The Hawaiian Humane Society could open a pet park, kennels and an adoption facility at the state's Animal Quarantine Station in Halawa Valley, pending approval today by the Board of Agriculture.

The Humane Society was chosen among three groups that applied to the Agriculture Department to lease the space.

In its proposal, the Humane Society said its facility also would include a lost and found and an assembly area for public education and small-scale community events. The facility would be on six acres of mostly vacant land on the mauka-'ewa end of the Halawa site.

"We're delighted about the potential to work with the state to expand our service to the community," Humane Society spokeswoman Jacque Smith said. "We know that pet ownership is on the rise with the highest concentration of pet owners on the Windward and Leeward side. Being able to have a presence in Halawa would help us better serve those communities of people and pets."

The space at the quarantine facility is available because nearly 90 percent of all pets now entering Hawai'i go home directly from the airport under the popular five-day-or-less rabies quarantine program, begun in June 2003. The facility had 1,600 kennels, of which about 900 are still usable and in good condition.

Only about 260 kennels are now used for animals in 120-day or 30-day quarantine, and about 70 kennels are leased to the federal government.

Pamela Burns, president of the Hawaiian Humane Society, declined comment yesterday on the lease agreement, saying it would be premature until approval is actually given.

Agriculture department spokeswoman Janelle Saneishi said the next step will be to agree on how long the lease will be and how much the society will pay the state.

"All that will happen (today) is the board will approve the department going into negotiations," Saneishi said. "Then there will be an appraisal. It is all just starting."

The Obedience Training Club of Hawai'i and the Hawai'i Dog Foundation also submitted proposals in March.

In a July 26 letter to the agricultural board, Isaac Maeda, program manager for the Animal Quarantine Branch, wrote that the Humane Society was selected because it would use all of the space and would "serve a large and more diverse section of the community."

Ron Stebbins, with the 600-member Obedience Training Club of Hawai'i, said he is disappointed his group's proposal was not recommended but supports the Humane Society's efforts.

"I have no problems with that," Stebbins said. "With the stuff they do and the work they perform, I'd like to see the entire quarantine station taken over by the Humane Society."

The Humane Society has a 2.5-acre facility in Mo'ili'ili. With a staff of 65 employees, it provides animal control services for the city and serves as a temporary shelter and placement agency for homeless animals.

The Humane Society receives more than 30,000 animals a year, placing 6,000 with new owners and returning about 5,000 lost pets to their families.