A young boy wearing a Harry Potter hat approached Ko Olina Resort & Marina vice president Michael Nelson at last month's Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board meeting to ask: "When are the sharks going to be here?"

After nearly two years of planning and design work, Nelson can now answer the question.

Pending approval of its application for a conditional use permit, West Honolulu Attractions LLC — an entity managed by Ko Olina master developer Jeff Stone — plans to begin construction in December of an interactive marine amusement park on 3.7 acres with hopes of opening the facility in late 2008.

The young boy's enthusiasm is an indication of the buzz in the community that the Ko Olina project, which is being financed by up to $75 million in state tax credits, is indeed going to be a lot more than what was originally seen as a "world-class aquarium."

"I think we all thought at first that it was a neat thing but still a big aquarium where you go to see sharks and other things," Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Board chairwoman Maeda Timson said.

Since January, developers have moved the site of the park to the adjoining JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa side of the Ko Olina Resort, which requires a conditional use permit because the property is zoned as a resort district. The park will be on a 21.2-acre parcel makai of Aliinui Drive, between Olani Street and Kamoana Place.

"It brings us closer to a saltwater source," said Fujiki, who served as director of the city's departments of planning and design, building and design and construction under the Harris administration.

With Stone out of town, Nelson and Randall Fujiki, executive vice president for planning and development, provided an update on the Ko Olina Marine Adventure Park project.

The themed-attraction park is now envisioned as being in the class of Discovery Cove in Orlando, Fla., Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, and Ocean World Marina in the Dominican Republic, but they're "nothing quite like what we're doing," Nelson said.

Nelson, a former Walt Disney marketing executive, said Ko Olina Adventure Park intends to provide aquatic and adventure interactive experiences with marine life in three man-made lagoons and pools. Guests can swim with dolphins in the "Blue Lagoon"; encounter spotted eagle rays, brown stingrays and small black-tip and hammerhead sharks at "Shark Island"; or snorkel among tropical fish at the coral "Hawaiian Reef," said Nelson, who recently returned from San Diego meetings with Sea World officials and independent marine biologists.

"We're making sure that what we do in design is right for the animals," Nelson said. "It's a high priority and we're trying to do it the right way before the first spade goes in the ground."

The park will have a shallow beach for children where they will be able to see fish underwater. It also will feature waterfalls and water slides from higher to lower pools, Nelson said.

The estimated cost of the project is $41 million, said Nelson.

A sports training complex and educational facilities developed or operated with educational institutions, such as a marine science and marine research facility, are among "attraction and educational facilities" qualifying for credit under the law. The park will provide educational opportunities for students to work with marine biologists as well as employment opportunities.

Ko Olina will have until 2009 to spend up to $75 million on the marine park project to qualify for tax credits, which must be redeemed over 10 years at $7.5 million a year. Tax credits can be claimed beginning next year. Separate plans call for a luxury hotel and time-share complex with 800 to 1,000 rooms, and commercial village surrounding the park. Fujiki said the park will be built first before the surrounding parts are developed.

The park will be open to the public and general operating hours are expected to be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Nelson said.

Timson said increased traffic is an immediate concern anytime a multimillion dollar project is proposed in West O'ahu.

"The feeling is most of the people are going to be on the property (as guests at the resort) or will be bused in like they do for the luaus," Timson said. "I don't think it will have a big impact on traffic."

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