The condo has been sold. Finally, after 21 years, we no longer have to worry about all the goings on in Kihei. But, as Bill said, that has been part of our life for such a long time, especially for the two + years we lived there. So, I am going to record on this blog, some of the correspondence, etc. from those years.
Things We Did
As much fun going to the beach, pool, hiking and exploring the island was, we needed to do something, so we started volunteering at the Pacific Whale Foundation in the summer of 2003. We had been going on their whale watching and snorkel trips for several years, so it was the right fit. Bill mostly worked in the store and I mostly worked on the boats, helping with the kids on school tours, so I got to go out snorkeling two or three times a week. We met Ka'au and Steve through the foundation. They are still friends.
As a result of our volunteering, we trained to be certified in Marine Biology, and we got to go on five NCL cruises around the islands, with Bill giving lectures and me being his assistant. We even went on two of them after we had moved away. They stopped that program in 2006. It was great fun to be able to go on free cruises.
Friends We Made
At the top of the list are Gee and Joe Weckerlee. They became almost instant friends from the first time we met in 2002. They went on our first cruise with us, to Hawai'i from Ensenada and
they remain special friends, who we talk to often and see a few times a year, either at our place or their condo in Sacramento. They adored Bryannan and Bailey and the feeling was mutual.
The first people we met at Kamaole Sands were Chris and Margaret Seabrook. They owned 6-104 and we spent many evenings having dinner together and playing games. They were older and lived in Chilliwack, BC. They sold their condo sometime while we were living there and they bought one in the Maui Banyon. Chris died last year.
Paul and Kathy Twelker were unforgettable. They lived in 6-404 and they owned a shop for several years in the early 2000s called The Last Resort. They always joined us at the pool for exercise and Kathy was one of the most interesting people I have ever known. She was a really a fun person to hang out with, and we often used our pool time to discuss everything about Kamaole Sands. We spent Thanksgiving of 2003 together with several other of the owners and had a lovely time. We also spent quite a bit of time playing games on our lanai and having impromptu dinners together. I remember standing on the edge of our lanai and talking to Kathy who was leaning over the edge of hers, way up above us. Paul had been a college professor in Chicago and he was very intelligent, but, even though he was way smarter than us, we got along quite well. When we lived in Maui, I helped out in their store sometimes, and when they traveled for two weeks, I ran the store while they were gone.
Ennio and Sherry Avalon from 6-102.
Roy and Carol Gesh.
When we met them, in about 2008, they had only been married a few months. Roy was in his early 90s and Carol was in her 80s. They had a two-bedroom unit in building 7. They went to pool exercise almost every morning. Roy used to be a pastor and he had a really great sense of humor, keeping everyone laughing. We went out to dinner with them a few times and we loved to sit and listen to Roy's stories. When we put the condo on the market, we gave them several of our paintings and knick knacks that we didn't want to bring here, but didn't want to leave in the condo.And, of course, I can't forget Carolee Dennett.
George and Janet Drummey from 6-303.
The last friends we made in Kamaole Sands were Roy and Delores McMurran. Their son and daughter-in-law owned 6-104 after Chris and Margaret sold it. We met them in October of 2013 when we were there for the second time that year. We started out by just greeting them on our way to the pool every morning, and we started taking them a newspaper. Pretty soon we started talking and visiting each other. They were interested in buying the condo, but that was just about the time the Canadian economy took a bad turn, and they couldn't do it. Roy had cancer so he and Bill had something in common from the start. We never saw them again, but we corresponded over the last couple of years. Roy died late last year, and Delores took his ashed to Maui last month.
How the Condo Was Useful
We did the Honolulu Marathon in 2000 and the condo helped us to raise the money we needed, $3,000.00 each. We ran a raffle, selling 60 tickets for $50.00 each. Bill sold most of the tickets to people from Nevada Bell and we also sold some at events we worked at like Hot August Nights, and Street Vibrations. Alan Gross's ex-wife, Cindy, won the raffle and she went to Maui for one week during the summer of 2001.
The other thing we did was barter. We got a really nice iron gate for the side of our new house after we moved back to Sparks in 2005, and it cost almost $900.00. We gave the owners of J and S Security Doors a week in the condo in leu of payment. Kathy and Gene had a great time and we got a wonderful gate.
When we moved to the condo in early 2003, we knew we wanted to remodel, but we didn't have any money. My dad passed away suddenly in May of that year, and he left us enough to do some remodeling and to put some into our retirement account. We spent close to $40,000 redoing the kitchen, floors, bathrooms, and lanai, as well as buying all new furniture and appliances. The condo was gorgeous when we were done, except that we didn't have enough money for new cabinets, so we had to live with the original ones.
Guests over the years
Pat and Leroy Van Roekel were our most memorable guests. We don't even remember when we met them, but they became friends and then they stayed in our place every November for several years. In 2008, they invited us to go up to Wesbank on Lake Kelowna, BC to work camp and that visit became it's own blog. We keep in touch once or twice a year. As a result of our stay at Wesbank for 9 weeks, we made a few friends that turned into Maui guests.
In March of 2012, we met MaryPat and Doc Tomlinson. They were really lovely people with whom to correspond. They only stayed at the condo once and then Doc became ill with cancer after they had booked a second trip. I felt a connection because of that.
Sent: Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:54 am
Subject: Re: Kamaole Sands Cancellation Sept 27 to Oct 18
Bob and Deb Stewert were another couple who went more than once. I think it was four. Deb passed away in 2015, and Bob went back one more time in January of 2016.
Brad and Deb Widdifield first stayed at the condo in 2009, and they have stayed several times since then. They have reservations for next January, but we won't be involved with them for that.
Some people from Reno have gone. Scott and Heidi were our first guests after we moved. I don't remember their last name but they worked at IGT. Friends of Kathy and Rommie, Dawn Fournier and her family went a couple of years ago. Dennis and Kaelinn Ragsdale spent a week there last summer. My sister, Joline and bro-in-law, Bill stayed in the condo when their oldest granddaughter was about three. I think that was back in 1997 or so.
