s desires. Our aim is to make electing new members and conducting smoother elections a reality. The deadline for submitting your vote is approaching soon, so we urge all homeowners who have not yet done so to reach out to Chester from Touchstone Properties or visit the front office to cast your vote. Let’s come together and shape the future of our community through active participation.

Keeping Our Information Updated

It has come to our attention that changes to homeowners’ addresses and emails are not accurately reflected in Touchstone’s directory of homeowners. To address this, we kindly request that each homeowner takes the initiative to update their information directly with Touchstone. This will help prevent any delays in communication and ensure that everyone stays informed. We understand that changes in ownership and personal contact details can occur, but by promptly updating your information, we can maintain a seamless flow of important announcements. Let’s work together to avoid any challenges, especially when it comes to future billing of electricity. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Guidelines for Unit Projects

Let’s address a common misconception among homeowners that may lead to misunderstandings. It is not accurate to assume that we can do whatever we want to our units without any restrictions. Before initiating any projects within your unit, it’s crucial to review and comply with the necessary documents provided on MVP’s website. These documents outline the process that needs to be completed, reviewed, and approved before starting any kind of projects. Let’s ensure that all projects undertaken align with our community guidelines and maintain the harmony we value. Your adherence to these guidelines will contribute to a safe and enjoyable environment for all.

We’re Online!

Did you know that our website, www.makahavalleyplantation.org, is a treasure trove of useful information? It contains essential details such as front office contact information, house rules, pet registration forms, construction forms, and even a map of the property. Take a moment to explore our website and discover more about our wonderful community. It’s a valuable resource at your fingertips!

Communication and Community

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our property manager, Chester Reeves, the front office, or the board directly. You can find all the contact details for the front office and management at: https://makahavalleyplantation.org/contact/

The email addresses of the Board of Directors are also available at https://makahavalleyplantation.org/association/. We believe in the importance of community and open communication, so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any inquiries!

Mahalo,

MVP Board of Directors

Aloha,

Welcome to the May 2023 edition of the Makaha Valley Plantation newsletter! Our aim is to bring you the latest MVP news, project updates, and foster a strong community here on the westside.

Mahalo, Tommy!

The entire Board of Directors wishes to bid a fond farewell to our former Board President, Tommy Sowell. Tommy served on the board for over twelve years, most of them as President. His invaluable insight and experience contributed greatly to the community. With his background as an entrepreneur, general contractor, and real estate investor, Tommy possessed extensive knowledge of the buildings at Makaha Valley Plantation and real estate values. He also studied Hawaii Condo Laws and provided guidance to the board on procedural matters. Tommy has chosen to retire from the board of directors to pursue his dream of writing a book. He will be deeply missed at MVP!

H06 By-Laws Due Date

If you haven’t yet submitted your vote for the HO6 Insurance resolution, please check your email for a message from the front office. If you haven’t received it, kindly reach out to us!

This motion aims to make HO6 insurance mandatory for all owners, ensuring comprehensive coverage for both you and your neighbors. While most owners already have H06 insurance, passing this motion will allow us to take action, such as obtaining competitively priced insurance, ultimately helping to keep HOA fees down! Deadline for HO6 is May 31, 2023.

Update on the Voting By-Laws

As a reminder, you should have received a letter explaining a change to the HOA by-laws to streamline the election process. We are still working to gather the necessary votes. If you suspect you may not have voted, please contact us so we can provide you with a consent form!

Feeding Animals

We kindly request that the community refrains from feeding local wildlife and stray animals. This practice leads to issues such as odor, spoiled food, and makes it challenging for our staff to maintain a clean environment. If you notice a neighbor engaging in this behavior, please inform our front staff so that we can address the matter. Not everyone reads these newsletters or is aware of the problems associated with feeding animals, so let’s work together to live in harmony.

Treatment of Staff

Our dedicated staff and security team do an excellent job, and we are fortunate to have them on board. We remind everyone to treat them with kindness and respect. If you encounter any issues with a staff member, please inform the front office or your property manager, Chester Reeves. Harassment of staff is never acceptable, and such behavior will have consequences as we are liable for it. Thank you for treating others with compassion and kindness in your interactions!

Did you know that MVP has a webpage?

Our website is a valuable resource filled with helpful information, forms, house rules, and guidelines that every resident should follow.

If you’re planning repairs or renovations, remember to complete the necessary forms. Depending on the situation, you may require Board approval or need to provide building permits and drawings. Please familiarize yourself with designated construction times and the required construction materials for your unit, including sound-proofing materials for new flooring. These guidelines are in place to prevent costly mistakes.

If you’re a pet owner, don’t forget to register your pet. Stay informed about MVP happenings by completing the homeowner information form.

We strongly recommend reading the House Rules, which promote respect and cooperation within our community. Let’s work together to create a harmonious environment.

For more information and resources, please visit our helpful MVP website at www.makahavalleyplantation.org.

Communication and Community

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our property manager, Chester Reeves, the front office, or the board directly. You can find all the contact details for the front office and management at: https://makahavalleyplantation.org/contact/

The email addresses of the Board of Directors are also available at https://makahavalleyplantation.org/association/. We believe in the importance of community and open communication, so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any inquiries!

