The owner of the long-closed Paradise Park exotic-bird attraction in Manoa Valley intends to reapply with the state to modify its existing permit for a botanical or zoological garden so that the property can reopen with Hawaiian cultural exhibits and hula shows.
Darryl Wong, son of Paradise Park founder James W.Y. Wong, described what he said would be his next steps to reopen the old visitor attraction after the state Board of Land and Natural Resources decided Friday not to hold a contested case hearing over a decision the board made in May to not revive an expired approval for the proposed Hawaiian cultural center and garden.
Wong said he intends to prepare an environmental assessment or impact statement before submitting a new application to modify the permit, though a timetable for doing so is uncertain.
“As soon as we can,” he said Friday.
Reopening Paradise Park is opposed by many Manoa residents who fear the new operation will be noisy and result in tour buses rumbling through their neighborhood as they once did.
The park, which opened in 1968 and attracted up to 300,000 visitors a year, closed in 1994. However, the permit allowing a garden attraction on conservation land lived on.
BLNR approved modifications to the permit in October 2014 to allow an estimated $15 million in renovations that were to include Native Hawaiian cultural displays, a replica of Queen Kaahumanu’s summer home, a hula museum, hula shows and nine gardens. But there was a one-year deadline to begin construction, which Wong didn’t meet.
In May the board decided not to extend the permit after a contentious hearing at which many Manoa residents said they didn’t know about the 2014 permit consideration and were left out of the public-input process.
Derwin Hayashi, a local attorney representing Wong, asked for a contested case hearing to present a more robust case for extending the permit modification, in part because he said there were misrepresentations by project opponents.
BLNR unanimously voted not to hold such a hearing.
At Friday’s hearing a mix of support and opposition was expressed by the public in what likely will be a preview for any future hearing on modifying the park’s permit.
“If Paradise Park wants to be a good steward of the island, they should not entice more people to come up to a commercial venture,” said longtime Manoa resident Willa Mae Loo.
Another longtime Manoa resident, Jolyn Okimoto Rosa, added, “I hope the peace of Manoa is protected for future generations.”
On the opposing side, Paradise Park drew support for its plan from folks including former Kamehameha Schools trustee Oswald Stender and Alexander Jamile, president of the Moanalua Gardens Foundation.
“We need to bring it back as a cultural center,” said Toni Lee, a former chairwoman of the Aloha Festivals Floral Parade. “It will bring life back to Manoa as a learning place.”