We did the Honolulu Marathon in 2000 and the condo helped us to raise the money we needed, $3,000.00 each. We ran a raffle, selling 60 tickets for $50.00 each. Bill sold most of the tickets to people from Nevada Bell and we also sold some at events we worked at like Hot August Nights, and Street Vibrations. Alan Gross's ex-wife, Cindy, won the raffle and she went to Maui for one week during the summer of 2001.
The other thing we did was barter. We got a really nice iron gate for the side of our new house after we moved back to Sparks in 2005, and it cost almost $900.00. We gave the owners of J and S Security Doors a week in the condo in leu of payment. Kathy and Gene had a great time and we got a wonderful gate.
When we moved to the condo in early 2003, we knew we wanted to remodel, but we didn't have any money. My dad passed away suddenly in May of that year, and he left us enough to do some remodeling and to put some into our retirement account. We spent close to $40,000 redoing the kitchen, floors, bathrooms, and lanai, as well as buying all new furniture and appliances. The condo was gorgeous when we were done, except that we didn't have enough money for new cabinets, so we had to live with the original ones.
Guests over the years
Pat and Leroy Van Roekel were our most memorable guests. We don't even remember when we met them, but they became friends and then they stayed in our place every November for several years. In 2008, they invited us to go up to Wesbank on Lake Kelowna, BC to work camp and that visit became it's own blog. We keep in touch once or twice a year. As a result of our stay at Wesbank for 9 weeks, we made a few friends that turned into Maui guests.
In March of 2012, we met MaryPat and Doc Tomlinson. They were really lovely people with whom to correspond. They only stayed at the condo once and then Doc became ill with cancer after they had booked a second trip. I felt a connection because of that.
Sent: Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:54 am
Subject: Re: Kamaole Sands Cancellation Sept 27 to Oct 18
Good morning!!
Yes we did receive the check. Doc started his treatments a couple of weeks ago and I just haven't gotten to the bank. We appreciate the refund. Did you get the condo rented to anyone else? If not, You should at least keep the $300 deposit.
Doc went thru chemo and radiation a year ago at this time. He had two clean scans in Dec and March so we thought we were home free. That was when we made the reservation. In june he started having pain in his ear. There was a new tumor pressing on the nerve. So he had surgery and the doctor thought he got it all. Then we saw his cancer doctor and he said the pathology report showed a few cancer cells around the area where the tumor was. So he has 6 weeks of radiation 5 days a week. And rather than chemo he is having imunotherapy 1 day a week during this time period. If this doesn't work, there is nothing else they can do.
I'll make a point of getting to the bank next week :)
And thanks for the nice card you sent. I'll try to stay in touch
Mary Pat
Unfortunately, Doc passed away in August of 2013. MaryPat want to Maui with her son and his wife to take Doc's ashes. Our place wasn't available, but I helped her to find another unit in Kamaioe Sands.
Brad and Deb Widdifield first stayed at the condo in 2009, and they have stayed several times since then. They have reservations for next January, but we won't be involved with them for that.
Some people from Reno have gone. Scott and Heidi were our first guests after we moved. I don't remember their last name but they worked at IGT. Friends of Kathy and Rommie, Dawn Fournier and her family went a couple of years ago. Dennis and Kaelinn Ragsdale spent a week there last summer. My sister, Joline and bro-in-law, Bill stayed in the condo when their oldest granddaughter was about three. I think that was back in 1997 or so.
Marlene and Kent Wright were some of our more memorable guests because they were very high maintenance. I think their first time was in 2008. After their fifth time at the condo, we had to institute a new policy for them. To keep them from feeling singled out, we wrote up a letter that looked like it was for everyone, but they were the only ones who had to pay the extra. They did that for two years and then we dropped the whole thing. It didn't happen again. It's funny that the Wrights were the only people who were bothered by the roaches and they complained about them every time they were there. She treated us like her great friends, though, sending us Christmas cards, chatty emails, and updates and photos of their family.
Dear future guests,
We’re writing to you because we had quite shock this past
season regarding the power bill for our condo at Kamaole Sands. The usual kilowatt usage for one month is
between 200 and 450, depending on the season.
Other variables are the usage of the appliances, and the air conditioner
and, of course, whether the condo is rented or not. The usual bill for 30 days of power in the
spring is between $78.00 and $175.00.
The highest usage we’ve ever
had for a 30 day period was in the month of November, and that was 567
kilowatts or $221.13.
Here is the problem.
When we received our power bill for one 30 day period, we found that one
of our guests, who stayed in our condo for approximately three weeks, used 2046
kilowatts of power in that time, or 68 kilowatts per day. The bill for that period was $793.48 or
$27.36 per day. The bill the month
before was $110.22 and the bill for the month after was $155.45. We immediately
called Maui Electric and asked them to check our meter. They sent someone out to check it, and found
that there had been no malfunction. We
have taken the matter to an investigator for the power company. He went inside our condo and checked all our
appliances, including our instant hot water, and has reported that everything
is working perfectly. So we ended up
having to pay $793.48 for that month. We
have no idea how two people used over 2000 kilowatt hours in a three week
period, but we cannot afford for it to happen again.
We’ve spoken to several other owners, as well as our
homeowner’s association and the management at Kamaole Sands, and most of them
suggested the same solution which will not please everyone.
Most other owners have always charged a security deposit,
but we have never wanted to do so. We
are instituting a security and utility deposit of $200.00 per week, so if
guests are staying for one month, the deposit will be $800.00, three weeks will
be $600.00 and two weeks will be $400.00.
Our housekeeper, Carol always lets us know if there has been damage to
our condo during a guest’s stay. In the
past, we have always paid for such damages as a cost of doing business.
This deposit will be fully refunded approximately 30 days
after your departure, less damages, if the power bill is within the normal range. We are sorry to have to do this, and we will
understand if you feel the need to decide to seek other accommodations. If that
is the case, we will immediately refund any money you have paid toward your
upcoming stay in our condo, and you will be free to find other accommodations.
