UH expanding to Paradise Park site

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

The University of Hawai'i hopes to build a world-class research center at the former Paradise Park site in Manoa Valley and has signed a purchase agreement for a 152-acre parcel owned by the Roman Catholic Church.

UH spokesman Paul Costello said the purchase price will not be disclosed until negotiations and due diligence are completed in March, but sources estimate the price at around $2 million.

The property borders the Lyon Arboretum, city Board of Water Supply land, and the state's Manoa Falls hiking trail, which was closed last week following a landslide.

The research center would make use of the rainforest setting in the upper valley for ecosystem research including conservation biologists, archaeologists and the UH medical school to study links between ecosystem health and human health.

"It will be a first of its kind in the world combining ecosystem health and medical health," Costello said. "It will be a groundbreaking, standout program."

No timeline has been set for the project, he said.

In the UH budget request submitted to the Legislature last month, UH President Evan Dobelle asked for

$2 million for property acquisition, including Paradise Park and a Meadow Gold Dairies property in Waimanalo.

Meadow Gold rescinded its offer to donate that property in December.

Paradise Park is a former tourist-oriented, exotic-bird exhibit and botanical garden that was operated by the Wong family.

The park opened to the public in 1968, and has been available for purchase since it 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 only the university has followed through.

Darryl Wong, whose family holds a long-term lease on the Paradise Park property with the Catholic Church, said that if an agreement can be reached they will likely sell the existing facilities and a portion of their interest in the property to the university.

"It will be good for the university, the research center and the community," Wong said.

The family will retain about 75 acres used for growing exotic flowers and ti leaves, he said.

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.