The days of marine mammal shows, dolphin rides, and parties at Sea Life Park may be numbered.
The popular East Oahu theme park is likely going to have to become more of a learning center now that its landlord, Oceanic Institute (OI), is being subsumed into Hawaii Pacific University (HPU).
That’s the word from HPU president Dr. Geoffrey Bannister, who, with OI acting president Shaun Moss, last month asked for and received approval from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources for the merger of the two entities, the mutual cancellation of OI’s lease of 105 acres of state land in Waimanalo, and the direct issuance of a new 65-year lease to HPU for scientific research and “public exhibiting facilities of marine life.”
OI’s lease, acquired via public auction, was set to expire in 2027 and could not be renewed, according to Russell Tsuji, administrator for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Land Division. That posed a problem for HPU, which has employed OI for the last decade as a research arm and contributed $10 million to its work. The upcoming lease expiration “creates certain limitations on HPU in securing future grants and donations,” stated a Land Division report to the Land Board.
“Some grants we can’t assume unless we have an extended lease,” Bannister told the board.
Because HPU is a non-profit, the Land Board can issue a lease directly, rather than through a public auction. Although non-profits may also pay a discounted rent, HPU will pay market rent, Tsuji told the board.
Bannister said that HPU and OI are nearing the end of a 10-year agreement, and the university wants that relationship to continue.
“The way we see it, we’ve been living together for 10 years. We’d like to get married,” he said.
The merger, which is expected to be completed some time next year, will allow the two organizations to focus on science rather than on “a lot of back room things.”
Bannister said he supported the Land Divisions recommendations regarding the merger and new lease, including conditions requiring HPU to honor OI’s subleases until they expire or are renegotiated.
At-large board member San Gon asked Bannister, “What do you plan to do with the adopted children?” referring to sublessees Sea Life Park and Gloria Bridal Services, Inc.
Both entities have 15 years left on their subleases. Once they expire, “it would be in Sea Life Park’s interest to link to education more than they have in the past. [It] probably should be as educational as it can be,” Bannister replied.
He did not speak to the future tenancy of Gloria Bridal Services, Inc., which operates the St. Catalina wedding chapel overlooking Manana island (a.k.a. Rabbit Island).
Clearing Hurdles
The Land Board’s approval helps ensure OI’s continued use of its Waimanalo facility for many years to come. Meanwhile, in Panaewa, Hawaii, OI still hasn’t built an experimental feed mill that the Legislature appropriated nearly $1 million for more than a decade ago.
On September 27, the Land Board granted OI its fifth time extension to complete the work.
In an August letter to the DLNR, Moss blamed the delay on “behind the scenes hurdles.”
The mill is now going to cost about $3.3 million, $1 million more than initially thought, he continued. But with additional funds from the state Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and private donations, the company says it’s prepared to proceed.
“OI is also in ongoing discussions with Ulupono Initiative to improve production efficiencies of the feed mill. Ulupono’s interest in the feed mill stems from their broader interests in island sustainability and their desire to help develop local solutions to reduce the high cost of terrestrial and aquatic feed,” Moss wrote. “OI’s feed mill will provide a platform to test novel feed formulations on a commercial scale and this is of significant value to Ulupono. Currently, OI and Ulupono are exploring funding opportunities to support enhanced capabilities of the feed mill.”
Moss told the Land Board that his company is preparing an environmental assessment for the mill right now and that he anticipates breaking ground next fall. The mill is expected to produce feed for pigs, chicken, cattle, and aquaculture, he said.
Maui board member Jimmy Gomes, who also manages Ulupalakua Ranch on Maui, asked whether the feed would be available to ranchers statewide.
Moss said the mill is meant to be an intermediate step between the lab and the ultimate goal of a commercial feed mill. OI will use the mill to test feed made from local ingredients and see if those ingredients allow species to thrive.
About the author: Teresa Dawson is a staff writer for Environment Hawaii and has freelanced for Environmental Health News and the Honolulu Weekly. She was born and raised in Hawaii.
Reprinted with permission from the current issue of Environment Hawaii, a non-profit news publication. The entire issue, as well as more than 20 years of past issues, is available free to Environment Hawaii subscribers at www.environment-hawaii.org. Non-subscribers must pay $10 for a two-day pass.