Mahalo,

MVP Board of Directors

Aloha

Welcome to the April 2023 edition of the Makaha Valley Plantation newsletter! The aim of this newsletter is to bring you the latest MVP news, project updates, and help build community here on the westside.

Update on the Solar PV Project

There were some questions in our recent owners meeting about the Solar PV project so we want to clarify things for the rest of the community. As a reminder MVP is not paying anything for the solar installation and upgrades – all of the capital expenditure is coming from a set of investors, and implemented by our contractor Hawaii Unified. Sounds to good to be true? Well they will be earning money on all of the energy that is collected, which is why they are investing in the project. There are many benefits to our community, such as upgrading our electrical system, enabling EV charging stall updates, enabling mini-split air conditioner installations, and improving our water heater systems (finally!). We have also locked-in our electricity rate at $0.28 per kWh for the next 25 years, which is already cheaper than what HECO is charging, so this will save home owners a lot of money in electricity usage.

You can find these answers, and many other details, on our website’s Solar FAQ section: https://makahavalleyplantation.org/solar_faq/ – If you have other questions or concerns please get in touch!

New Trees

There were several trees that posed problems to the buildings at MVP.  Those trees were taken out and as promised new trees are being relocated and planted with better types of trees for our community.  Here are some pictures of trees that have been planted in the last couple of days.  We are excited about these new additions to the complex and we hope you are as well!

Employee Retention Credits at MVP

If you attended our annual meeting you may recall that our Treasurer, Greg Sokolowski,  mentioned he was working on the possibility that MVP might qualify for an Employee Retention Credit. This is a program run by the IRS that recognises, via a tax deductible credit, businesses and organizations that continued to pay their employees while shutdown during COVID. The program offers upwards of $26,000 for each employee which, given our 34 employees, would have been very helpful! Unfortunately, MVP didn’t qualify because we did not actually shut down, but we can be glad that we were able to continue operations and did not face a reduction in maintenance. It’s worth noting that we were not shut down by a government agency as we are deemed an essential operation and the employees were needed to continue operation. So, no big tax breaks here, but in the spirit of communication we wanted to update you of the result of this project.

Safety and Security

Given the shooting in Maili the other weekend it seems like a good time to remind the residents of MVP about their own security. Our security staff are not policemen but there are things they can do to help ensure your safety. If you are being, or feel, threatened you can and must notify HPD as well as our security. Our security will come down to your unit and bear witness to whatever is occuring, which greatly helps us in future prosecution or legal action. It is against the law to threaten people and that is a police matter. It is important that you report this right away and not wait hours or days to act on this situation.

In the case of noise complaints, you need to report them when it happens, so that our security can get down to your unit and witness this complaint. We know that the noise or arguing may well stop before our security gets there but over time they will catch incidences and we can take further action. It sometimes takes time but the people who violate the House Rules always do get caught. We understand that in the moment it is frustrating but our security team needs to follow proper procedure, so please do not be shy and reach out if you feel something is amiss.

If you see anyone feeding the cats or chickens, you need to report that to security also. Nobody wants to smell the odor of the cats or chickens when they defecate or urinate around their units. You may say to yourself that security doesn’t get to your unit fast enough to catch the people feeding the animals but what does happen is that security is now on notice that it is happening and when they are making their rounds, they will be looking towards those units that have been reported feeding the animals. These people do eventually get caught and are fined, which does a lot to deter this behavior. We are aware that some of them change where they feed the animals but security is aware and looks for this when making their rounds.

So if you see something wrong, then please report it! Our security team is here to help, and they need our help in order to do their jobs and keep our community safe and harmonious.

Seeking Volunteers

As you’ll see below we are still struggling to get enough votes to update our election bylaws update and H06 insurance requirements. This is likely partially due to owners being off-island and not being fully engaged with the community, but we are seeking volunteers to hit the pavement and do some door knocking to help engage with owners who have not responded to these votes. If you are interested in improving your community and life here on the westside then please reach out to mvpcommunicationcommittee@gmail.com – mahalo in advance!

Election Bylaws Update

As we’ve mentioned in previous emails we are eager to update our bylaws to make our elections effective and efficient, such that the members of the community who receive the most votes can join the board. We have received votes from 30.4% of the community, well short of the 67% we need to make this change. As such the front office will be reaching out to all owners to update their contact information, as we suspect that many of our emails and contact addresses are out of date. If your contact information has changed, be it your email, phone or postal address please let the front office know!

HO6 Insurance Resolution Reminder

As you’ve heard we are looking to pass a bylaw that makes H06 insurance a requirement. We have received votes from 44.98% of owners, which we are grateful for, but we need push a little further to get the 50.1% approval needed. This helps protect all owners in the event of flooding, water leakage, and a range of other accidents that can happen. It also allows the association to purchase more competitively priced insurance, which will help us avoid association rate increases.

You should have received a letter about an amendment to the bylaws, making H06 insurance mandatory, but if you have not received this or know of another owner who hasn’t we encourage you to contact Touchstone and get a new packet sent out!

If we are able to pass this motion we will be able to obtain more competitively priced insurance, which goes a long way to keeping all of our HOA fees down!

