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Star-Bulletin
An education center and gift shop are to
be built at the popular site.

Hanauma Bay
construction called
‘blow to community’

Opponents of city plans approved
yesterday disagree with a gift shop
to be built on the rim of the preserve

---

By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

Members of the East Honolulu Community Coalition were disappointed after the state Board of Land and Natural Resources approved city plans to build a marine education center at Hanauma Bay Preserve.

Dave Washino, spokesman for the coalition, said: "It's a blow to the community. ... I see the city spent more time promoting the project than they did planning and designing it."

The city's conservation district use application was approved yesterday during a board meeting. Along with a marine education center, a gift shop and snack bar is expected to be built in the area.

Washino said, "We don't want to commercialize Hanauma Bay."

Washino said the coalition has no plans to appeal, but said, "We will bring attention to the Department of Land and Natural Resources any discrepancies that we see."

Ralph Portmore, executive vice president of Group 70 International, an architectural firm designing the project at Hanauma Bay, said, "The benefits outweigh any adverse impact from construction in building in that area."

Opponents disagreed with a 497-square-foot gift shop to be built on the rim of Hanauma Bay.

Portmore said the gift shop is another element to create awareness and appreciation for the environment: "It's not about making money or selling souvenirs. It's about selling education materials related to the bay."

A short educational video available in six different languages will teach visitors how to protect the fish and coral reef at Hanauma Bay.

With an educational center at Hanauma Bay, Land Board member Lynn McRory said, people will not only learn about protecting coral reefs in the area, but other places they visit on the islands.

Board member Kathryn Whang Inouye said, "The best time to educate them is right before they enter the bay."

But Robert Reeder, a design architect, said the education center is a "clever decoy for getting new office space while controlling access and generating additional money from a new gift shop and snack bar."

"Education is the excuse they hide behind," he said. "I don't want to see this beautiful place sacrificed."

Inouye initially was not in favor of the project. After visiting Hanauma Bay, Inouye changed her mind. She said the education center is "sorely needed in including the importance of protecting our ecology."

Portmore said grading of the land is expected to start in April.

The board told the Design and Construction Department to return within 90 days to discuss the types of exhibits that will be placed in the building. Portmore said items reflecting Hawaii's culture and marine environment are expected to be placed in the center.

During the hearing, Kevin Kekona asked the board to consider building an education center elsewhere to avoid sacrificing the natural preserve.

"These are the treasures for our future generations," he said.