Posted on: Friday, January 10, 2003

Park use banned for Sony Open

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer

KAHALA — For the first time in 30 years, one of Hawai'i's biggest golf tournaments will not be allowed to use Hunakai Park for some of the thousands of vehicles that invade the area around this time as spectators flock to see their favorite stars.

The 4.2-acre triangle a few blocks from Waialae Country Club had been used for overflow parking in a longstanding arrangement between officials for the tournament — now known as the Sony Open in Hawai'i after years as the Hawaiian Open — and the Hunakai Park Association, which owns the park.

But things changed after tournament officials said they were asked to pony up cash toward the cost of the association's $40,000 tab to put a water meter on the arid area commonly called Sticker Park.

The price was too high, said Ray Stosik, Sony Open executive director. The Sony Open was willing to offer a trade by providing contractors, but couldn't come up with cash, Stosik said.

Then, just before Christmas — three weeks from the start of the tournament — boulders were placed on the perimeter of the property, in effect preventing anyone from driving into the park.

Tournament officials took the boulders as a sign that their arrangement with the association was off and that an alternate parking site would be needed.

A representative for the association confirmed that the Sony Open would be unable to use the park this year, but denied that tournament officials' refusal of a donation had anything to do with it.

The tournament, a PGA Tour event, begins Monday and runs through Sunday.

The boulders are the first step toward installing a water meter and sprinkler system, said Susan Spangler, a member of the association.

"We're going to bring in some fill dirt ... to level it off and then make improvements to the soil," Spangler said. "We're working on the money angle. We still need more help, but we're not going to do it all at once."

The park, bordered by Hunakai and 'Ulumaika streets, has never had access to water. Caretakers have always had to drag garden hoses from their homes to irrigate the grounds and trees.

In the past year, the park association has been trying to raise money to pay the city Board of Water Supply the $40,000 it's asking to install a water meter.

"There's no ill will," Stosik said. "We're happy for the association. We have to do what's best for us and they have to do what's best for them."

Sony Open guests will be directed to park on a vacant lot across from Kapi'olani Community College, Stosik said. There are no homes nearby. Buses will shuttle guests the approximately one mile between the country club and the parking area.

The lot, on the Diamond Head side of Diamond Head Road, is for parking Monday through Friday. On the weekend, cars can be parked at the KCC lot, Stosik said.

Hunakai Park was deeded to the community association in 1991 by Kamehameha Schools with three stipulations: that it remain a park, that the association carry liability insurance and that it allow the annual golf tournament, then called the Hawaiian Open, to use the park as overflow parking.

Spangler said the tournament hasn't been called the Hawaiian Open in more than two years and the condition applied only to that name.

"We'll try to help the association any way we can," Stosik said. "The park association is planning to make improvements on their park and they're trying to beautify it. We would have liked to use it, but had to make other arrangements."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.