Waimea Falls Park
may be sold to nonprofit

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Star-Bulletin staff

Members of the City Council Executive Matters Committee approved a resolution yesterday asking the administration to consider selling Waimea Falls Park to a nonprofit organization after the city acquires the property.

Resolution 03-89, which calls for Waimea Falls Park to be maintained as a botanical, cultural, educational and historical facility open to the public, will be heard before the City Council at 10 a.m. April 16.

The city took control of the valley in February 2002 and has filed a lawsuit to condemn the land. The city has set aside $5.2 million for Waimea Falls Park. The final cost of the 1,875-acre property has yet to be determined, said Ann Kobayashi, committee vice chairwoman.

Councilman Romy Cachola, chairman of the Executive Matters Committee, said it is necessary to sell the park to cut city expenses because of budgetary problems.

Kobayashi said the National Audubon Society has submitted a bid to manage the park, while the Office of Hawaiian Affairs had expressed interest in holding cultural programs at the park.

National Audubon Society project manager Diana King said the group wants to provide education and cultural programs and activities for tourists and residents.