Hawai'i groups call off merger

By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer

Easter Seals Hawai'i and the Special Education Center of Hawai'i have decided not to merge after all, officials of both organizations said yesterday.

The two nonprofit organizations last July said they were considering a merger as a means of providing stronger service and more programs for people with disabilities.

They were to have combined under the Easter Seals name and operated with an annual budget of $13 million, but a study of the advantages and disadvantages of merger led to a decision not to proceed.

"After getting into the review process, the boards just decided — and it was a mutual decision — that each organization would be best able to serve the needs of the community alone rather than together," said Robert Moore, vice president of finance at Easter Seals Hawai'i.

He said Easter Seals Hawai'i increased revenues from $4.6 million two years ago to $5.2 million last year.

Edmund Yee, chairman of the board of the Special Education Center of Hawai'i, said, "We looked at it and decided we didn't want to do it, even though we have good relations with Easter Seals and both organizations have the highest respect for what the other is doing."

Reach Walter Wright at wwright@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8054.

Correction: The vice president of finance for Easter Seals Hawai'i is Robert Moore. His first name was incorrectly reported in a previous version of this story.