Posted on: Saturday, May 24, 2003

Waimea Management to lay off 60

By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer

Waimea Management Corp., operator of Waimea Falls Park, notified the state last week that it will lay off 60 employees.

The notice came just days after a Circuit Court judge cleared the way for the transfer of management of Waimea Falls Park from Waimea Management to the National Audubon Society on June 26.

Waimea Management lost out to the Audubon Society in the city's selection process for a 30-year lease on the valley. On Tuesday, Waimea Management unsuccessfully asked the court to maintain a temporary restraining order preventing the city from transferring management of the 1,875-acre valley to the society.

Audubon Society project manager Diana King said of the workers let go by Waimea Management: "We certainly hope that we can pick up a lot of them because we certainly need their expertise."

King said former Waimea Management workers will receive preferential consideration for the initial 30 positions the Audubon Society expects to fill.