Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 2, 1 Pepeluali 2007 — Audubon Society to exit Waimea Valley center [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Audubon Society to exit Waimea Valley center

Conservation group declines a fiveyear lease but will continue interim operations for the next 12 months

By KWŪ staff Negotiations between OHA and the National Audubon Society over the future management of Waimea Valley ended on lan. 17, when Audubon opted out of a proposed deal under whieh OHA would have contracted with the national conservation group to continue managing the valley for the next five years in exchange for an operations grant of $1 million per year. It is anticipated that Audubon, whieh currently employs a staff of 40 and manages a loeal volunteer force of 500, will continue its visitor operations and environmental preservation activities in the valley over the next 12 months while another suitable solution is sought. "While we're disappointed that Audubon won't consider continuing, we are grateful for the good work they have done since assuming manage-

ment of the valley," said OHA Administrator Clyde Nāmu'o, who told the press that he had thought the two parties were close to signing a lease and was taken by surprise at Audubon's pullout. "We urge the eonununity to continue to be supportive in the interim." Nāmu'o emphasized that OHA is committed to ensuring proper management of Waimea, whieh was the ancient home of a sacred line of Hawaiian kahuna nui and is considered the last intact ahupua'a on O'ahu. In addition to its abundant cultural sites and variety of native flora and fauna, the valley also houses an internationally renowned repository for rare and endangered tropical plants. Audubon officials said in a statement that they were "deeply disappointed that we were not able to craft an acceptable lease" and that the decision to leave the valley was a difficult one. "Nonetheless, we leave some-

what comforted by the knowledge that the valley is safe from future exploitation and development, and that in our interim role as caretakers, we have made a positive difference. "Going forward, we are refocusing our efforts to achieve a smooth and positive management transition to ensure that the gains made over the past few years are not lost. Waimea Valley is a very special plaee,

and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it." Since 2003, Audubon has been managing the valley as the premier site in its nationwide network of nature centers, after

* 'MWl / s». : ■ I" JU it received a 30-year operations lease from the City & County of Honolulu. The city had taken possession of the valley from former owner Christian Wolffer, See AUOUHON on page II

NŪ HOU • NEWS

The Nahonal Audubon Society began operating ū nature center at Waimea in 2003, after the City & County of Honolulu tookpossession of the valley to protect it from development. Right: 'alae'ula, or Hawaiian mud hens, nesting at Waimea. - Photos: Derek Pem

AUDUB0N

Cūntinued fram page 09

a New York-based investor, to protect the natural and cultural treasure from the threat of eommercial development. Audubon's lease with the city became moot, however, after OHA acquired title to the valley as part of a conservation deal in whieh a consortium of organizations purchased the l,875-acre property for $14 million to settle Wolffer's lengthy lawsuit over the city's forced condemnation. In addition to OHA, the partners in the deal included the city, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the U.S. Army, the Trust for Public Land and Audubon. The terms of the agreement included guarantees that the valley would remain permanently protected from development. While the negotiations between OHA and Audubon since then have been confi-

dential, Audubon has long said that it would need a long-tenn lease to enable it to raise funds that are needed for improvements to the valley's facilities. However, some OHA trustees said publicly that they were not comfortable with a longterm arrangement to begin with, and that they especially wanted to see an increase in Native Hawaiian cultural activities in the valley. OHA officials said that options now being considered for Waimea include self-man-agement, with OHA's administration itself overseeing operations; the creation of a for-profit corporation or nonprofit managing entity; or the identification of other qualified managing entities via a widespread search. Among the required qualifications, they said, are financial and business experience, land management and preservation expertise, and cultural knowledge and sensitivity. They reiterated that OHA's ultimate goal remains that

Waimea Valley will continue to be accessible to the public, providing a safe, meaningful and enjoyable experience, and that its natural and cultural integrity be enhanced and preserved in perpetuity. Meanwhile, community members who have been involved in the twists and turns of Waimea's fate expressed disappointment that the negotiations between OHA and Audubon were not successful, but hope that another solution ean be found. "The failed negotiations are another wake-up eall that Waimea needs broad support among all sectors of the eommunity to succeed as a model for conservation and cultural preservation," said Denise Antolini of the Waimea Valley Coalition. Antolini suggested that perhaps the future of the valley may be best assured by renewed discussions among all the partners in the conservation purchase. "The North Shore community is eager to ensure that Waimea thrives," she said. E3