honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 3, 2002

Hanauma Bay project rises $1.3 million

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

City managing director Ben Lee yesterday said construction changes to the Hanauma Bay education center will cost an additional $1.3 million but that the project will still be well within the $13 million budgeted for it since 1999.

Councilman John Henry Felix, who represents the area that includes the scenic bay, has been requesting information on the delays and increasing costs for more than six weeks.

Felix said yesterday he supports the project in principle but became frustrated when he did not receive timely answers to his questions. "I think the administration has an obligation to keep council informed."

Lee said that the changes included additional excavation work, electrical wiring, walkway paving, adding a weekend security guard, re-routing a sewer line, lowering the roof line by five feet so that it can't be seen from the beach and added landscaping.

The project split some members of the community — opponents maintained that the buildings are too large and criticized the design, while supporters praised the new buildings as a modern well-designed facility that can help educate visitors about preservation issues.

"It's very controversial, and I have a number of concerned constituents," Felix said.

Lee said the project is being paid for with the fee charged to out-of-state visitors who visit the East Honolulu snorkeling haven.

Various construction changes and modifications will push completion of the project back until March, Lee said. He said the changes are needed to deal with a variety of improvements.

Lee said he will be sending a change-order report to council members by next week. But he said the ecological resource deserves whatever improvements are needed for a center that blends into the landscape as much as possible while educating visitors about preserving the bay.

"It's such a unique marine ecosystem, and it's such a treasure," he said.