UH mulls deal on Manoa land
By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer
The former themed attraction Paradise Park in Manoa could become a conservation biology research center for the University of Hawai'i under a proposal being reconsidered by the school's new administration.
Establishing a Center of Excellence in Evolutionary and Conservation Biology at the 76-acre site set in the valley's rain forest has been contemplated by the university for years. Though not a new idea, it could become reality under new UH President Evan Dobelle, who has suggested moving the university's planned medical school, creating a film school and building a new football stadium.
Paradise Park, a former tourist-oriented exotic-bird exhibit and botanical garden that opened to the public in 1968, has been available for purchase since it was closed in 1994. Since then, it has been targeted for condemnation by the city, which proposed converting it to a public park, and considered for purchase by numerous private investors as well as the university. But no one has followed through.
Now Darryl Wong, son of park founder James Wong and vice president of park owner Paradise Park Inc., indicates the company and the university are close to reaching a deal, although he said he cannot disclose details.
Walter Kirimitsu, general counsel for the university and chief of staff to Dobelle, who was traveling earlier last week, said the idea to turn the park into a natural lab for scientific research has been discussed for several years.
The property would provide the university much-needed research space near the school's Lyon Arboretum.
"There is no binding commitment to go one way or the other," Kirimitsu said, "but we're revisiting looking at purchasing Paradise Park."
Wong, who said the two entities have been evaluating a proposed purchase agreement over the past 10 months, says a decision could be made in the next 30 days or so. "We're pretty close to something, I think."
Wong added that Paradise Park Inc. is in no hurry to receive a formal offer from the university or any other potential buyer or anyone who might be interested in reopening the attraction as a partner — all of which he said remain possibilities.
"We'll just take it as it comes," he said. "It's not like we have to sell it tomorrow."
Recently though, Paradise Park Inc. has expanded sale efforts to facilitate interest in the property.
About a week ago, as a way to expose the property to potential overseas investors, Sotheby's International listed the park for sale in conjunction with its local affiliate, Mary Worrall Associates.
As part of the renewed sale effort, the Wong family, which controls the park through a 40-year ground lease from the Roman Catholic Church, is offering to negotiate with the church to acquire the park in fee-simple. As a fee-simple property, the park is listed for $8 million.
Wong said he won't begin work to acquire the fee until a bona fide offer is made. But advertising the park as a fee-simple property is expected to make it more attractive to buyers, including the university.
In addition, Paradise Park Inc. is making the park's business plan available to serious bidders. The company also continues to consider reopening the park under a partnership, said Wong, who estimated it would take $2.5 million to clean up, repair and restaff the park.
Meanwhile, the city's plan to turn the property into a public park has stalled. A City Council planning committee in May deferred a condemnation bill, introduced last year, after raising concerns over operating the park.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
According to sales information, included on the property are exotic flora valued at more than $1.5 million, streams, a 300-seat amphitheater, a four-story main building containing the operating Tree Tops Restaurant, covered walkways, a pavilion and caretaker's house. Twenty-four large tour buses a day may enter the park.
The former Paradise Park has been overgrown by brush since the tourist attraction was shut down in 1994.
Community members in the past have opposed re-establishment of commercial park operations on the property. Last August, the Manoa neighborhood board voted to support a concept of educational/conservation use for the park.
Kirimitsu of UH said the community has been supportive of the university's plan, which would probably involve demolishing the main building and replacing it with a new facility.
Manoa Neighborhood Board Chairman Tom Heinrich said he believes a UH acquisition of the park could conceivably help the school create an envisioned "university town" in the valley.
Whatever Paradise Park Inc. ends up doing with the property, Wong said, it will be right for neighboring residents and the environment.
"We're not looking to make the quick buck by all means," he said.
