Park owners say there was Sony Open deal
By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer
KAHALA — The owners of Hunakai Park say they tried to negotiate with the organizers of the Sony Open in Hawai'i to use their park for parking again this year, but had not heard from golf tournament officials after asking that a tentative agreement be put in writing.
Advertiser library photo • Aug. 29, 2002
Ray Stosik, executive director for the Sony Open, which is organized by the Friends of Hawai'i Charities, said last week that the tournament was forced to seek another parking venue after the Hunakai Park Association placed boulders around the park. Tournament officials said the boulders appeared after they were asked to donate toward the association's $40,000 cost to install a water meter and sprinkler system in the park.
A soccer team huddles at Kahala's Hunakai Park, which had been used for parking during the Sony Open for years. The park's owners say the tournament's organizers didn't secure an agreement in writing to use the park again during this year's event.
Stosik said they were willing to offer a trade by providing contractors, but couldn't offer cash.
But Howard MacNair, an association member, said a tentative agreement called for the Friends of Hawai'i Charities, organizer for the annual Sony Open in Hawai'i PGA Tour tournament, to pay the park association $2,000 per tournament for parking privileges, mow the park twice a week and eventually pay the association for back parking fees.
The latest discussion was a month ago, MacNair said.
"They didn't even come back to us," MacNair said. "We even had minutes from our meetings to prove this. The Friends of Hawai'i Charities never owned up to their deal with us."
The charity was formed in 1998, a shared vision and collaboration of a group of Hawai'i business and community leaders, to generate money for Hawai'i's not-for-profit organizations that benefit women, children, youth and needy programs. The Friends' principal fund-raising event is the Sony Open held at Waialae Country Club each January.
Stosik would not comment on MacNair's assertions.
"I cannot give you any more comments," Stosik said yesterday. "I am very disappointed with the way the paper handled the story."
The park, bordered by Hunakai and 'Ulumaika streets, was given to the residents in 1991 by Kamehameha Schools. Among the conditions of transfer was a stipulation that the park association, which was formed to care for the park, allow what was then called the Hawaiian Open to park cars on the land during the annual golf tournament.
But the tournament hasn't been called the Hawaiian Open in more than two years, the association said, and the condition applied only to that name.
That prompted the association to seek a new agreement with officials of the Sony Open in Hawai'i.
The golf tournament, which opened Monday and runs through Sunday, had used the park for overflow parking for the past 30 years. During the week-long event, it has parked about 900 cars per day at the park, MacNair said.
This year, Sony Open organizers are offering parking on a vacant lot across from Kapi'olani Community College. Buses will shuttle guests the approximately one mile between the country club and the parking area.
"We're not banning them," MacNair said. "They haven't paid us for two years, and they never follow up on what they say. That's why we wanted it in writing."
The association put boulders along the perimeter of Hunakai Park in preparation for future work on the sprinkler system, MacNair said.
For more than 10 years, the association has been trying to find $40,000 necessary to pay for a water meter to be installed on the 4.2-acre park, which now must be watered with hoses dragged across the street.
Stosik said last week that the park association's price was too high. He also said that there was no ill will between the two groups.
Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.