Moving back to Zoom for General Association Meetings

During the heights of the COVID-19 lockdowns we moved our general association meetings to Zoom. There were some technical challenges but it was a helpful way to keep the community together while everyone was remote. Since the lockdowns have ended we had moved our meetings back to in-person at the Kiana pools, however we found that this was difficult for owners to attend, particularly owners who live off-island, so we have moved back to doing Zoom meetings for now. Our next meeting will be on June 20th so look out for Zoom meeting information from the front office closer to the time.

Communicating and Community

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our property manager, Chester Reeves, the front office, or the board directly. All of the phone numbers and emails for the front office and management are available at: https://makahavalleyplantation.org/contact/

You can also find the email addresses of the board of directors at https://makahavalleyplantation.org/association/. Most boards do not make themselves so accessible, but we believe that community and communication are important, so please contact us if you have any questions!

Mahalo,

MVP Board of Directors

Aloha
 
Welcome to the March 2023 edition of the Makaha Valley Plantation newsletter! The aim of this newsletter is to bring you the latest MVP news, project updates, and help build community here on the westside.
 
Annual Owners Association Meeting
 
It was wonderful getting to see so many of you in person the other weekend, and particularly meet the new members of our community! With all of the disruptions around COVID over these last few years it’s been good to see one another in person, and we look forward to our upcoming general meetings. In this meeting our board president of the last 13 years, Tommy Sowell, retired from the position of president. We are grateful to Tommy for leading the board and bringing all of his experience and savvy to the position – Mahalo Tommy! We held elections for 5 roles and, as you’ll see below, no-one was able to reach the majority of votes needed to gain a board position. With Tommy stepping down, the board elected Kathy Sowell to the position of President. Gregory Sokolowski will remain as treasurer, with Patrick Muldoney taking on the role of secretary. Larry Moore remains vice president. With these election results, we now find ourselves in the unusual position of having SEVEN positions up for election next year!
 
Election Bylaws and an Election Committee
 
It’s obviously not ideal to be unable to elect new, or even existing, board members. Ten members of the community ran for office, some new to Makaha and some long-time owners, demonstrating that people are eager to stand and serve – this is fantastic news and bodes well for the future of Makaha Valley Plantation!
 
As such it is more important than ever that we update and modernize our bylaws. This issue is causing our election troubles and until this is changed it will be hard to elect new members of to the board, which reduces trust and communication between the board and the community at large.
 
The board tried to get a mail-out vote to change this bylaw last year but this was unsuccessful. For this change to happen we will need the community itself to get involved, contribute to the bylaws updating process, and help foster the support of the community at large. If you are interested in helping form an Election Bylaws Committee then please reach out to the board! We can’t do this alone – we need you! If you are interested in getting involved, please get in touch.
 

 
Pickle Ball Update
 
We’re excited to share that the tennis courts have been updated with Pickle Ball lines! Pickle Ball is a fun and accessible sport for all ages, so we hope to see you out on the courts as the weather improves.
 

 
Kiana Jacuzzi Update
 
After 50 years our jacuzzi’s were finally starting to show their age so we’re excited to share an update on the progress of their renovations! The Kiana jacuzzi is replaced and looking sharp, and ready for everyone to enjoy again. The Ala Mahiku jacuzzi is still being worked on and we hope to have it sorted out soon. Please look out for notices and emails regarding these updates.
 
Washer Dryer Updates
 
WASH is the company that provides our laundry room services. We have been negotiating a new contract with them, as well as investigating other options. After investigating all available options, including managing our own laundry rooms, we have decided to go ahead with a renewal of the WASH contract.
 
A company that wants to provide laundry services to MVP must have hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest in equipment, technicians, transportation, spare parts, software apps that can link to your phone, an accurate accounting system, internet capabilities and an administration staff to manage all of this. In addition, they pay most of the revenue generated from the washers and dryers to MVP. At this stage MVP does not have the capital, manpower, technicians, spare parts, and all the other aspects to conduct an inhouse program.
 
With regards to allowing owners to install their own washers and dryers we have determined that now is not an appropriate time to pursue this. We first need to finish the PV project and upgrade our electrical systems, such that many owners can have high-power appliances such as dryers without threatening the whole community’s grid. The other issue is that we really need everyone to have H06 insurance, such that everyone is covered in the event of leaks or damages. Our H06 bylaws amendment has only received 36% correspondence, which we hope to increase this year.
 
Another issue is that you also would have higher water charges in your maintenance.  With the laundry rooms we get some remuneration for water usage out of the revenue from the washers.  If the washer is in the unit, that water becomes a part of the maintenance, and we all share in the cost of that. 
 
With the renewal of this contract with WASH they will be providing all new equipment and new features to make doing laundry a little easier.  If you have lived at MVP for a while, you’ll know we haven’t raised the cost of doing laundry over the last 7 years. We all know that everything has gone up.  There will be a small increase of $0.25 a load and we will continue to keep prices as low as possible.  Please review the flier that gives more details on what new features you will be able to use.  The HOA has worked with WASH over the years and has been very satisfied with their equipment and service.  We look forward to working with them again.
 
