CITY & COUNTY

Council, city dispute
who's to blame for lack of
funding for zoo elephants

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

City Council members say the administration of Mayor Jeremy Harris has unfairly blamed them for not coming up with funds for an elephant exhibit.

"I find it very disappointing the way they implied the Council's dropped the ball on this when they've had every chance to move forward on it," said Councilman Duke Bainum.

Honolulu Zoo officials fear that the city could lose female elephants Mari and Vaigai unless steps are taken soon to expand their home to accommodate a male breeding partner.

That's based on a condition set by the U.S. Interior Department when the city obtained a permit to import Vaigai from India in 1991.

Zoo officials have put cost of exhibit improvements at $6 million.

City Budget Director Malcolm Tom incorrectly told the Star-Bulletin last week that $6 million had been sought, when the administration asked for only $1 million.

City Enterprise Services Director Alvin Au said about a third of the $1 million went to design the elephant enclosure. The remaining appropriation lapsed.

Tom also said last week that in fiscal year 1998, the Council appropriated only $1,000 for the administration's request for $2.5 million for the project.

Au said, however, that the money was for gharial and sun bear exhibits, and lighting improvements -- not for the elephants.

Zoo officials privately have said they have asked each year since Vaigai's arrival for $11.5 million to pay the entire cost of the tropical rainforest exhibits and have been rebuked by either the administration or the Council.

Both City Council Chairman Mufi Hannemann and Bainum are angered that the administration didn't press for the funding of the elephant exhibit or even alert them about the letter from the Interior Department.

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Mayor commits funds
for breakwater at Mauna
Lahilahi Beach

By Gordon Y.K. Pang, Star-Bulletin

Mayor Jeremy Harris has promised to commit $975,000 in next year's budget for a permanent breakwater to protect Makaha Surfside condominiums from an eroding beach.

Work is expected to begin within the next two weeks on a temporary measure that's being funded jointly by the city and the condominium's board of directors.

The work involves erecting a 350-foot-wide barrier of three-ton sandbags at Mauna Lahilahi Beach Park.

The shoreline park, which fronts the condominiums, has been eroding since the early 1980s.

The Makaha Surfside board agreed to donate $38,000 worth of sand toward the temporary sandbag solution for the city's promise to put in a permanent breakwater later.

Michael Gordon of Chaney Brooks Ltd., managing agent for the condominium, said the board still needs to vote a final time on the deal.

Once the permanent structure is completed, the sand will be released onto the beach.