Final push begins to rescue pagoda
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
With less than a week before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court announces a decision on Honolulu Memorial Park's restructuring plan, niche and plot owners are making every effort to save the cemetery's beloved pagoda, pursuing options at the city, state and even national levels.
Yesterday marked the end of voting by niche holders and company officers on the bankruptcy plan. A court hearing to announce the results is set for Feb. 18. A simple majority is needed to decide the issue.
Meanwhile, niche and plot owners will begin picketing at the cemetery today, and a rally is planned at the site Saturday morning as a year-long drive to save the pagoda reaches fever pitch.
Besides trying to drum up public support, opponents of the park's bankruptcy petition are asking City Council members and lawmakers to file resolutions of support and are trying to have the pagoda listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
The cemetery is owned by the Richards family, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year and wants to tear down the pagoda, spending about $200,000 rather than the estimated $1 million to $2 million needed to repair it.
Wayne Kotomori, who heads opposition to the plan, says the picturesque Japanese pagoda is a historic building, and people who bought plots and niches in the cemetery would all be hurt if the bankruptcy is allowed to proceed.
He said everyone who drives by and sees the pagoda would also be affected.
"It is something we need to save," he said. "For all the people of Hawai'i."
Kotomori said architect Lorraine Palumbo inspected the pagoda on behalf of niche holders and said it would cost less than $1 million to repair.
"The Richards family has inflated the cost of repairs to discourage people from even suggesting the work be done," Kotomori said.
Herbert "Monty" Richards Jr., one of four owners of the park, has said that there is no money to continue running the cemetery and that bankruptcy is the only option.
Richards said if the plan is rejected, one of the few options would be Chapter 7 bankruptcy, under which a trustee would be appointed by the court to liquidate the assets rather than the owners developing a plan to save the business. He said he would not oppose the niche owners if they can raise money to fix the pagoda.
Honolulu Memorial Park filed for bankruptcy reorganization on Dec. 28, 2001. The company listed monthly expenses of $11,000 but only $2,000 in income.
The landmark pagoda has been in disrepair for more than 20 years. It was built in 1966 as a replica of the Sanju Pagoda in Nara, Japan.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