We do hope all our guests understand why we are doing
this. Your business is valuable to us,
and we do want to keep you as our guests, especially those of you who have been
staying in our condo at Kamaole Sands for several years.
Mahalo,
Bill and Billie
Correspondence While We Lived In the Condo
I guess we were could have been considered activists while we lived there.
July 13, 2004
Dear Board Members,
Being full time residents, we attend the board
meetings, and read all the information available so we feel that we are well
informed about the workings of Kamaole Sands.
There is one major issue, which needs to be addressed.
We have been documenting pool
incidents over the past year. Many
times, we have heard splashes well after hours and found people swimming in the
pool. In early July of this year, I
awoke at 2:30 AM, hearing
splashing. There were 12 people swimming
in the pool. I called for security, but
by the time the guard arrived, they had all climbed over the fence, by the
keiki pool, and left. Why do we only
have one guard patrolling this huge complex at night? If there were at least two, it would be more
difficult for these incidents to occur.
Visitors as well as residents want
to have fun at the pool. But while we
agree that we all want to have fun, we think that safety is the most important
issue. There is often the usual jumping
and diving off the side, and when the pool isn’t crowded, those things are
probably not dangerous. When the pool is
crowded, they are more of a hazard.
The latest incident happened last
Sunday, July 11. We went to the pool
with 6 other owners, intending to relax and to have a refreshing swim. We sat watching as 8 young people were
jumping and diving from the ladder rails, sometimes two at a time. They were jumping and cannon-balling into the
hot tubs. They were also chasing each
other around the pool, pushing people in, and picking people in their group up
and throwing them in.
We observed three different
parties, including young children and elderly folks, enter the pool area, only
to leave without going into the pool, because it was too wild for them. What are those people going to tell their
friends about Kamaole Sands? Will they
ever rent here again, or will they go to another complex the next time they
visit Maui, perhaps a complex where management
cares about the safety of their guests?
I called Judy at the front desk,
asking her to send William to the pool right away, as there was a dangerous
situation. Ten minutes later, I called
again, and Judy told me that they hadn’t found William, yet. Then, a male member of our party called Judy
and told her that there was an emergency, and asked to speak to Miles. Miles had already gone home for the day,
having put in several hours overtime. He
immediately came to the pool, on his own time, and took care of the problem by
informing the offenders that they must stop or leave the pool. He also confirmed that they were paying
guests. William showed up just after
that. He had been on his well-deserved
break, and he came to the pool right away when he found out that there was a
problem. Before he returned home, Miles
also called for a security guard to come to the pool, and, with both men
monitoring the behavior, things were peaceful the rest of the evening. The next morning, we found out that the
padlock on the gate at the West end of the pool had been cut off during the
night. Again, if we had more than one
security guard, it might be more difficult for that kind of after-hours
activity to occur.
We have no quarrel with Miles,
William, Mark, or any of the other AOAO employees. They are all hard workers, and they respond
quickly when there is a problem, but nobody can be in two places at once. When the pool is open, a full time pool
attendant is needed. There is just no
way to tell when the pool will be crowded, or, even if not crowded, for pool
activities to become dangerous, not only to the innocent bystanders, but to the
offenders themselves. We don’t want to
have to settle an insurance claim, or, worse, have a lawsuit brought against
us, because there was dangerous activity, and someone was injured. A full time attendant would be able to stop
such activity before it gets out of control.
Our homeowner’s dues have gone
down approximately $40.00 over the past few years. Instead of lowering our dues by $5.00 or more
per unit per month, spend that $26, 500 + on the employees necessary to make
this, again, one of the best on the island.
Sincerely,
Bill and Billie Garrow
6-103
July 18, 2004
Dear Board Members,
We have met with several owners in
the past week, and I have written up their suggestions for making Kamaole Sands
more user friendly.
Billie Garrow
- Toilets and urinal at the pool need to be scrubbed daily, with a disinfectant, not just spritzed with a 409 type cleaner and wiped down. The restrooms do not smell fresh, and many people go to their units rather than use them.
- We need visible signs directing guests to the restrooms. People are asking George at the Activities Desk where they are located.
- Pool rules should be posted on the gates, inside and out, so there is no excuse for not seeing them.
- Pool rules should be given to each guest upon check in.
- Add NO MARCO POLO to main signs. Most people old enough to play the game don’t even get near the keiki pool to see the posting on that sign.
- No smoking within the pool area. We are finding cigarette butts in the pool often, because so many people toss them on the ground, and they blow in.
- Todd made a great purchase when he bought the pool umbrellas last year. They were inexpensive, and they have proved to be durable. Do we have more umbrellas in storage? If so, let’s bring them out. If not, we need to buy more, along with more tables. People are crowding under the existing umbrellas. They are also placing items on the tables in order to “claim” a table for later use. If there is such a demand for them, we should supply enough so more people will be able to have shade when they desire it. We suggest 4 to 6 more for now.
- A sun-screen type cover over the cabana would make it much more functional. People would like to use that area for shade as well. One or two more cabanas next to the existing one would be welcome.
- Is our pool ADA compliant? How much would it cost for a handicap lift?
- Until we implement the new key cards, can we change the pool code to make it more difficult for outsiders to come into the pool area? Many of us have seen the people leave the pool, and walk out to Keonekai Villages or Kihei Shores. This often makes for crowded conditions at the pool, especially on Mai Tai party day.
- Could we have simple snacks at the Mai Tai parties?
- The pool deck and the chairs should be pressure washed regularly. They are rinsed with water daily but there are stains, especially the undersides, which are very visible to those in the pool.
- When we get our full time pool attendant, someone should cover the pool area while he/she goes on breaks, so there is no time that the pool will be unattended.
