A national organization dedicated to preserving endangered plants has urged the city to choose a Waimea Falls Park operator that "can provide expertise in the conservation of rare biological resources." Conservation group
urges expert care
for Waimea Falls
By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.comThe Center for Plant Conservation is concerned that current caretaking of the park's rare plants is inadequate because of a staffing shortage, it said in a release.
It recommends that the city "select a management group, such as the Audubon Society, that values and can provide expertise in the conservation of rare biological resources."
It's not unusual for the St. Louis-based national organization to "take a position of gentle and supportive advocacy," on behalf of special plant populations, Kathryn Kennedy, executive director and president, told the Star-Bulletin.
Kennedy said that in this case, the organization decided to issue a release after it received no response to a May 31 letter to Mayor Jeremy Harris expressing similar concerns.
"We cannot overstate the value of these irreplaceable collections," Kennedy's letter to Harris said, adding that Center has invested $4,500 a year to help propagate special plants at Waimea and is worried about plants dying.
The city is reviewing proposals from at least two entities to operate Waimea Falls Park under contract. The National Audubon Society has confirmed it is a contender, as has Waimea Management LLC, a company formed by Ray Green, current general manager of the park. A third company is believed to have applied but could not be confirmed.
City spokeswoman Carol Costa said Thursday that the city will not discuss proposals to operate Waimea Falls while the review process, which began in June, is under way. There is no deadline for the city's decision; meanwhile the park is running on a month-to-month basis.
The city is in the process of acquiring the park from former owner Christian Wolffer, who declared bankruptcy. It has set aside $5.1 million for the purchase and awaits a court ruling on whether the amount is sufficient.
The Center for Plant Conservation maintains the National Collection of Endangered Plants, a collection of plant material for 570 of the nation's rarest plants. Its participating institutions -- of which there are five in Hawaii, including Waimea -- study and grow the plants. Waimea has 18 imperiled Hawaii plants.
Kennedy emphasized that her organization isn't endorsing a particular proposal, because it hasn't seen any of them.
Audubon spokeswoman Diana King said: "It's nice to get the endorsement of the Center for Plant Conservation, though certainly not earth-shattering since our missions are closely aligned."
