Friends of Hanauma Bay Finally Reach Settlement with City and County of Honolulu Over Use of the Hanauma Bay Fund
After 10 years of persistent advocacy by Friends of Hanauma Bay to ensure the Fund is managed in accordance with a 2002 Federal Court Order governing its use, City and County of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Administration has returned $5,261,500.00 to the Hanauma Bay Fund. His Administration is also formally ensuring the provisions of the court order are embedded in Hanauma Bay Fund management procedures, and the Friends are welcome partners in all future Hanauma Bay budgeting processes. Mahalo nui loa to Friends Dick Baker, Sid McWhirter, and Steve Oppenheimer for their unwavering commitment to moving this project forward all of these years.
Mahalo nui loa to Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Managing Director Mike Formby for leading the first City Administration willing to work with us to resolve this issue. You made a promise, and you kept your word.
We would also like to express our deep gratitude to Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters and the Honolulu City Council for unanimously approving this settlement; State Representative Gene Ward for always championing our work with both County and State agencies; and the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board and our local community that have consistently supported our efforts to return this money earned at Hanauma Bay to Hanauma Bay.
We were pleased to be invited to announce the settlement at Mayor Blangiardi’s May 23, 2024 Hawaii Kai Town Hall Meeting.
Note: Friends of Hanauma Bay never requested, and will not receive, a portion of the settlement. All of the settlement money has been transferred directly to the Hanauma Bay Fund for the operations and maintenance of the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, to support an educational outreach program, and for required studies of anthropogenic impacts on the fragile marine environment in Hanauma’s Marine Life Conservation District.
