He’eia Park Management Still In Limbo
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Del.icio.usWhile baby luaus, weddings and other party bookings will continue to be honored, the management of He’eia State Park remains in dispute between two Windward nonprofit groups.
Curt Cottrell, assistant administrator of the state DLNR parks division, said that a revocable month-to-month permit held by the Friends of He’eia expires at the end of September, and Kama’aina Kids was chosen to manage the entire park through the request for proposal process. The Friends of He’eia promptly filed a protest of the award, and the state Attorney General is reviewing it before making a decision. Whatever that decision is, the Friends may appeal it to the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
Through the structured proposal procurement process,Cottrell explained,Kama’aina Kids earned the highest score from a committee of four reviewers, making the Kailua-based nonprofit child care agency eligible to sign a 25-year lease to manage the entire park. (The review committee rated its highest three applicants, from highest to lowest, as Kama’aina Kids, Friends of He’eia and Ko’olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club.) Kama’aina Kids president Ray Sanborn said they would love to be stewards of the park,and that they will not be moving forward until the state has cleared this up.“Our first program was started at Heeia State Park,” he explained,“and we’ve worked with the Friends of He’eia since the start. We’ve been there for the last 23 years.”
The Friends has been managing the park’s exhibition hall and pavilion, and since its 20-year lease ended last year, it has continued operations under a one-year, extended revocable lease which expired at the end of August.
“Our parks budget has been getting deep hits for the past five years, and we’ve been reduced by over $3 million in general funds,” Cottrell said. “The state Land Board decided that we go through a formal request for proposals, and rather than just put out the pavilion and exhibition hall for the lease, it would be the entire park. We wanted an entire entity to pay the utilities, manage the park, mow the lawns,clean the bathrooms and run all facilities for us, not to exceed a 25-year term.”
“We believe the contract to Kama’aina Kids is a prejudged contract,“said Friends’ attorney Anthony Locricchio. “There was really no competitive bidding.”
Sanborn said they have the experience to do it from managing the 150-acre Camp Timberline in Makakilo.Their proposal includes adding park security and improving facilities.
Locricchio said the Friends are prepared to make their challenge in court, and would request a jury trial “because of the extenuating circumstances.”
Bobby Puakea and the Puakea Foundation as well as Kaneohe Canoe Club will remain at the park, located at Kealohi Point, which overlooks Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor on one side and Heeia Fishpond on the other.
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