The rest belongs to the city. The mayor hopes the entire project can be completed by late summer 2000 so the city can host exhibition games featuring national teams from around the world on their way to Australia for the Olympic Games, which begin Sept. 15. Debbie Ching, varsity girls soccer coach at Punahou School, said the prospect of seeing teams from across the country and around the world using the facility is the most exciting prospect. The mission is building a true soccer facility, and it's not just a question of having more fields to augment the overpopulated fields we do have. Councilwoman Rene Mansho, one of the three Council members who represent Waipahu, said the economic benefits of bringing in teams from outside Hawaii are staggering.
Some people have questions, though.
Council Chairman Mufi Hannemann, who also represents Waipahu, said he endorses the concept of the complex but believes the administration first should have arranged for someone to operate it. Hannemann said the administration promised that a nonprofit group would operate and maintain the facility in exchange for use of the fields. City Managing Director Ben Lee said the administration is headed in that direction. Hannemann said the city was supposed to issue a request for proposals for an operator last June. Some skeptics also wonder if the city should be embarking on a major park complex at a time of shrinking budgets and park personnel.