WASH is introducing a new Mobile App + Card Bundle that will make life easier for everyone! New features of the service include:

1. Receive real-time alerts and notifications when your laundry is done
2. Room View allows you to remotely see if machines are available
3. Recharge your WASH card via the mobile app
4. Updated credit kiosks that support credit and debit cards
5. Contactless card payment at the washers and dryers

You can read more here (https://makahavalleyplantation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mobile-AppCard-Bundle.pdf) and if you have any queries please reach out!

HO6 Insurance Resolution Reminder

As mentioned in the Washer-Dryer update above it is very hard for us to get to a position of allowing owners to install washers and dryers without an assurance that, in the event of fire or flooding, everyone will be covered.

You should have received a letter about an amendment to the bylaws, making H06 insurance mandatory, but if you have not received this or know of an another owner who hasn’t we encourage you to contact Touchstone and get a new packet sent out!

If we are able to pass this motion we will be able to obtain more competitively priced insurance, which goes a long way to keeping all of our HOA fees down!

Communicating and Community

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our property manager, Chester Reeves, the front office, or the board directly. All of the phone numbers and emails for the front office and management are available at: https://makahavalleyplantation.org/contact/

You can also find the email addresses of the board of directors at https://makahavalleyplantation.org/association/. Most boards do not make themselves so accessible, but we believe that community and communication are important, so please contact us if you have any questions!

Mahalo,
MVP Board of Directors

Aloha

Welcome to the February 2023 edition of the Makaha Valley Plantation newsletter! The aim of this newsletter is to bring you the latest MVP news, project updates, and help build community here on the westside.

Association of Owners Annual Meeting

As a reminder for owners, we have our upcoming annual association meeting.

Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023

Time: 9:00 a.m. Registration; 9:30 a.m. Call to Order

Place: Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Dining Pavilion, 86-260 Farrington Hwy, Waianae, HI 96792

We look forward to seeing you all, discussing updates to Makaha Valley Plantation, and we have five board positions up for election!

Hot tub repairs and replacement

If you weren’t at the last Board meeting one of the hot tubs is down and will need to be replaced.  We have gotten many, many years of service and it just needs to be replaced.  For now, we will make some temporary repairs to keep it going while we source a contractor to build us new ones.  These contractors will also need to obtain permits for the extensive work that needs to be done.  I’m sure most of you have heard how difficult it is to get a building permit in a timely matter.  We hope to have a contractor identified soon and have them start drawing and applying for building permits for the new hot tubs.  We appreciate your patience.

Tree Trimming

Over the next month MVP will have the trees trimmed around the property (it’s amazing how fast they grow). The large trees provide many benefits, not the least of which is lowering the temperature around the property.  Unfortunately, some have grown so much they are uprooting driveways, undermining building foundations and the mailbox areas.  According to our arborist, if we were to cut back the roots as much as they need to be cut back there is a very good chance they would die.  We can’t have them undermining our building foundations nor destroying our driveways and mailbox areas.  We have some other trees that were planted only a few feet from our building and in fifty years they have been reduced to just a large trunk.  We have consulted various professionals and, due to the issues these trees are causing, we reluctantly need to take them down.

Once the old trees are removed, we are going to replant new trees that are better situated for the area, provide plenty of shade, and don’t have the aggressive root system the current trees have. We located some lumber mills and had them come out and they will be working with the arborist to cut them down in such a way that they can be reused.  The lumber mills will in turn cut them up for wood craft artisan to make table tops, chairs, bowls, plaques, and other artful wood pieces to grace the homes around the islands and the world.  We ask for your understanding in this matter and we look forward to planting a new group of trees that will give us shade and greenery for decades.

Update on the HOA Voting By Laws

We have received 15% correspondence for changing our HOA Voting By Laws, well short of the majority needed to enact this resolution. As a reminder the change we are looking to make is to allow enable community members to be elected to the Board of Directors by receiving the greatest number of votes, rather than requiring they meet approval of the majority of the community, which as we found last year makes it hard to elect new members, or even re-elect prior members.

In our upcoming annual meeting, there are FIVE seats open, so if we are not able to make this change ahead of time it is likely to be difficult to elect any new, or re-elect existing, board members. You should have received an explainer letter and voting form but if you have not please reach out to Chester at Touchstone so they can provide you with one!

HO6 Insurance Resolution Reminder

This is what could happen if a leak took place above your unit. (The above picture is of a unit not in MVP). Nobody should have to deal with this, but it can happen.  If you’re not properly insured, the HOA insurance will only repair your unit to its original condition.  That means replacing the drywall and painting the walls and a credit toward flooring and other basic items.  You could also be faced with paying the $25,000 deductible, all because of a careless mistake. Are you prepared to do that?

The board of Directors has recently put forward a motion to make HO6 insurance mandatory for all owners – this will ensure that whatever happens to you, or your neighbor’s unit, everyone will be properly covered. Most owners already have H06 insurance which is great, but we need to pass this motion in order to take action, such as obtaining more competitively priced insurance which will help in keeping HOA fees down!

