The National Audubon Society is wrapping up its operations in Waimea Valley this month before the historic North Shore property is taken over Feb. 1 by a new entity of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The area will be closed to the public Jan. 30 and 31 to allow time for an orderly changeover, Waimea Valley Audubon Center director Diana King said in a statement.

The 1,875-acre Waimea Valley will be managed by a subsidiary of nonprofit Hi'ilei Aloha LLC, which was formed by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

King, in the statement, thanked supporters and reflected on the work Audubon accomplished in the valley, which she said was visited by nearly a million residents and visitors since June 2003.

"It has been a good effort despite the many challenges and setbacks encountered along the way," she said.

She said Audubon accomplished much at Waimea Valley, including re-opening trails, building a children's garden and publishing an archeological assessment of the valley. She said staff and volunteers have earned national and state awards.

"Most importantly, we have changed the climate of the valley from a for-profit visitor attraction to a community-based nature center emphasizing care and appreciation for this special place," she said. "We hope that many of these changes will endure."

Office of Hawaiian Affairs administrator Clyde Namu'o said: "We are grateful for the Audubon's stewardship and look forward to operation by a Hawaiian entity."

OHA said in September that attendance at Waimea Valley had fallen to an all-time low.

The turnover is the latest change for Waimea Valley over the last several years.

New York investor Christian Wolffer put the valley under bankruptcy protection in 2001, and the city took possession of the property through condemnation.

The city awarded a lease to the National Audubon Society in 2003, after which the property was called the Waimea Valley Audubon Center.

OHA became the legal owner of Waimea Valley in 2006 after the land was bought by a partnership involving OHA, the city, state Department of Land and Natural Resources, U.S. Army and National Audubon Society.

In January 2007, The National Audubon Society pulled out of negotiations with OHA for a long-term lease to continue managing the property. Audubon continued to manage the property under the existing interim lease.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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