HONOLULU -- The Honolulu City Council passed conflicting resolutions Wednesday about the possible purchase of Waimea Falls Park.

One calls for the city to begin moving on the condemnation of the park (pictured, right), while the second asks the mayor to defer the condemnation process until the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has a chance to buy the land. The vote gives the mayor the green light to move ahead with the condemnation while leaving the door open to partnering with OHA.

"I admit voting for two resolutions may seem schizophrenic," councilmember Duke Bainum said. "But I don't think it's schizophrenic."

The council asked for reassurances that OHA would not try and sell or develop portions of the park or prevent community access. OHA indicated that it is willing to match the city's condemnation price and appears willing to work with the city, but wants three months to decide it a deal is feasible.

Discussion

Who Should Own Waimea Falls Park?

"The possibity of having a partnership with the city is very much doable," said Crayn Akina, aide to OHA trustee John Waihee III.

But some councilmembers questioned OHA's ability to manage the resource.

"Things are not that stable they can't even take care of what they dealing with right now," councilmember John DeSoto said.

"OHA is still an option. They have not gotten their act together but they are trying really hard and we shouldn't close them off," councilmember Gary Okino said.

Council chairman Jon Yoshimura floated an idea that raised some eyebrows.

"If OHA comes back to us in 90 days, if they have a good plan, they can buy the property from the city. We can turn the property over to them after we have condemned it," council chairman Jon Yoshimura said.

Meanwhile, the current owner of Waimea Falls Park is bracing for a fight over the condemnation. Michael Green, attorney for the owner, thinks that the appraised value of the 18 acres is around $15 million, which is nearly three times what the city and OHA want to pay.

"We are not going to lay down and just say give us $5.2 million," Green said. "It's just not going to happen."