"Hawai'i has many elderly people who are just sitting around and not doing anything healthy to help their bodies," Liu said through an interpreter Thursday. "My overall message is to expose a healthier lifestyle to as many people as possible."

His plan calls for cloth canopies rather than traditional brick-and-mortar structures to make the center closer to nature. It would include walking trails and exercise paths for people, mostly senior citizens, to use to promote the teachings, City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi told community members at a meeting Tuesday. Kobayashi and Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz are supporters of the Qi Gong method of healing and support the concept of wellness and exercise. Liu's proposal is no different than the classes that are held at the parks now and can pay for some improvements that are sorely needed for the park, supporters say.

Hawai'i Kai residents, however, were skeptical about allowing a nongovernmental group to use city land. In 2001, the community invested many hours to formulate a comprehensive master plan for the park that includes a swimming pool, play equipment, hiking trails, skateboard ramps and BMX bike trails. While carrying out the plan would cost millions of dollars that the city isn't prepared to spend, the plan represented the community's wishes, said Mary Houghton, a Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board member and chairwoman of the board's parks committee.

"The community recently discussed keeping this area a passive park," Houghton said. "You need to hold community meetings on this."

Les Murakami, another member of the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board, said he supported the idea, but was concerned about traffic and what the proposed canopies would look like. He asked that the Natural Healing Research Foundation make another presentation to the community when plans are more developed.

Since there is no city money for any of the park improvements spelled out in the 2001 plan, the community might want to entertain other ideas, especially if it means that the 40-year-old park can see some improvements, Kobayashi said.

"The park is underused and this would help people become well and to learn about nutrition," she said.

Natural Healing Research Foundation has local centers where people can learn to self-heal. The centers run on donations and are not commercial enterprises, Kobayashi said. In addition there is federal money available to help pay for the center through programs for senior citizens.

Hong Liu is one of 12 master healers in the world, Kobayashi said, and the use of the park would be for recreation and for healing by using nontraditional methods that mix Eastern and Western philosophies. There are centers in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver.

"He wants to empower people," said Joyce Settle, a certified instructor. "He has an integrated approach to healing and energy. The open-air concept is close to nature."