We have received 31% approval from the community and need 50% approval to proceed with this motion. You should have received an explanation letter titled “Resolution to Require Owners Insurance”.  If you haven’t received or misplaced the voting form, please reach out to Chester at Touchstone. We encourage you to be involved in your home, investment, and community by protecting it with the proper insurance.

Mahalo,

MVP Board of Directors

Aloha

Happy Holidays and welcome to the January 2023 edition of the Makaha Valley Plantation newsletter! The aim of this newsletter is to bring you the latest MVP news, project updates, and help build community here on the westside.

General Meeting

As a reminder for owners we have an upcoming board meeting this Tuesday. If you’re an owner living on-island we hope to see you there:

Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Time: 6:30 p.m. – Call to Order     

Place: Kiana Pool Pavilion

A Note On Water Hoses and Public Spaces

Please refrain from using personal water hoses on any common area spigots or faucets. Rule D.1 on Page 8 of the House Rules reads: “No apartment Owner, Occupant or Guest shall place, store or maintain in the halls, lobbies, stairways, landings, walkways, grounds or other Common Elements of Makaha Valley Plantation any furniture, plants, packages, or objects of any kind, nor obstruct transit through such Common Elements in any manner whatsoever…”

If you would like to wash your car we have a designated area for this purpose, so just check with the guard shack and they can give you the key. Mahalo!

Update on the HOA Voting By Laws

We are nearing our next general election and all owners should have received a letter detailing the changes to the HOA by-laws that we’ve been discussing for a while. As a reminder the change we are looking to make is to allow enable community members to be elected to the Board of Directors by receiving the greatest number of votes, rather than requiring they meet approval by the majority of the community, which as we found last year makes it hard to elect new members, or even re-elect prior members.

You should have received your updated letter and voting form but if you have not please reach out to Chester at Touchstone so they can provide you with one. If you have any questions about this change then please reach out so we can clarify anything that is on your mind!

H06 Insurance Resolution Reminder

No-one likes bad news and there is no worse news than your home, or someone else’s, being damaged and finding out that it is not properly covered by insurance! The Board of Directors has recently put forward a motion to make H06 Insurance mandatory for all owners – this will ensure that whatever happens to you, or your neighbors home, everyone will be properly covered. It will also mean that the association is able to purchase more competitively priced insurance, which will help avoid association fee increases as insurance rates have been increasing over the last few years!

You should have received an explainer letter titled “Resolution to Require Owner Insurance”, and Mahalo to everyone who has submitted their vote. If you haven’t submitted your vote please go ahead and do so, or reach out to Chester at Touchstone if you did not receive the letter. We appreciate your involvement in helping protect our community!

Mahalo,

MVP Board of Directors

Aloha

Happy Holidays and welcome to the December 2022 edition of the Makaha Valley Plantation newsletter! The aim of this newsletter is to bring you the latest MVP news, project updates, and help build community here on the westside.

An Spectrum Internet Update from David Lapera

Aloha Makaha Valley Plantation Homeowners,

Great News! We are writing to inform you that your Board of Directors has voted to enter into a new bulk agreement with Spectrum to provide the following services, with an activation date of January 9, 2023

• Spectrum TV® Select, Entertainment and Sports View
• Spectrum Internet® Ultra 500 mbps with Wi- Fi (1 FREE Modem and Router)
• Two HD DVR Boxes

You are eligible for Two Spectrum Receivers with DVR service, plus one modem and router at no charge.

The monthly fees will be included in your HOA maintenance fees. You will also receive a bulk notification postcard from Spectrum on or about the activation date of January 9, 2023.  The postcard will list the services included in the bulk and how to setup an account or to update your current equipment.  The number to Spectrum Bulk customer care to call on or after the activation date is 1-855-326-5115.

To avoid any confusion it is recommended to call on or after January 9, 2023, at that time your account will have been updated in Spectrum’s billing system to reflect the new bulk contract.  Calling sooner than the activation date your account may not be updated and the customer care rep will only see the services included with the current bulk agreement.

If you are currently a Spectrum subscriber you will keep the same account number and your services will be transitioned over to new agreement automatically. Your current billing rate will continue until the first bill after the activation date.  Your new monthly invoice will show the adjustment amount and reflect the services included in the bulk with Spectrum as well as any equipment or additional services you have outside the agreement. 

If you’re are a new Spectrum subscriber you will need to call to set up an account. 

If you have services outside the bulk agreement it will be an additional charge billed to you individually (for example: additional Spectrum Receivers, additional Premium Channels, Pay per View, On Demand, Spectrum Voice®, etc.).

If you decide to move, you will be responsible for returning the Spectrum equipment to your nearest Spectrum Store or any FedEx location. Any unreturned Spectrum equipment will result in unreturned equipment fees.

Sincerely,

David Lapera

Owner Representation

We would like to remind owners that the State of Hawaii Real Estate Division requires that owners who are off-island for more than 30 days have a local representative with access to their unit. This name and contact information of this person should be communicated to the front office so that in the event of an emergency, be it fire or flood, services can access the unit. So, please let the front office know who to contact when you are off island, and periodically update that information as needed.

