Group opposes Waimea Falls lease extension

By Will Hoover
Advertiser North Shore Writer

A group of about a half-dozen environmental and Hawaiian cultural organizations known as the Coalition of Community Residents is upset about a resolution to extend the lease of the company managing the 1,875-acre Waimea Falls Park.

Group members plan to express their objections this morning at a City Council budget committee meeting.

The city, which deposited $5.1 million in escrow to acquire Waimea Falls Park in a condemnation process, said previously that it would choose a bidder to operate the park by February 2003, the date the current lease expires.

Now, the city has introduced a resolution to extend the lease of Waimea Management LLC, under the direction of Ray Greene, until February 2004. Greene's company had managed the park for five years before being asked to run it on an interim basis until the city decides which organization will be the permanent park operator.

City spokeswomen Carol Costa said the extension resolution stems from an unsettled condemnation process. The city cannot make a decision on the bidder until the process is complete, she said.

"The city is extending the lease so that it would have time to complete the procurement and condemnation process," said Costa.

Ownership of the park is still in question. East Coast developer Christian Wolffer acquired the site in 1996. Environmental and Hawaiian cultural groups complained that Wolffer's management team, led by Greene, was neglecting the valley's natural, cultural and botanical wonders in an effort to create a Disney-esque adventure park.

In April 2001 Wolffer placed the property under bankruptcy protection, and the courts have yet to decide that case.

Whatever the decision, the city stands ready to claim the property under condemnation.

The city's bidding process apparently has narrowed to two organizations: Greene's, and The National Audubon Society.

"The only reason the community went along with Ray Greene being the interim manager was because we thought it would only be for a few months," said coalition member Scott Foster.

"A whole bunch of diverse groups are coming together on the side of protect the resource," added Blake McElheny, who, along with Foster and others, favor the National Audubon Society's plan to take over management of the park and to change the focus to education and restoration.

Diana King, project director for Audubon, said she was stunned when she learned about the administration's resolution proposal after a North Shore community meeting Thursday.

King said initially four factions, Waimea Management LLC, The Audubon Society, Volume Service America and 'Ike 'Aina expressed interest in submitting a request for proposal.

Since then 'Ike 'Aina and Volume Service America have both expressed interest in working with the Audubon Society if its proposal is the one that is accepted, she said. King also said Audubon has had talks with both organizations and would be pleased to work with them.

"So, of the four of us that put in bids, there are three of us in the same corner and happy to work together, and there's Ray Greene in the other corner," said King. "So, yes, I guess I would say it's time for the city to ... make a selection.

"And maybe that should be the message that the City Council gives to the city administration."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8038.