Posted on: Friday, January 7, 2005
Sea Life Park has a new owner
By Deborah Adamson
Advertiser Staff Writer
A Mexican adventure park operator acquired Sea Life Park yesterday and pledged to upgrade the attraction along O'ahu's east coast.
Dolphin Discovery of Cancun, Mexico, bought the park from New York investor Christian Wolffer. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The park will keep its staff of 90 full-time and part-time workers.
"We will commit a significant amount of resources to improving and upgrading the facilities," said Eduardo Albor, president and chief executive of Dolphin Discovery, in a statement. "The park will once again be one of the most important attractions on O'ahu and a worldwide research center for marine life."
Les Enderton, executive director of the O'ahu Visitors Bureau, said the well-known park has "wonderful potential."
"Sea Life Park is a great asset for the island of O'ahu and for Hawai'i. It's been a proven asset for decades," he said. "I'm excited about the change."
He said it's important to keep improving Hawai'i's attractions, as the Islands face increased competition from other tropical destinations. A revived Sea Life Park would complement the revitalization under way in Waikiki, Enderton said.
Dolphin Discovery calls itself the largest operator of swim-with-dolphins programs in the world. Sea Life Park, to be run by new general manager Renato Lenzi, is the company's first investment in the United States. Dolphin Discovery runs six attractions in Mexico and the Caribbean.
One of the company's principals, Miguel Pali Quintana, has Hawaiian blood. His mother attended Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawai'i.
Sea Life Park had been owned by one of Wolffer's firms, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2001. The park was languishing when Wolffer bought it, along with Waimea Falls Park, in 1996.
At the time, Wolffer pledged to revitalize both attractions, envisioning ATV rides and cabins along Waimea Valley. But he ran into cultural and environmental opposition, especially after trying to sell the Waimea park as a private retreat for $25 million.
The city bought Waimea Falls Park for $5 million in 2003 and chose the National Audubon Society to operate the park. Atlantis Submarines had operated Sea Life Park and Waimea Falls Park.
Reach Deborah Adamson at dadamson@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8088.