Security Threats

Chris and our security team work hard to protect our community and keep everyone safe. Unfortunately, in their line of duty, they are sometimes the subjects of abuse or threats of violence. As you can imagine this is completely unacceptable from an ethical, moral, and liability perspective. We have zero tolerance for this and will levy large fines, into the thousands if need be, to anyone who abuses or threatens our staff. If you are unhappy with something our security team has done or wish to report an issue please reach out to the front office or the property manager. People make mistakes but there is no room for this sort of bad behavior.

Santa is coming to town (again)

Unfortunately, due to adverse weather conditions, Santa and his helpers were not able to visit MVP at the scheduled time. Fortunately he’s passing through the area on Christmas Eve before he starts delivering presents, so we hope you’ll come and see him from 1pm to 3pm on December 24th. Kids can meet Santa, take photos, and participate in a lucky dip raffle! We hope to see all the good boys and girls of Makaha Valley Plantation soon.

A Note About Maintenance and Repairs

As we all know equipment can break down from time to time.  As part of our proactive attitude we have our staff constantly monitoring lights in parking lots or stairways, hot water temperatures, gates, and potential water intrusion issues.  They also monitor railings, stairs, laundry equipment and cleanliness of the grounds.  When something breaks our staff addresses the issues as soon as possible and bring technicians in to repair if it is beyond our staff capabilities. When such events occur we ask that our residents be understanding knowing that we are working to correct the problem as soon as possible. If you notice an issue we ask that you contact security or the office depending on the hour of the day to make sure we’re aware of it.  We appreciate your understanding and know that our team is working to provide excellent service.

Mahalo,

MVP Board of Directors

Aloha

Welcome to the November 2022 edition of the Makaha Valley Plantation newsletter! The aim of this newsletter is to bring you the latest MVP news, project updates, and help build community here on the westside.

Update on the HOA Voting By Laws

Owners should have received a letter detailing a change to the HOA by-laws that would enable a simpler election process. Unfortunately, through a combination of communication errors and mistakes on the part of our legal counsel, the wrong letter and by-law change was sent out. We apologize for this mistake and will be working to flag issues with our legal counsel earlier in the process so as to avoid this sort of mixup.

You will receive a new letter and voting form soon and, as always, if anything seems amiss please reach out to the board or our property manager!

Happy Halloween In The Valley

It was great to see so many members of our community at our spooky, festive Halloween event! Here are a few of the most delightful trick or treaters here, and make sure to see everyone on the community photos section of the MVP website: https://makahavalleyplantation.org/community/

New Pool Keys

As you’ve hopefully heard we have a new pool key system which is modern and easier to use. Make sure you visit the front office to get your new pool key!

Keeping Your Details Up To Date

Please ensure that the front office has your latest email address and contact information so we can always get in touch with you for news, construction updates, and safety information. Owners should also ensure that you have a local contact in the event that something occurs that needs a local representative to take care of.

Bulky Item Disposal

We’d like to remind all residents that you cannot leave bulky items, such as household furniture, in the trash enclosure areas. Our signs indicate this but still residents leave large awkward items there – if you are caught the fine is $100. When items are left there then our own staff has to take them to the dump, which takes time and money that we would rather be spending on maintenance and serving our community. If items like this are put in the trash then we also get penalized. So please, dispose of your bulky items responsibly and we can all focus on our having an Aloha day.

Smoking Prohibited Signage

A review of the Hawaii Revised Statues 328J 1-12 indicates that MVP should post “Smoking is Prohibited” signs around the complex to be in compliance with the law.  The law states, in section 9, that signs shall be clearly and conspicuously posted in and at the entrance to every place open to the public by the owner, operator, manager, or other person in control of that place. 

In section 328J-3 it states that areas that are affected by the law include but not limited to Lobbies, hallways, and other common areas in apartment buildings, condominiums, retirement facilities, nursing homes, multifamily dwellings, and another multiple-unit residential facilities. 

In section 328J-12 which covers penalties it says the following: A person who owns, manages, operates, or otherwise controls any place or facility designated by this chapter and fails to comply with this chapter shall be guilty of a violation and fined:
(1) Not more than $100 for a first violation.
(2) Not more than $200 for a second violation within one year of the date of the first violation; and
(3) Not more than $500 for each additional violation within one year of the date of the preceding violation.
(g) In addition to the fines established by this section, violation of this chapter by a person who owns, manages, operates, or otherwise controls any place or facility designated by this chapter may result in the suspension or revocation of any permit or license issued to the person or the place for the premises on which the violation occurred.
(h) Each day on which a violation of this chapter occurs shall be considered a separate and distinct violation.

We realize that this will take some adjustment for some but to avoid not being in compliance with the law sets a legal threat to the HOA which we obviously don’t wish to pursue.  We appreciate your cooperation in this matter and if you have any questions please reach out.

