FRIENDS’ PRESIDENT MEETS WITH NEW PARKS DIRECTOR

At the request of Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the City’s new Parks Director Lester Chang invited Cynthia Bond, Friends of Hanauma Bay President, to meet to discuss Bay-related issues. On March 11, they met for almost 1 ½ hours at Chang’s Kapolei office. Bond reported that the meeting reinforced her initial positive impression of the new Administration’s commitment to preserving the Bay. While he had not yet personally visited the Bay, he had obviously familiarized himself with its operations.

Bond gave Chang a DVD copy of the August 2004 interview that the Friends had with then-candidate Hannemann, in which he made strong statements on dedicated funding, emphasizing that he had been the author of the ordinance that established the Hanauma Bay Preserve Fund. Bond asked Chang if the City might set up a separate accounting of the revenues and expenditures of the Bay so that tracking could be done more easily. He expressed an interest in such an initiative.

In the taped interview, Hannemann had supported the Friends’ wish to increase the ratio of residents to tourists. Bond reiterated to Chang, as she had with Hannemann, the important point that tour companies, pretending to be “taxis”, were illegally dropping off large numbers of tourists, who make up an estimated 1/3 of those standing in lines to enter the Bay, adding to the congestion that discourages residents. The prior Administration’s position had been to ignore the violations; the Friends are eager to see a green light to Bay staff to begin enforcement. Chang promised to discuss this with the new Mayor.

Bond shared “before and after” photos, clearly showing the positive impact that the new Marine Education Center is having on the Bay. (e.g., formerly a majority of those in the water were walking on the reef; now it’s a rarity). It was a credit to Mayor Jeremy Harris that the new Center was built, said Bond, although media reports on change orders put a cloud over the project.

Chang had several suggestions to be explored to encourage residents to return to the Bay and join in efforts to protect our own precious natural treasure.

Bond explained that almost all of the objectives set out in the 1990 Hanauma Bay Management Plan have been realized. This Plan took the Bay from a crowded, abused embarrassment to an award-winning center for marine and environmental education. She reported that the Friends were working on recommendations to present to Bay Manager Alan Hong as he develops a new Management Plan to carry on the goals of protecting and preserving the Bay.

Mayor Harris left office on a positive note for the Bay: Operating funds that had been sought but denied were approved in December. Mayor Hannemann promises that the Bay funds are, by his term, “sacrosanct.” His proposed operating budget for FY 2006 includes funding for important items for the Bay. The Friends are encouraged that Hanauma Bay will continue to be treated with the great respect that it needs and deserves under the leadership of Lester Chang and Mayor Hannemann.