- We would like to have Miles or Todd perform periodic surprise inspections of the evening security guard, Don. Some of us have smelled alcohol when we have spoken to him. Does he drink to excess, or is it just a beer with his dinner? Is a beer with dinner appropriate behavior during work? We were given an interesting story by him, on Saturday night, with 8 other owners, that the forms for reporting such things as burned out light bulbs, only have 3 lines so they are not long enough to report them unless the bulbs locations are specifically identified. We think that saying, “the light next to the bridge by BBQ 5-6” should be enough to identify the lights, as well as fit on the forms. If that is not possible, can we get the guys some forms with more room?
- Maintenance issues observed during the week of 7-18
· Burned out lights on the grounds in many areas.
· Shower next to the gate at Building 10 running – we were
unable to turn it off. Who maintains the
showers on the property?
· Screens partially attached to windows, or lying on the
ground under the window – specifically 5-112.
· Lights are coming on at 5:00 pm, when it doesn’t get dark until after 7:00.
This is a 2 hour waste of electricity.
· Sprinklers are coming on at dusk in between Building 3 and
the pool, making the sidewalk unusable in the wind. Other sprinklers are coming on too early as
well. They used to come on much later,
after most people were in for the night.
· Garden areas have lots of old trash. We don’t mind picking up trash that we find
on the ground, but there should be regular clean up, so the grounds don’t look
shabby.
· next to Buildings 3 and 5 there are old pots and dead
plants.
- Nursery needs cleanup and care. Garden at southest end of Building 2 is an eyesore, and there are cats living in there as well as the garden above the pool next to Building 5.
Bill
and Billie Garrow 6-103
July 21, 2004
Dear Board Members,
Apparently someone took exception
to my letter of July 13, which I sent to the resident manager, and all the
board members, as well as several owners who have given me their email
addresses. My husband and I, along with
some other owners redecorated the Owner’s Board, and posted a copy of that
letter on it so other people could read about my concerns for the pool. Along with the redecorating, we installed a
new lock, because we have observed kids playing with the door, due to the lock
not working. We did not expect any
payment for buying the lock, and we did give Yvonne a key, so the AOAO could
open the door.
This morning, we discovered the
lock was broken, and my letter removed.
Bill went to ask Todd what the problem was, and he said that we had
posted unauthorized material, and the lock was broken because Yvonne wasn’t
there today, so the two employees he sent to take the letter down could not
open the door. He said that materials
have to be on a 3” by 5” card, approved by the AOAO, and can only be left there
for 30 days.
Whose board is it, the owner’s or
Todd’s? I wrote nothing that was
defamatory to anyone, and I wanted to be sure nobody could say that I wrote
something without giving everyone the chance to see it.
We have removed everything we did
to the board, except for the new stain we painted on the wooden edge. If they want me to, I’ll go down there and sand
it off. Communism lives.
Billie Garrow
6-103
Dear
Board Members,
Observations during the week
ending August 14, 2004
Kudos to Todd Brown and Karen
Keefe. We have heard many guests
commenting about the beautiful paint job in the room adjacent to the pool. Miles and his crew cleaned and painted the
cement floor, making it look brand new.
The renovations are moving along quickly makes for many happy owners. We have been told that the roof will be
finished and the new ceiling fans should be installed in a few days. There have also been comments about the two
new tables, and the umbrella. We
understand that as soon as some umbrella bases are acquired, more umbrellas
will be brought out. They are very much
in demand during these hot days so will be a welcome addition. Four more tables have been ordered and should
arrive soon.
The planters in front of building
ten are looking fantastic. We have been
enjoying walking the grounds and seeing the results of hiring people to weed
and clean up the garden areas. What a
wonderful difference it makes to see them so clean! Now that the sprinkler system has been
repaired the sprinklers are, again, efficiently and the lawn behind building 6
is looking better than ever. We have
thanked Denise and her crew.
We’re happy that Todd has hired
Mary. She is friendly, and seems to be
efficient.
The present contract with the
trash pick-up service seems to be inadequate as the amount of trash between
Sunday and Tuesday causes the bins to overflow, especially in building six, as
all the trash from the pool area is deposited in that bin. This causes guests to leave their bags of
trash lying on the ground, either near the trash room or near the elevators. When the trash service removes the bin for
emptying, the excess trash that has accumulated in the chute dumps on the
floor. This occurs if the chute door is
not closed, and the door is unable to be closed properly if the amount of trash
builds up into the chute. This results in extra work for our building maintenance
crew, who already work very hard.
William, the sometimes pool
attendant, is now working another job, so he is here only part time. This is leaving our pool even more unwatched
than before. Why are they doing this? The pool has been fairly peaceful the past
week, however, there are still those who are not interested in observing the
rules. Things that happen on a regular
basis are cannonballs, running through the pool area, and jumping into the
spas, as well as Marco Polo nearly every day. We leave the pool area when these
types of things occur. But why should we
have to do that? Why should anyone have
to leave the pool due to those who will not follow the rules? Shouldn’t everyone be free to enjoy the pool
safely, without needing to watch to make sure nobody is jumping on ones
head? When there is no attendant
present, these events are a common occurrence.
Occasionally they escalate to a shouting match between guests. When
Marc, William or Miles are in attendance at the pool, they are able to deal
with those issues quickly and peacefully.
On Wednesday, August 11, there was
an altercation in the pool. Two boys, about 15, jumped in, almost on top of a
couple who are here on their honeymoon.
The man yelled at them, one of whom gave him an impolite hand sign, and
jumped in again. The man and his wife
got out of the pool, and left the area, presumably to report the incident at
the office. Will they return to Kamaole Sands on their next Maui
vacation or will they go to a resort where people are more respectful of the
rules, and will they tell their friends not to bother with this place?
We, again, are asking you to
consider implementing a No Smoking policy in the pool area. We find cigarette butts on the ground every
time we go to the pool, which is daily.
Often, when the trades come up, they end up in the pool and spas.
Sincerely,
Bill and Billie Garrow
6-103
September 5, 2004
Dear Board Members,
Are the security guards at Kamaole Sands being trained in their
duties, or are they simply hired and told to patrol the grounds whenever they
feel like doing so? What, exactly, are
the duties of the security guards?
