Uncivil War At Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was never very visitorfriendly until Patrick Brent came along, but jealousy of other attractions is driving out his two-year-old center
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Park Service regional director Jonathan Jarvis is
pulling the plug on Brent’s visitor center. He
called the Marine memorial ‘that flag pole’
- “can commence the contract bidding process for the construction of the new Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum and Visitors Center, and bidders will only bid on the basis of an unencumbered site.” The NPS has demanded the Navy turn over to them a virtually vacant property on May 1.
The timing of this shutdown is suspect, in that the projected “ceremonial” ground-breaking for the new Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum and Visitor Center is December of this year - most likely an unrealistic date since the solicitation of bids won’t even begin until September, and the remaining $20 million of the required $52 million is yet to be raised.
Although Brent always realized his enterprise was temporary, hence the “expeditionary” concept, he anticipated his month-to-month lease would be extended until the NPS actually needs the land to commence construction.
He also acknowledges, in retrospect, that he didn’t do a very good PR job of “greasing the skids” with his neighbors, and he would have been perceived as less threatening if he had gone in “nonprofit” - even though his personal profit was minimal given his $250,000 initial outlay, his monthly lease rent to Ford Island Ventures, and his literally “spare no cost” standard of excellence.
His concept of a mutually beneficial, synergistic visitor center promoting the welfare of all the players was misunderstood from the beginning. And now, because of the NPS’s determination to have them out regardless of when they actually need the land, will result in the premature closing of 18 businesses, putting 150 employees out of work. Despite NPS and Bowfin assurances that better visitor facilities and services will now be a priority, there is little evidence that it will come close to matching the creativity, efficiency and visitor satisfaction of “Expeditionary ONE.”
Patrick Brent chats with lunching visitors from Canada and
Oregon beneath a poster of the WWII home front heroine
Rosie the Riveter
In a recent personal letter to Brent, Sen. Dan Inouye writes, “I must confess to you that when the big white tent first went up, I was disturbed that it was a blight upon the majestic and somber view that looks out from Halawa Landing. To your credit, you acknowledged the concerns and adjusted accordingly, including sharing the economic opportunities with some of the historic partners.”
Inouye praised the professionalism of the PHVC’s employees and benefits to the visitors, and then said, “I would venture to say that you bruised the conscience of the National Park Service and the Navy, and you woke up the historic partners - Arizona, Missouri, Bowfin, Aviation Museum - about the need to provide a better level of accommodations for the visitor.”
This has been a story about an incredibly successful entrepreneurial endeavor, promoting small business, employment, and thousands of satisfied customers, begging for a happy ending. Regrettably, the “happy ending” is rather oblique, as summarized by the conclusion of Sen. Inouye’s letter: ” I hope you will find some solace in knowing that your actions will result in a better overall visitor experience in and about the memorials of Pearl Harbor.”
Brent is appreciative of the senator’s validation, but the PHVC still faces termination on May 1.
And as for the Marine Memorial he built at the water’s edge: Park Service regional director Jonathan Jarvis referred to it as “that flag pole” during a recent press conference, and said that another location might - or might not - be found for it Pearl.
Meanwhile, Brent looks at the experience philosophically, but with disappointment for his vendors and employees: “Oh, well, you know what they say, no good deed goes unpunished!”
Expect him to keep doing them anyway.
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