Posted on: Tuesday, August 3, 2004

War museum needs 'a miracle'

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer

Kyle Kopitke stood inside a 200-foot-long, open-sided Quonset hut off Kilani Avenue in Wahiawa that is home to both him and the National Korean War Museum.

It was raining, and three plastic buckets were placed on the floor to collect drops from a leaking roof.

Kopitke had dreamed of honoring Korean War veterans, and that became a reality Feb. 20 with the opening of the museum at 235 Kellogg St.

But he knows that the museum's days are numbered at the current location after a bid of $570,678 was made at a court-ordered foreclosure yesterday in Circuit Court in Honolulu.

"We need a grant, godfather or an angel to help us," said Kopitke, president of the museum's board of trustees. "We'll continue to do the best we can and pray for a miracle."

Four people signed up to bid for the industrial-zoned fee-simple properties at 235 Kellogg St. and 232-E Koa St., but attorney Jason Wong, representing Rich Thies, the lender and owner of the property, was the only bidder.

The bid figure was computed from the amount owed on the defaulted loan, which was $528,945 as of Oct. 19, 2003, plus per diem of $109.59 per day.

Wong declined comment on the future of the museum.

Yesterday's foreclosure action was taken against Maria Abello and her company, Teancum Inc., which purchased the Quonset hut property in September 2003.

Abello said yesterday that she plans to fight the sale of the property.

Wong's bid is subject to court confirmation, which means nothing is final, said Michael Vega, the court-appointed commissioner.

"It's not a done deal until it's closed," Vegas noted.

At the confirmation hearing, which must be held within 60 days of yesterday's action, the court will accept new bids, but the starting point must be 5 percent higher than what was offered yesterday, Vega said.

"There's always a possibility," Vega noted. But Kopitke "should be looking around," he said.

Kopitke is searching for a site, preferably in Wahiawa.

"I know it's day to day," he said. "We're at the mercy of the judge and commissioner. They haven't said we have to leave, so for now, I expect we'll be open the rest of the week."

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.