Shouldn’t they be reporting the burned out or broken lights? Because we noticed that several lights were
out for over one week, we took it upon ourselves to report them to Mary. It was an easy thing to do, so why aren’t the
security guards doing it? The burned out
ones were working the next day. We
assume the broken ones will be repaired soon, now that someone is aware of
them. With the recent break-ins and
vandalism on the property, we would expect the guards to be patrolling the
grounds during their entire shift. They
might even be able to discover who has been sabotaging the irrigation system
and possibly prevent it from happening again.
Why are we paying them to sit at the pool for two hours (specifically
between 6:45pm to 9:00pm
on Friday, Sept 3) chatting with the evening pool attendant?
We fervently wish the every board member would take the time to
walk around the grounds, as well as sit at the pool for a few hours whenever
you are on the property. You all might get an idea of our frustration
with the current conditions.
What are the duties of the “pool attendant?” We understand that one of the tasks is to
keep the chairs clean. The arms of the
chairs are caked with grime, which has become so thick, that people are
commenting on them. Please see the
photos below. All the chairs that are
being used for the morning orientation are this way. What a poor first impression that must be for
our newly arrived guests. We are now
taking our own cleaning solution with us, when we want to sit at a table, so we
can clean our own chairs. They should
also be cleaning the tile at the inside edge of the pool, weekly, if not
daily. Several times one of our resident
owners has written her initials in the black grime on one of the white tiles to
find it still there day after day.
Presently, it is all clean, but we know in a few days, they will be all
covered with a film of dirt once again.
Another duty should be picking up trash that is thoughtlessly left
behind. That is not being done on a
regular basis, either.
We don’t believe this is entirely the fault of the employees. If they were trained, they would know exactly
what is expected of them. We think it
would be helpful to have a committee to oversee the pool attendants. The members of the committee would be
responsible for reviewing the job description of the pool attendants and seeing
that they are trained properly so they know how to multi-task in order to get
all their work done.
On a lighter note, 8 of our feline friends have been dispatched to
new homes in the past two weeks, because we found an unused trap near Barbeque
6 and decided to put it to use. Evenings are quieter, our lanai furniture
is not covered with hair, and the grounds are smelling much more pleasant.
Several of the resident owners have a new saying at Kamaole
Sands. “If you want something done, do
it yourself.”
Bill and Billie Garrow
6-103
Here
is a follow up to my last letter.
Hi Bill and Billie,
Thank you for your letter.
The issue of property
security, related job descriptions, performance levels and training are at the
top of the September 9th AOAO Board meeting agenda. Your message
along with several others has been clearly heard. The same goes for “Pool
Attendant” duties and appropriate staffing levels.
The pool equipment issue
will also be addressed along with lighting around the property; assume you’ll
be there.
Several of the resident
owners have a new saying at Kamaole Sands. “If you want something done,
do it yourself.” THIS IS A GOOD THING; coordinated volunteerism is being
encourages by the AOAO Board. In the more than 170 surveys submitted by
homeowner we received many offers to participate on committees.
You’re resolving the #7
problem referenced in your email is probably better left on said; we’ve learned
in our community the less publicity on this sensitive subject the better.
Mahalo,
Tom Thibaulte.
I replied……
Dear Tom,
In reply to your email of 9/6...We had written... "Several of the
resident owners have a new saying at Kamaole Sands. 'If you want
something done, do it yourself.'” to which you said, "THIS IS A GOOD
THING; coordinated volunteerism is being encourages by the AOAO Board. In the
more than 170 surveys submitted by homeowner we received many offers to
participate on committees"
Yes, it is a good thing, to a point. If the employees
on the grounds were picking up trash as part of their regular duties, Bill
and I would not be able to walk the grounds EVERY NIGHT picking up
enough trash to fill a large paper grocery bag. And nobody should have to
clean the arms of a pool chair in order to make it aesthetically feasible to
sit on it. In the survey that you mentioned, we expressed
willingness to serve on committees, as well as to serve on the board. To
date, only Karen Keefe has asked us to serve on a committee, which we are
currently doing.
You also wrote..."Regarding the cats...we’ve learned in our
community the less publicity on this sensitive subject the better."
I must say, I don't understand what you mean about the cat
problem being a sensitive subject. We're relocating them, not barbecuing
them!
LOL,
Billie
12-31-2004
Pool Attendant Duties
1. At
least one attendant needs to be on duty at pool at all times during open
pool hours.
2. Do
not leave pool area until relieved by authorized personnel
3. Be
certified in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation and renew certification yearly
4. Enforce
all posted pool rules, as needed, ESPECIALLY relating to health and safety,
such as running, cannonballing, glass in area, and babies not in required swim
diaper
5. Watch for vandalism, such as ripping out
spa light. Report illegal activity to
Miles or Todd immediately.
6. Observe
water feature adjacent to the pool for individuals who are in the restricted
area. Tell them that the area is off
limits.
7. Watch
for activity indicating possible trespassers –
·
people
wearing shorts instead of swimsuits in the pool
·
changing
into their suits in the restroom
·
coming
into the pool area in street clothes and carrying backpacks
·
people without towels
8. Observe
lanais that are visible from the pool area and report towels and clothing hung
over railings
9. If
human waste is found in pool or spa, follow procedure regarding pool closure
10. Water potted plants within pool gates
according to schedule
11. Enforce Spa rules – no children in North spa,
no babies in any hot tub
12. Discourage guests from behaving in a
disruptive manner
·
Extremely
loud talking, including on cell phone
·
Vulgar
language
·
Cigar
smoking
13. Call for backup from security personnel
whenever needed
14. Be alert at all times, even when performing
other duties
Other duties are:
Pool and Pool
Area Cleaning Schedule
·
Clean
skimmers every night
·
Skim
pool surface every morning and as needed
·
Scrub
pool side tiles weekly, and wipe them every morning
·
Steam
clean or pressure wash pool deck weekly
·
Check
and record chemical readings – free chlorine residual, PH, alkalinity/acidity 3
times each day – upon pool opening, at 2:00
pm, and at 8:00 pm. Back flush, add chemicals in the morning and
add chlorine each night when pool closes.
