Posted on: Tuesday, April 1, 2003

City may sell Waimea Falls Park

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Before the city has even formally acquired Waimea Falls Park, the City Council is considering selling the 1,875-acre valley to a nonprofit organization or the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as a way of trimming costs.

"We have a tough time balancing the budget and with money constraints we have to look at a way to cut down our expenses," said Councilman Romy Cachola, chairman of the executive matters committee.

In addition to recovering more than $5 million that has been deposited in escrow to purchase the land, Cachola said a sale will save the city from having to subsidize the park's operation and maintenance.

On Thursday, his committee will be considering Resolution 03-89, which asks the city administration to consider selling the property, provided the buyer would maintain it as a botanical, cultural, educational, historical and recreational facility open to the public. The resolution has been signed by eight of nine council members.

"If we can make this thing work, then it's less financial burden on the part of the city and the taxpayers," Cachola said.

The city took over Waimea Falls Park a year ago and retained Waimea Management LLC, the same operator that ran the park when it was owned by East Coast developer Christian Wolffer. Wolffer put the property under bankruptcy protection in April 2001.

The city filed for condemnation last year to purchase the property, but the trial has been delayed until June.

The trial would determine whether the land can be condemned and at what price the city would have to pay for it.

The City Council passed a resolution in November that gives the administration until June to find a permanent operator for the park. City Deputy Managing Director Malcolm Tom said he hopes to have an operator in place by the June 25 deadline. In addition to Waimea Management LLC, the National Audubon Society has expressed interest in operating the park. "We've been meeting with the proposers to clarify their questions and our issues and concerns. We've asked for a best and final offer," Tom said.

Several community members have expressed concerns over the state of the botanical gardens under the current management and have thrown their support behind the Audubon Society.

Cachola said that if no one was interested in purchasing the park, he wants the operator to be able to bring in enough revenue to cover operation and maintenance of the park. The Audubon Society has said it would not need a subsidy from the city.

Tom said yesterday that he had not seen the resolution asking the administration to consider the sale. He noted, however, that while OHA wrote a letter to Wolffer expressing interest in purchasing the park for $5.2 million in 2001, it did not put in a offer. Wolffer rejected the $5.2 million bid.