Preparing For Natural Disasters

As residents of Hawaii we are especially vulnerable to different natural disasters, so it’s incumbent on everyone to plan ahead and a great way to prepare for the unforeseen is to create a 14-Day Disaster Supply Kit. We’ve added this PDF to our website, which you can refer to and learn more information about to ensure that you and your family are secure in the event of an emergency. https://makahavalleyplantation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Plan-and-Prepare.pdf

Information for Owners Of Rental Properties

Are you a new owner and considering, or already, renting out your unit in Makaha Valley Plantation? There are a range of local laws and residential codes you’ll need to ensure you’re following, particularly around property management and having an on-island contact, so we encourage you to read this PDF to learn more:
https://makahavalleyplantation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/For-owners-of-Rental-Properties.pdf


Checking Owner Accounts and Overdue Fees

It is every homeowners responsibility to pay their association fees promptly, as well as citations and other expenses. An overdue account can result in overdue charges and, if left unattended, the costs can rack up! The Board is giving owners 6 months to set up a login with Touchstone and determine if your account is accurate and up to date – otherwise you may find unexpected or unpleasant costs appearing.

To check your account you’ll need to create a login with Touchstone.

1. Visit https://www.touchstoneproperties-hawaii.com
2. Click View your account or payment history – this will open the SKYLINE dashboard.
3. You’ll need to enter a username and password and if this is your first time here you’ll need to call Touchstone on 808-566-4100
4. Tell the operator you are signing up for a SKYLINE Dashboard Account and you will be transferred to accounting, and can then request a username and password.
5. Once you receive your unique username and password, write it down for future reference, and proceed with your login!
6. You can then review your account history and make payments as needed.

If you have any issues with this process please get in touch!


Mahalo,
MVP Board of Directors

Aloha

Welcome to the October 2022 edition of the Makaha Valley Plantation newsletter! The aim of this newsletter is to bring you the latest MVP news, project updates, and help build community here on the westside.

Important Changes to the HOA Voting By Laws!

As you may recall our Bylaws state that candidate board members must reach a majority vote to be elected, as opposed to receiving the highest vote share. Unfortunately, this is a difficult threshold to reach, especially if there are many candidates running for election.

As such the board has been working towards amending the bylaws so owners will be receiving a letter and other information to vote on this change very soon. The proposed change will mean the candidates who receive the largest share of votes will be elected – a far more efficient and effective process! This will require 66% of owners to vote and approve of this change so please promptly fill out and return the voting letter as soon as you receive it, and if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Chester Reeves at Touchstone!

Spectrum Internet Upgrades coming to MVP in 2023

At the beginning of 2023 our Spectrum account is going through some major changes. We have made an agreement with Spectrum, taking advantage of our Purchasing Hui agreement, in which we have negotiated a new five-year agreement. This means we have locked in the current rate and will not be affected by price increases.  The new agreement will increase our TV package to include all their non-premium channels; about 275 total.  The new agreement will also include internet services at their Ultra-high-speed service which currently is at 500 Mbps.  They will be providing two HD DVR boxes per unit.  The modems will be upgraded to Wi-Fi 6 wireless routers. The pool areas will also be upgraded with community Wi-Fi 6 which provide better encryption and stronger signals at a faster rate.  The office will also be upgraded to 200 Mbps.  So, now you will be able to stream movies and other materials more easily.  These services will all be incorporated into the maintenance fee.

For residents of the property, they will be able to cancel their internet package.  Regarding their TV package, unless they want premium channels, they will have the largest selection available.  This should save residents around $30 to $40 a month, if not more.  Investors should be able to pass on these added expenses in maintenance to their tenants.  It will provide MVP with the best possible communication features currently available. 2023 will have some exciting upgrades!

Updates on the Solar PV project

As you may have heard, the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law by the Biden Administration.  With it comes new regulation and incentives for projects like ours.  The good news is that projects like ours can get larger incentives which will attract more investors or help retain existing investors. The challenge is there are several new regulations.  One being to qualify for the rebates and tax credit the system must be no larger than 1 megawatt. Our planned project was aiming for 1.55 megawatts. As such we will build it in two distinct phases.  That means some electrical and design changes will have to be redrawn.  There are other requirements which require clarification and/or modification.  So, a lot of things are in motion.

The current timeline is the heat pumps, solar thermal system, some tank upgrades, and the water temperature mixers are expected to start by the second quarter of 2023.  The roof renovations, to prepare for the PV panels, will start around the third quarter and the PV panel installation for the 1s1 phase will start around the fourth quarter of 2023.  The 2nd phase of PV panels will start around the second quarter of 2024.  The electrical system upgrades will follow as the PV panels are being installed.

We also need to get in some painting prior to the Tesla Power Wall panels being installed on the building. So, during 2023 the delaminating panels on the buildings will have to be replaced with painting set to start at the beginning of 2024. The painting of the building will continue through 2027.

Public charging stations are planned but where they will they be placed has not yet been determined.  We are planning on having a couple of them.  In addition, you will be able to have a charging station in your own parking space, but that upgrade will be at your own expense.  Your electrical panel inside your unit is adequate for your unit as it was originally built but if you are planning to do any upgrades such as adding a mini-AC unit you will need to upgrade it.  We are working with Hawaii Unified to provide a bulk quote for replacing circuit breaker boxes at the owner’s expense.

Lots of construction, coordination and cooperation will be needed.  We ask in advance that you be patient and understanding knowing that in the end MVP will be so much better than it is now!