·
Empty
ashtrays every night and as needed
·
Empty
and replace liners in trash cans every night
·
Pick
up any debris or trash on and around pool deck daily and sweep deck every
morning and as needed
·
Clean
Fern Grotto/Orchid Room daily
·
At
the beginning of the morning shift, daily, and as needed:
1. Using proper chemical cleaning products,
such as a bucket with Spic and Span, wash chair arms, both top and bottom
2. Using proper chemical cleaning products,
such as Spic and Span, wash chair and lounge webbing (including underside)
·
Check
restrooms every two hours during open pool hours:
1. Pick up litter
2. Check sinks, toilets, urinals, and floors
and report any cleanliness issues to maintenance
3. Initial cleaning schedule that is posted
on the wall
·
Clean
all railings and gate handles daily and as needed throughout the day to remove
grease
·
Straighten
lounge chairs throughout the day as needed and 15 minutes before pool closing
·
Replace
chairs at the tables throughout the day as needed and 15 minutes before pool
closing
·
Place
covers on spas at closing time
Report maintenance
issues as they occur, including, but not limited to
·
Burned
out light bulbs
·
Anything
broken, ie. Chairs, tables, umbrellas
12-31-2004
Letter from the pool attendant regarding an incident.
At 9:00AM,
Friday, Dec. 31, 2004,
I was working in my job as a pool attendant at Kamaole Sands Condo Resorts, 2695 S. Kihei Rd.,
in the pool area, when I was approached by Billie Garrow, a resident
there
(Unit 6-103), informing me that a man was about to enter the pool
wearing swim
fins. I saw the man fitting fins on,
approached him to inform him that fins were not permitted in the pool.
“Show me the rule,” he said. I pointed to the pool rules sign, which
plainly states that fins are not permitted.
He basically ignored me, except to inform me he had been coming there
“for
20 years” (and should have known the rules).
I repeated, again, “Fins are not allowed in the pool.” His wife came
running over to argue with me,
holding a ceramic mug. I asked her to remove the mug from the pool area,
as it
was also not permitted. The man sat at
the edge of the pool, continuing to put his fins on, and I repeated
three more
times that “Fins are not permitted in the pool.” The man said, “What
are you going to do if I
swim with them anyway, kick me out?” I
asked his name & room number, but he refused to give it to me. I
stepped towards him and he unexpectedly
struck my chest with his right fist, then immediately shouted, “Don’t
touch
me!” I emphatically said, “Leave now or
you will be sorry.” His wife shuttled
him away, both muttering they would complain to the front desk. An
activities agent had seen this and called
the front desk to get security, but no security was working at that
time. The front desk had called Frank Tumpap, the
only other AOAO employee working (because it was a holiday), but Frank
replied
on the walkie-talkie, “Can’t he handle it himself?” I called the front
desk myself, after they
left, asking them to please encourage a written complaint if the man
showed up,
because I wanted his name in order to file a police report. Witnesses
to the event included George, the
Activity World ticket agent, Bill & Billie Garrow (Unit 6-103, 808-874-8430), and Paul & Kathy
Twelker (Unit 6-404). The assailant was
a WM, in his 60’s, with balding gray hair, roughly
5’10” & 175#. I had not seen him
before and none of the witnesses recognized him. His wife was a WF, approximately 60+, roughly
5’5” and 140±#. The fins were new blue plastic with black
rubber flex inserts, which he had just purchased and seemed unfamiliar with.
I called the Maui Police Dept., when my work shift was
finished, to report the incident. My UL
chest was still erythematous where I was struck, and I had slight pectoral
soreness. Officer D. Potter arrived and
I related the above facts.
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We had a big hassle over our lanai ceiling fan, which we had installed in 2003, with Todd Brown's verbal permission. The board decided in 2013, that no light fixtures or ceiling fans were to be allowed on lanais, and that we had to remove ours. Gee and Joe and one other owner had a lanai fan, and we decided to fight the ruling.
5-26-2013
5-26-2013
We’ve been owners of our condo at Kamaole Sands since
1995. We’ve always complied with the
bylaws and CC&Rs and have been good neighbors. Early in 2003, we moved to Maui and began to
reside in our condo full-time. We loved
island life, but the one thing that put a damper on our enjoyment was when
there was no wind in the summer months making the heat and humidity
unbearable. With the stillness also came
the flies. We didn’t enjoy having to
spend afternoons inside our condo, so we had a meeting with Todd Brown, the
resident manager, and explained why we would like to have a ceiling fan
installed on our lanai. He said he had
no objections as long as we had it done by a professional. We asked if he wanted the formality of a
letter, and he said that, in the spirit of aloha, we could take him at his
word. We purchased an outdoor ceiling fan at Maui Fan Center, and engaged them
to install it. The installation was done
in exactly the same manner as the living room fan, with a conduit coming off
the side wall. The fan also had a light.
We moved back to the mainland in 2005 and our condo was placed back into the rental
program. Over the years, we have had all
our ceiling fans serviced periodically.
Over the years our guests have repeatedly told us that they
derive so much pleasure from being on our lanai with the fan making a gentle
breeze when the winds are non-existent.
They have said that, were it not for the fan, they would have retreated
inside to use the air conditioner instead of being able to enjoy the
outdoors. We feel that having the fan
saves a lot of money in power bills in addition to helping the environment by
not using as much power to run a fan as would be used to run the air
conditioner. In addition, if a guest is
inside using the air conditioner, and another guest is sitting on our lanai,
with the fan running, the exhaust air will be carried away by the breeze
generated by the ceiling fan.
Last year we were speaking to some other Kamaole Sands
owners, and there was mention made that some people were unhappy that there was
so much light interfering with star gazing.
