State Sen. Clayton Hee left a briefing on the troubled Lyon Arboretum yesterday still not convinced of the University of Hawai'i's commitment to the botanical sanctuary.

"You heard it today — they (UH officials) are unprepared to move forward," said Hee, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku).

UH Vice Chancellor of Research Gary Ostrander said the university is being cautious about how $3 million allotted by the Legislature is spent, and that a master plan is being developed. But he said he is committed to restoring the arboretum to its former glory.

"Certainly the arboretum has not been a priority for the university, and this is something we're looking at very carefully," he said.

The situation at Lyon Arboretum remains largely unchanged after at least 16 months in crisis that included a six-month closure, a university investigation and the resignation of its director.

The arboretum reopened to limited use in January, and research operations continue. However, portions of its 194 acres remain closed, it continues to be understaffed, especially in the areas of groundskeeping and maintenance, and decaying research facilities and other buildings have yet to be addressed.

University officials used yesterday's briefing to impress upon lawmakers how much needs to be done.

Ostrander said the university is still working through a master plan for the arboretum and deciding what role it will play. He said renovations to its aging facilities can begin as soon as permits are approved by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. That is expected within weeks, he said.

But overall, Ostrander said, he is not in a hurry to start spending money until a comprehensive plan is created. "I'm not in a position today to tell you how we'll spend money, where we'll spend money or where our priorities are," Ostrander said after the briefing.

The arboretum deep in Manoa Valley was turned over to UH in 1953 and is a hub for critical research on endangered and rare native plants. Nearly 4,000 schoolchildren made their way through the arboretum educational facilities each year

But a number of safety and other concerns, including decaying plantation-era buildings, inadequate sewage system, electrical problems, lack of wheelchair accessibility and unstable walkways brought guided tours and educational programs to a halt last year.

"If we could just be functional again," said Jill Laughlin, coordinator of adult and children's education at the arboretum.

Cliff Morden, the arboretum's interim director, said there have been small improvements, especially in terms of support of research at the micropropogation labs and seed storage, but there is much more to be done. "We haven't even begun to tap our potential in terms of research and education," said Morden.

But the arboretum no longer is open on weekends and has even seen a cutback in staff, said Laughlin. "If it (staffing) doesn't go up, people wouldn't be able to go off the pavement," Laughlin said.

The bulk of the arboretum's operating budget comes from the university and a small part from private donations. Permits from the DLNR also will allow the arboretum to once again charge nominal fees for children's education classes and guided tours and to operate a gift shop. Those permits along with those for repairs are expected to be approved by the end of September.

When that occurs, said Ostrander, the university can move forward with renovation of dilapidated facilities and bringing buildings up to compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

"Some of that money could be released within a matter of months," said Ostrander.

But a master plan is still a ways down the road, said Ostrander, adding that the university is still trying to figure out where the arboretum fits in and what it will look like.

Morden said he would like to see the arboretum take a prominent role in the university's botany education. "We'd like to get the professors up here more often, maybe teach a few classes here," he said.

Hee criticized the university's inability to articulate concrete plans for the arboretum and how it plans to spend money allocated by the Legislature.

He said a hearing is planned for December when legislators will assess the progress UH has made and whether money is being spent appropriately.

"If they don't demonstrate the arboretum is a priority, in my opinion the question becomes, maybe the arboretum should not be a part of the university," said Hee.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.