Debate over Luana Hills purchase stalls city budget
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer
The debate yesterday over a city purchase of the Luana Hills Golf Course and clubhouse in Windward O'ahu stalled discussion of the city's construction budget for the upcoming year.
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The City Council's Budget Committee was scheduled to vote yesterday on the construction budget, also known as the capital improvement plan, setting it up for final approval at the Council's meeting May 30.
Budget chairman Steve Holmes wants to help keep the area green.
As of yesterday, the city administration and various council members had boosted the spending plan to about $579 million, up more than $80 million from what Mayor Jeremy Harris proposed in March.
Council budget chairman Steve Holmes has included $9 million in the construction budget proposal, funded by government bonds.
Holmes wants the city to buy the 190 acres that include the Maunawili golf course and clubhouse.
Another $4 million is already in the recently approved supplemental budget to buy the 900 undeveloped acres in the area.
Holmes favors the project as a way to keep the area near Mount Olomana preserved as green space and to provide access to those who hike the popular scenic trails. Hikers now get to the trails through a residential subdivision.
But opponents question whether the city can afford to operate and maintain the challenging course as a public enterprise.
They also ask if it's appropriate to move to buy the property or condemn it when the private landowner wants to run the course.
Councilman John DeSoto said, "I don't think it's government's business to come and take that away from them."
Council member Romy Cachola said he's worried about the long-term price of the course. "The cost of maintenance is too high," he said. "It is not user-friendly."
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The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation purchased the land last year from Pan Pacific Development Inc. through its affiliate, HRT Ltd., for $12 million. Pan Pacific purchased the property in 1995 for $35 million in a foreclosure.
Councilman John Desoto opposes the purchase of a golf course.
In a letter spelling out the company's position, HRT president Alvin Awaya said, "Our major goal is to keep Maunawili Valley pristine."
He said that none of the property is for sale and the company will continue to allow the public "appropriate access" to the hiking trails.
The total property is about 1,084 acres, which includes trails to Mount Olomana and Maunawili Falls.
Yesterday, the budget committee deadlocked on the issue with Holmes and council member Duke Bainum in support, and Cachola and DeSoto opposed.
Councilman John Henry Felix was absent because he was traveling in London.
Holmes recessed the meeting when he failed to gain the needed support, scheduled it to reconvene in the afternoon, then postponed further discussion until a budget meeting scheduled for this morning.
Harris supports the purchase of the golf course. City Managing Director Ben Lee said the administration believes members of the community support more hiking trails, horse trails and a nature park in the area.
"They do not want any further development of condominiums and residential development," Lee said. "We support the acquisition of the golf course and all the open space around the course."
Felix has expressed his concern about the purchase and instead favors working toward a public-private partnership with the Weinberg Foundation to allow the golf course to operate while allowing public access to the hiking trails.