We realized that the extra light from our lanai might be impacting other
people, so we decided to have the light removed. Again, we engaged the services of a
professional to do the job and we had all our fans inspected to insure that
they were all still functioning properly and safely.
Now we have received a letter instructing us to remove the
fan. The photo on the letter, taken
prior to June 2012, shows the fan with
the light, which has since been removed.
We want to appeal the board’s decision.
We did our due diligence by obtaining permission, having the fan
professionally installed, and having regular inspections and then taking it
upon ourselves to remove the light so as not to impede the enjoyment of
others.
What needs to be discussed is the issue of conformity. While
we understand the need to keep Kamaole Sands beautiful, we think there should
be more of an allowance for individuality.
The bylaws were changed last year to allow for three pieces of art on
lanais as long as the art is tropical.
That is a great change, and we are excited for our next visit to our
island home, so we will be able to see the unique artwork that has been added
throughout the property. But, why only
artwork? What is more at home in the
tropics than a ceiling fan that is not only beautiful, but functional?
We understand that there is a question of structural
safety. Why is the ceiling fan on the
outside of the unit, installed on the exact same ceiling as the two fans on the
inside, any less structurally sound?
There is also talk of safety in the case of a major hurricane. How is the threat of a flying table, flying
artwork, flying chairs and flying benches any less dangerous than a flying
ceiling fan? The fan is secured to the
ceiling, while the other objects are loose. There was mention made that if there is an
impending hurricane, lanai furniture and other objects can be brought inside by
management, but, in reality, how many people would it take to bring in every
loose object throughout the island?
It comes to mind that, in the interest of conformity, integrity, and value of
Kamaole Sands, which is of interest to all of us, perhaps all units
should be required to have exactly the same furniture and decorations, inside
and out. Everything would look the same,
and instead of Kamaole Sands Resort, we could call ourselves Kamaole Sands
Hotel. Do we really want Kamaole Sands
to be a cookie cutter property? Can’t we
arrange for everyone to have the opportunity to display their individual taste? Isn’t that why we have committees, so that
individual ideas can be addressed and either allowed or denied on an individual
basis? The committee would look at size,
quality, and functionality of the request. This would allow for structural
integrity and safety, while still keeping the uniformity that the board
desires.
We are requesting that the bylaws be amended again, allowing
for a procedure for minor changes pending board approval.
Respectfully,
Bill and Billie Garrow
6-103
The ruling was amended and our fan remains as of April, 2016.
The ruling was amended and our fan remains as of April, 2016.
In 2013, when we decided that the time had come to sell the condo, we wrote this for our records.
Income excluding taxes and cleaning
2008 $16,000.00
2009 $22,000.00
2010 $27,000.00
2011 $20,000.00
2012 $20,000.00
2013 $21,000.00
2014 $13,000.00
through April
Why we love Kamaole Sands and why we bought in Kihei
Kihei is a family town, but it also has so much for all ages
to do; ie clubs, restaurants, beaches, and sports opportunities. It has a resort feel without the high resort
prices in nearby Wailea. It is close to
the Wailea resorts so we can enjoy the wonderful dining and entertainment
opportunities there with little or no driving needed. From our front door, we
often walk across to the beach walk and head south all the way to Polo Beach.
Our lanai and backyard area are very serene and private due
to the cul-de-sac made by the fence between building 6 and building 7
The property is the most beautiful of all the properties we
looked at in all of Kihei. The pool area
with the two hot tubs and the keiki pool is wonderful, with lovely views of the
surrounding gardens. There are several amenities available on the property,
such as the workout room and the tennis courts.
The close proximity to the beach across the street as well
as all the other beaches along the Kamaole Coast are a big draw for
everyone. The Kamaole beaches have
lifeguards, making them very safe for keiki as well as seasoned swimmers
The garden areas are so well maintained and attractive,
inviting people to stroll through them to enjoy the aromas and views
The barbeque areas are sufficient for the population of the
property. They are a great gathering
place for friends and family. There have
been major improvements over the last couple of years, such as new tables, and
paintings on the back walls.
Our condo
Our remodeled, comfortable
one-bedroom condo is in the inner circle, close to the pool and less than 1,000
feet from Kamaole III Beach. We have
tried to think of our guests and their comfort so we have equipped our second
home with everything to make it comfortable as well as functional.
Our amenities include:
*King sized bed with pillow top in bedroom
*Flat screen TV with cable and VCR in bedroom
*Bathrooms off master bedroom and in hall with expanded
shower stall
*Sofa bed with 5” mattress in living room.
*Comfy swivel rocker and a recliner in living room for your
nap after hiking, swimming, or tennis
*Living room features a 37” TV with cable/VCR/DVD and stereo
with CD player
*Dining set located on lanai with small bistro area inside
for those occasional blustery days
*Newer carpet and tile throughout
*Fully equipped kitchen whether you want to relax the entire
time, or you want to cook gourmet meals.
We provide a full sized refrigerator with ice maker, dishwasher,
microwave, blender, crock-pot, coffee pot with timer, toaster, pots and pans,
complete dinner ware, wine glasses, utensils, spices, etc.
*Granite kitchen counters
*Full sized washer-dryer in unit
*Security screen door with lock allows the trade winds to
move through the unit
*Oversized lanai with ceiling fan and lovely garden view –
walk right out to the grass
*Beach chairs, umbrella, towels, bogie boards and other
beach items
*AC in living room
During our major remodel, we replaced or added, using a
licensed contractor
·
All furniture, including lanai
·
Vertical blinds in bedroom and living room
·
Carpeting in bedroom and living room
·
Ceiling fans
·
Floor tiles
·
Bathroom tiles
·
Bathtub and doors
·
Toilets
·
Sinks
·
Mirrors
·
Medicine cabinets
·
Fixtures
·
Full-sized washer/dryer
·
Expanded shower in second bathroom (added rock
floor and bench seat)
·
All kitchen appliances
·
Granite countertop
·
Kitchen sink
·
Removed water heater and added instant hot
water, creating a storage area where water heater was
·
New air conditioner
·
Ceiling fan on lanai
·
Tile floor
Gorilla rack in storage closetScams
Several times, we have had emails that could have resulted in loss of money or worse, but we have always been lucky or maybe, smart, enough to spot them.
