By Way of Introduction 
So many of us who stay at Hoyochi Nikko return year after year. And it got us to wondering about its history. Thanks to Peter Stursberg, son of the property owners when it was a home before it became a resort, we have lots of photos and stories to share. Thank you Peter!

 

In the beginning …
There was a house, purchased by the Stursbergs in the 1960’s, which they enjoyed for years. The Stursberg clan 1969 (left to right): Dick, Marg, Marg’s mom Florence, Peter, Janet.

 

Dick & Marg, with the empty lot behind them and no Kuleana yet.

 

This was taken from the area that is now the upper driveway entrance and walkway to the pool. The sugar cane fields come right down to the road, which was the ONLY road north of Kaanapali. After the Honoapiilani highway was built, this road was renamed Lower Honoapiilani.

 

The Mustang would be where the stairs to #205 are today.

 

Far south end of the lot, where 101/201 are today.

 

Stairs are on the left and there is no sand on top yet.

 

Peter’s sister, Janet. The stairs to the ocean are right behind her.

 

There is another house to the south of their property, where Hale Mahina is now. Obviously, the original seawall looks quite different.

 

The boundary between the two properties is where the seawall comes up about a foot. At this time the other property was an empty lot.

 

There was a beach in the late 1960’s, which disappeared in the 1970’s. Kuleana hasn’t been built yet.

 

Peter’s mom and grandma standing at the edge of their lot, looking into the empty lot, which would later become part of Hoyochi Nikko.

 

Photo from the empty lot looking south.

 

A goofy photo of 16-year-old Peter in 1969 when there was just a house. Peter says he never got very skilled at surfing.

 

Inside the Family Home

Master bedroom.

 

Living Room

 

Kitchen with a view

 

Bar

 

Hoyochi Nikko (“Resort of the Sunbeam”)
In 1973 Peter’s parents and business partners purchased the adjacent land and built Hoyochi Nikko. Peter says the name was chosen, in part, to honor his father’s Japanese grandmother. The fellow walking past the pool is Fred Paquette, who with his wife Filly, were the managers. Peter took this shot from a stepladder on a Kuleana lanai in the mid 70’s to create a free postcard for guests to send to their friends and help advertise this little-known destination in the process.

 

When Peter lived in #202, from 1976 – 1981, there was never a beach and the palm trees were small.

 

The old BBQ and rocky beach.

 

Before the highway was built, the cane field came all the way down to Lower Honoapiilani Road. Peter said it was quite the sight when it was lit on fire. In the 1980’s, the land  was subdivided and housing built.

 

Sales brochure.

 

2018 Hoyochi Nikko
Thanks to guest Chad Berndt for this aerial shot via drone.