The Navy was working last night to close a deal that would convey 499 acres of former Barbers Point Naval Air Station land in Kalaeloa to private home developer Ford Island Development.

The Navy, the developer and the city meanwhile agreed to allow the public to continue using Pride and Pointer fields for now.

Scores of West O'ahu families who use the fields for football and baseball league play had been concerned they would be displaced.

The fate of the existing Barbers Point Bowling Alley also appears to have been resolved favorably.

The Navy and Ford Island Properties have agreed to negotiate a turnkey lease with a private vendor to run the facility, although it will probably need to be closed for up to two weeks, said Agnes Tauyan, public affairs director for Navy Region Hawaii/Naval Surface Group MIDPAC.

Both military and nonmilitary people use the bowling alley. "We're trying real hard to minimize the down time on that," Tauyan said.

"As far as I'm concerned, we've got a deal," said Steve Colon, president of Hunt Development Co., Ford Island Properties' parent company. "We're just crossing the t's and dotting the i's."

Tesha Malama, director of planning and development for the state Kalaeloa Community Development District, praised state Rep. Sharon Har, D-40th (Royal Kunia, Makakilo, Kapolei), for bringing Rear Adm. Townsend G. "Tim" Alexander and other key parties to the table to finish the deal before last night's congressionally mandated deadline.

Malama and others last week had accused the Navy of foot-dragging.