We tried using Craig's list for a short time in 2014 and we got some strange ones. This one was tough to spot, but the wording was just strange, and, after some back and forth correspondence, After believing it was a legitimate inquiry at first, despite the way the emails were written, we quickly found out that they were scammers.
June 24
Hello,
Thanks for your email which was quite understood. Me and my wife would
really appreciate to have your place for our convinience.However, we
would be
sending a certified check for the amount covering the rentals for the
nights as scheduled. I would appreciate if you send me the following
details to proceed
1.Your full name as it will be written on the check.
2.Full home or office address No P.O Box for Ups express Delivery
3.Total amount covering the nights.
4.Office and home phone number for quick contact.
I would appreciate to have the above details so that the date can be
pen down are requested. I`ll patiently wait to read back from you
Lauren,
All of the information you requested was on the email I sent this morning. Here it is again. Bill Garrow, 1681 Palermo Drive, Sparks, Nevada 89434. The total amount is $968.94. We will let you now when your certified check arrives. In addition, please send us your full name, home address and phone number for our reservation records.
Ok great.......... Lauren Carter ,1177 Spazier Ave Unit B Glendale CA
91201 (315) 210-8687
June 27 - obviously "Lauren" forgot who she had already contacted, because we got this three days later.
Kindly check for for 7nights at your place.July 10th through 17th July .I
would love to take the place, As i don't mind adding $50 for you to do that for me.
Thanks
laurenjhn@gmail.com
Followed by this on the same day!
Hello How are you doing today I am glad to inform you that the
payment has been mailed to you and will get to you soon .
However,there is a mistake on the check,our feeding and traveling expenses was included
in the check for our booking. This was suppose to come in a different
check and not in the one for our booking.But since it has been sent,
just deduct the full cost of our booking and extra $100 for your
running around and kindly get the remaining money send to our
traveling agent using Western Union money transfer or Money Gram so
that we can make all necessary things we need to do with it pending
the time of our arrival. I hope you understand this and we can be able
to depend on you.We can't wait to be there. My regards to all the
members of your family.
Thanks and stay bless
We decided that, instead of calling her out on it, we would call her bluff.
June 30
Aloha Lauren,
We received your check on Saturday. Thank you for your promptness. We have just returned from mailing you your refund. We were afraid it wouldn't reach your home before you leave for your trip, so we sent it to our housekeeper so you would have it waiting for you when you arrive at the condo. If you will give us your expected arrival time, she will be waiting for you to let you in and give you the door code. If you have any other questions, please feel free to let us know.
Bill and Billie
June 30
Hi Bill ,
How are you today? I want to thank you for your patience and
trustworthiness in this transaction Now that you have the payment all
you have to do is simple,take the check and cash it and deduct your
own money ($1050) as i promised to add you $50 for you to withdraw the
advert from the web and you will also deduct another $100 for your
running around and all the stress i must have put you during the
course of this transaction and as well for your running around in
cashing the payment making $1150 you are to deduct, so that you can
then send $1500 fund to my Travelling Agent in cash via Western Union
money transfer as soon as possible today .you can go to the nearest
Western Union store and send the cash to the Agent and the money
should be send as Service in Minute at the Western Union so the Agent
can get it instantly.The Agent requested that the money should be send
via Western Union money transfer (Money in Minute), and i believe i
have the trust in you to handle this for me and you can understand
better.All Western Union money transfer charges should be deduct from
the money that you are to send to the Agent and not from your own
token of $100 i ask you to deduct.Kindly make sure you send the money
today, The rest of the money will be wired to their head Office
accountant in Vincennes, Indiana through Western Union Money Transfer.
here is the Agent's information to send the money to via Western Union
money transfer ....................
Name..............KAYLA RENEE COLEMAN
Address......... .1002 North First,
City................ Vincennes
State...............Indiana
Zip code...........47591
June 30
Aloha Lauren,
I just got home from work and found your email. I guess you didn't see the email I sent to you earlier today. I already sent the money in the form of a money order to our condo so you will have it when you get there. I'm sorry you wanted it a different way, but we didn't know where to send it, and we didn't want you to get there and not have the funds you need for food and other expenses. I hope that isn't going to be a problem for you.
Sincerely,
Billie
June 30
Actually there is a problem here right $1500 needs to get to our
traveling agent Via Western union money transfer for them to get all
our traveling document ready before we embark on our journey okay so
l`ll urge you to get $1500 cash locate any walmart around you go there
with the cash obtain a form have it fill and send the money to KAYLA
RENEE COLEMAN that`s the name of our traveling agent okay l`ll
appreciate only if you can get this done today and do get back to me
with the transfer details and all the direction for us to get to your
Condo .
Thanks Lauren
We did not actually deposit the check they sent, but we did take it to the bank to have them verify that it was not valid.
June 30
Dear Lauren,
We were just notified by our bank that the check we deposited this morning is not valid! We will need you to send another check immediately so we can complete the transaction. The total due is $968.94.
Billie
July 1
Thank you for filing a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
This is the only reply you will receive from the IC3. Because we receive thousands of complaints per week, we cannot reply to every complaint received or to every request for updates.
However, once we forward your complaint to investigators in the field, they may contact you for further information. Consequently, it is important that you maintain any evidence you have relating to your complaint. Evidence can include canceled checks, credit card receipts, phone bills, mailing envelopes, mail receipts, printed copies of websites, copies of emails, or similar items.
If you wish to view, download, or add information to your complaint, go to http://complaint.ic3.gov/update and log in with the following:
Complaint Id: I1407011916330432
Password: s8z7RVtpvi
To learn more about Internet schemes and ways to protect yourself visit www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com.
We never heard from "Lauren" again.
