Posted on: Monday, July 26, 2004
Chess club needs $2 million insurance to play at mall
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KANE'OHE — A Wednesday night chess club that meets at Windward Mall faces an uncertain future after learning it must acquire a $2 million liability insurance policy to continue playing at its home of almost three years.
Property owner Kamehameha Schools said it will try to find a way to help the group, but there has been no resolution yet.
The Windward Mall Chess Club learned last week that it must buy insurance and that its sessions would be canceled until a policy is in place. However, the mall did allow the club one last meeting on Wednesday to inform players of the situation.
The club, like vendors and other groups that hold activities there, is required to purchase insurance against possible lawsuits stemming from its activities, according to the mall manager.
But the short notice and large amount of insurance needed surprised organizers and the Hawai'i Chess Federation.
"This wasn't an outside group coming into the mall," said Randy Prothero, president of the Hawai'i Chess Federation. "It was the mall's club. I was a little confused."
The club was initiated by America's Promise Hawai'i, a national program administrated by Helping Hands Hawai'i, and started meeting at the mall in October 2001. Helping Hands paid the insurance then, but when it lost financing two years ago, it pulled out and the mall sponsored the club, providing tables and chairs.
Frank Alejandro organized the club and in return for the space agreed to give free chess lessons for an hour out of the regular three-hour sessions held every Wednesday. The club began as a mentoring program and a way to get more men involved with helping children, Alejandro said.
"I never made any money from it," he said, admitting that he had expected the request for insurance but was surprised by the amount needed. "The short deadline was a shock."
Windward Mall general manager Jonathan Kim said he wasn't sure whether the mall would allow the organization to continue matches as it tries to get insurance, which is necessary to protect the center and its owner.
The intent of the club is admirable, but the mall must look out for the owners as well, Kim said, adding that he's had many calls from parents about the club saying it brings business to the center. The mall has never thought of the club as a means to generate business, he said.
"We thought it was something good to provide to the community," he said. "It's a good thing. All we're asking is to provide liability insurance."
Christine Cortese, 9, said she will miss playing the game that she learned more than two years ago at the mall. The center is an ideal place for children to come to because it's convenient, safe and pleasant, Christine said.
"It's a game that helps concentrate on your memory," Christine said. "It helps you be a good sport, and you can have fun."
The club collects no dues or fees for setting up the weekly games. Alejandro estimated that between 200 and 300 people come each week for the games. With 10 tables and 14 boards, about 40 to 50 people play, he said.
Alejandro hopes to partner with the Mililani Chess Club, which carries $500,000 in liability insurance, but time is needed to make the inquiries to that insurance carrier. The cost was uncertain, but club officials think the total premium for the two clubs could be as much as $3,000 a year.
Kekoa Paulsen, Kamehameha Schools spokesman, said the managing company is responsible for looking out for the school but the school is interested in keeping the club and hopes to work out a solution that is satisfactory to everyone.
"There's an educational element to that club that is attractive to us," Paulsen said. "It's not so much that the activity itself would generate any problems. It's just any time you're dealing with a public setting and you're dealing potentially with children, there's liability we need to be aware of and accountable for."
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
