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Animal shelter signs
deal for Waimanalo land
A nonprofit foundation receives
approval for the parcel for 15 years
An animal shelter that will lose its state lease in Waimanalo next month has been approved to rent another state parcel in the area for 15 years.
The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted unanimously Friday to lease 12 acres makai of the Weinberg Village to the nonprofit Sylvester Foundation at market rent for agricultural land with a dwelling.
"Our priority is to have some place where the animals can be safe and happy," said Candy Lake, Sylvester Foundation executive director.
Lake said she will meet tomorrow with Dan Davidson, Department of Land and Natural Resources deputy director, to work out details of moving onto the new parcel as quickly as possible.
"We think this is a very positive step forward," Davidson said. "Given the time frame of an expiring lease, our goal was to help the Sylvester Foundation find a suitable and appropriate site where their important nonprofit animal sanctuary work could continue."
After the state removes junk cars from the land, the foundation will put up fencing and seek city building permits for structures for the animals and a caretaker house, Lake said.
The Sylvester Foundation's lease at its current Waimanalo location, where it has been for eight years, expires Aug. 9.
Kyle Ushijima, the successful bidder to lease the 19-acre plot that the Sylvester Foundation will be vacating, said last week that he has paid the state half of his $36,500 annual lease rent and plans to grow indoor and outdoor plants for his business, Landscape Hawaii, at the site.
Lake and other foundation volunteers care for more than 300 cats, dogs, chickens and other animals until they die or are adopted.