Do Not Feed The Animals

A reminder to all residents to please not feed the animals on property. There have been 3 citations in the last month issued for the feeding of chickens and feral cats. Some residents have been doing it for a long time but it is not fair to our community. People don’t want to be woken up at 5 in the morning, or even earlier, by roosters crowing. Nor should they have to put up with the smells generated by the cats that hang around the units. The house rules are designed to correct bad behavior, not to make money through fines – unfortunately we have found that fines are the best way of getting attention and changing behavior that harms everyone.

For those of you that walk your dogs around property, please pick up after your dogs. Our employees do not need to find what they leave behind when using the weed whackers. It gets on them and our employees do not deserve that kind of disrespect.

H06 Insurance Consent Form Reminder

Thanks to everyone who has received, signed and sent in the H06 Insurance consent form! However there has been a little bit of confusion – please send in your written consent form as this is what will allow us to update our bylaws and make H06 insurance mandatory. Some folks have been sending in a copy of their own insurance policy which does not help with this matter. If you have any questions or need a new written consent form please contact Chester Reeves at chester@touchstoneproperties-hawaii.com

Time On The Job

We greatly appreciate the friendly relationship we all have with our security and groundskeepers, and we hope you feel that everyone is both professional and approachable. However, we would like to remind everyone that they have busy days and a tightly managed work schedule, so please be respectful of their duties and refrain from overly long distractions.

Checking Owner Accounts and Overdue Fees

It is every homeowner’s responsibility to pay their association fees promptly, as well as citations and other expenses. An overdue account can result in overdue charges and, if left unattended, the costs can rack up! The Board is giving owners 6 months to set up a login with Touchstone and determine if your account is accurate and up to date – otherwise you may find unexpected or unpleasant costs appearing.

To check your account, you’ll need to create a login with Touchstone.

1. Visit https://www.touchstoneproperties-hawaii.com
2. Click View your account or payment history – this will open the SKYLINE dashboard.
3. You’ll need to enter a username and password and if this is your first time here you’ll need to call Touchstone on 808-566-4100
4. Tell the operator you are signing up for a SKYLINE Dashboard Account and you will be transferred to accounting and can then request a username and password.
5. Once you receive your unique username and password, write it down for future reference, and proceed with your login!
6. You can then review your account history and make payments as needed.

If you have any issues with this process, please get in touch!

Mahalo,

MVP Board of Directors

Aloha

Welcome to the September 2022 edition of the Makaha Valley Plantation newsletter! The aim of this newsletter is to bring you the latest MVP news, project updates, and help build community here on the westside.

Sewer Line Work

We’d like everyone to be aware that we are working with the City and County of Honolulu on the main sewer line that runs through Kiana through the month of September. Please drive carefully through these sections, obey all signs and pay attention to worker directions.

New Exit System

Our new security gate is designed to only let one car through at a time. In other words, if you are following the person in front of you too closely then the gate is going to come down on your car! Please take a moment and come to a complete stop before proceeding. When people rush there ends up being collisions and damage, and it costs us all! Please follow the directions of all posted signs throughout the property, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask security.

Checking Owner Accounts and Overdue Fees

It is every homeowner’s responsibility to pay their association fees promptly, as well as citations and other expenses. An overdue account can result in overdue charges and, if left unattended, the costs can rack up! The Board is giving owners 6 months to set up a login with Touchstone and determine if your account is accurate and up to date – otherwise you may find unexpected or unpleasant costs appearing.

To check your account you’ll need to create a login with Touchstone.

1. Visit https://www.touchstoneproperties-hawaii.com
2. Click View your account or payment history – this will open the SKYLINE dashboard.
3. You’ll need to enter a username and password and if this is your first time here you’ll need to call Touchstone on 808-566-4100
4. Tell the operator you are signing up for a SKYLINE Dashboard Account and you will be transferred to accounting, and can then request a username and password.
5. Once you receive your unique username and password, write it down for future reference, and proceed with your login!
6. You can then review your account history and make payments as needed.

If you have any issues with this process please get in touch!

HO6 Insurance Resolution Reminder

No-one likes bad news and there is no worse news than your home, or someone else’s, being damaged and finding out that it is not properly covered by insurance! The Board of Directors has recently put forward a motion to make HO6 Insurance mandatory for all owners – this will ensure that whatever happens to you, or your neighbor’s home, everyone will be properly covered. It will also mean that the association is able to purchase more competitively priced insurance, which will help avoid association fee increases as insurance rates have been increasing over the last few years!

You should have received an explanation letter titled “Resolution to Require Owner Insurance”, and Mahalo to everyone who has submitted their vote. We are currently sitting at 34% owner approval so if you haven’t submitted your vote please go ahead and do so, or reach out to Chester at Touchstone if you did not receive the letter. We appreciate your involvement in helping protect our community!

Avoiding Mosquitoes

It’s mosquito season and there is a simple way we can all help reduce this buzzing menace – ensure that there is no standing water on our lanai’s and elsewhere on the property! Mosquitoes require stable water, even as small as a puddle, in order to lay their eggs and reproduce. By ensuring we don’t leave containers of water, overfill garden beds, and just generally keep your lanai dry you can help yourself and your neighbors avoid this nuisance.

Mahalo,

MVP Board of Directors