Mormon-affiliated company planning 200-room hotel in Laie

Associated Press/July 7, 2004

A property management company affiliated with the Mormon church is planning a 30 (m) million dollar, 200-room hotel in Laie.

The hotel would replace the 48-room Laie Inn near the Polynesian Cultural Center and be the first hotel of its size along the Windward coast.

Hawaii Reserves Incorporated says construction could begin in late 2005 with completion of the initial phase planned by early 2007.

Hawaii Reserves chief financial officer Eric Marler says the hotel would include four separate three-story buildings with amenities including a small North Shore visitor orientation center.

Marler says Hawaii Reserves -- which is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- generally doesn't partner with outside investors and plans to finance the hotel itself.