PEARL HARBOR — For the past two years, a for-profit tourist business has operated sandwiched between the USS Arizona visitor center and nonprofit USS Bowfin Submarine Museum.

It's never been a comfortable fit — at least as far as neighboring museums and memorials are concerned — and now, the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is making a last public appeal before it is forced to close.

The controversial center, offering food, souvenirs, shade and rest at 18 tiki-themed businesses under and adjacent to a large tentlike structure, has been popular with visitors who sometimes wait hours to see the Arizona Memorial.

But the National Park Service said it is moving ahead with long-envisioned plans for its own revamped visitor complex, including a new gateway orientation center, and the tent operation has to go by April 30.

Officials also cite early complaints from some politicians and veterans who said the commercial venture trivialized the sanctity of the Arizona Memorial.

Backers of the business — which is themed after 1942, the year America turned its World War II effort around — say they provide a valuable public service, even if it is for profit, and argue for a month-to-month lease extension until something is there to replace it.

"It's going to be years before they even have anything that comes close to what is now up and under way at no cost to the taxpayer," said Bill Bigelow, marketing director for the tent operation.

Frank Hays, Pacific area director for the National Park Service's Pacific West Region, said the Park Service doesn't have any authority to continue operating the existing concession.

The tent operation is on 6.4 acres of land being conveyed by the Navy to the Park Service under a new use agreement.

A new Arizona visitor center is planned, with greater amenities, and part of that plan is an examination of what commercial services — like those provided at the tent operation — are desired.

"It's got to be openly bid," Hays said. "There might be other people who'd want to run a food operation there."

BATTLE FOR REVENUE?

In a roundabout deal, the tent business is on land originally leased by the Navy to the Hunt Building Co. as part of an $84 million Ford Island redevelopment.

The plot was subleased to the tent operation, but later returned to the Navy by Hunt. It is expected to be conveyed in a use agreement to the National Park Service on May 1.

Tent operation officials say the deadline is driven by competition among the three longest-tenured entities — the Park Service, Bowfin, and battleship Missouri Memorial — for revenue and a desire to see a competitor removed.

A fourth museum, the Pacific Aviation Museum-Pearl Harbor, opened its doors on Ford Island on Dec. 7.

RECOGNIZING A NEED

Two years ago, Honolulu businessman and former Marine Patrick Brent stepped in and opened the tent operation on a section of the scrub land after the Navy gave Hunt Building a 65-year lease.

Brent recognized the need for greater visitor amenities as waits reached several hours to see the Arizona and visit one of the other museums.

Eighteen businesses at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center now have 150 employees. Among the thatch-roofed shops are a sunglass shop, Maui Divers jewelry, and Hawaiian Accessories shop with koa products.

The "1942 Mess Hall" serves "all-American burgers" and sandwiches. Newspaper columnist Eddie Sherman and his wife are full or part owners in three shops — the bag check, "Dole Whip" ice cream and PX 1942 sundries store.

Retired Marine Col. John Bates, the chief operating officer of the tent business, said a 1999 study by the Navy — which owns all the museum land — found that visitor amenities needed to be improved by the kind of offerings that Brent later provided.

'A NECESSARY THING'

The Arizona has a bookstore and vending machines run by blind vendors, and the adjacent Bowfin has a hot dog cart and a bank of soda machines.

Bruce MacDonald, 77, from Saskatchewan was at the tent center yesterday with his wife, Dorothy, grabbing something to eat between visits to the Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri.

"I would think it would be a necessary thing to have here," Bruce MacDonald said. "Are there other facilities to eat and have a little shelter while you're waiting for the bus?"

Retired Adm. R.J. "Zap" Zlatoper, a former U.S. Pacific Fleet commander who is executive vice president of the Pacific Aviation Museum, said Brent's operation is helping publicize the other museums in the area while providing some cold drinks and shade.

"It's hallowed ground out there and has to be treated with dignity," he said. "Having said that, we also have to make sure that we take care of the visitors when they come."

The Park Service's Hays said plans are being finalized for a new 23,000 square-foot visitor center to replace the 16,000 square-foot facility that's there now.

Part of the plan includes a long-contemplated orientation center and ticket gateway for all the museums, he said. The Bowfin museum, meanwhile, is planning to add more visitor amenities, Hays said.

NEW CENTER IN 2009

Construction on the new facility, with a total expected cost of $52 million, is expected to begin in the fall or winter and be open on Dec. 7, 2009, Hays said. About $20 million has been raised so far, he said.

Hays said more than a year ago the Navy was willing to re-claim the tent center land as the Park Service's plan progressed, but "at that time, we said we've got some process to go through and we'll be ready about April of next year, so we'll extend to April 30 and give people over a year of time to kind of prepare for this."

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.